We Tested the Best Liquid Foundations—These 10 Are Worth the Hype

Best Overall

NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Texture
  5/5
• Finish
  5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4.5/5

What do buyers say? 1,000+ Sephora reviewers rated this product 4.2 stars or higher.

After trying over 30 liquid formulas, NARS Light Reflecting Foundation was a clear winner. The lightweight consistency goes on smooth and dries quickly. It offers medium coverage, but you can easily build it up to your desired coverage level. Our tester liked that the natural-looking, slightly dewy finish didn't settle into her creases.

We love the high-end feel of the glass bottle too. While the pump makes it easy to dispense, the watery liquid drips a little. Still, our tester said the skincare-first formula melted into her skin, explaining that it felt more like lotion than makeup. Available in a diverse range of 36 shades, the color blends beautifully and offers a complexion-enhancing, flattering effect that lasts all day.

Price at time of publish: $49

Shades: 36 | Coverage: Medium/buildable | Finish: Natural/dewy | Key Ingredients: Oat, cacao peptides, milk thistle, Japanese lilyturf | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Budget

L'Oreal Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation

5

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For something more affordable, we highly recommend L'Oréal Infallible Fresh Wear. Our tester loved everything from the packaging to the application process to the natural-looking finish. Lightweight and easy to blend but also not runny or overly thick, this foundation has a perfect consistency.

It dries down quickly, too, but not before you can start working it into your skin. The buildable coverage evens out your skin tone without looking cakey or feeling tight, and it won't settle into your fine lines.

Price at time of publish: $16

Shades: 40 | Coverage: Buildable | Finish: Natural | Key Ingredients: Octinoxate, titanium dioxide | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Splurge

N°1 DE CHANEL Red Camellia Revitalizing Foundation

5

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Our Ratings

• Texture
  5/5
• Finish
  5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  5/5

The steep price of N°1 De Chanel is kind of a bummer, especially since we liked it so much. But if it's within your budget, you'll be glad to have this top-shelf foundation in your glam kit. The consistency is just right—not too thick or runny—and goes on smooth with buildable coverage. 

Our tester loved the heavy frosted-glass container and said the pump makes it easy to dispense. She said the formula evened out her skin tone, blurred imperfections, and left her with a plump, dewy complexion.

Price at time of publish: $70

Shades: 20 | Coverage: Buildable | Finish: Luminous | Key Ingredients: Glycerin, ​​camellia seed oil | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Matte

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

4.9

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Prefer a shine-free finish? Fenty Pro Filt'r has your name on it. "RiRi did it again!" one tester exclaimed. She loved the tall, frosted container and said the pump dispenser made it easy to use.

This buildable foundation offers medium to full coverage. Available in a diverse range of 50 shades, it goes on velvety-smooth, blends beautifully, and leaves a natural-looking, soft matte finish in its wake.

Price at time of publish: $39

Shades: 50 | Coverage: Medium to full | Finish: Soft matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Natural Finish

Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation

4.6

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We also liked Rare Beauty's Liquid Touch Foundation, which offers more of a natural finish. Our tester said the lightweight, slightly watery consistency dries down within 30 seconds. Though you might be able to add one more layer, anything beyond that may start settling into your creases.

The doe-foot applicator makes the formula easy to apply, and the natural-looking pigments do an excellent job evening out your skin tone and concealing redness. We noticed some transferring, but all in all, we were impressed with the results.

Price at time of publish: $29

Shades: 40 | Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural/matte | Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, botanical extracts, vitamin E | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Full Coverage

HOURGLASS Vanish Seamless Finish Liquid Foundation

4.3

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Our Ratings

• Texture
  4/5
• Finish
  4.4/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4.5/5

If you prefer full coverage, Hourglass Vanish is your best bet. Though the consistency is somewhat thick, it goes on smooth and won't drip down your face before you get a chance to blend it in.

As the product claims, a half-pump was enough to cover our tester's entire face, and she was even able to build the coverage as needed. It didn't settle into her fine lines, and the natural-looking finish had a hint of a glow.

Price at time of publish: $56

Shades: 26 | Coverage: Full/buildable | Finish: Natural | Key Ingredients: Glycerin, jojoba esters | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best Medium-Coverage

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation

4.7

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Our tester loved the smooth, lightweight texture of Lancôme Teint Idole, explaining that it's not watery or overly thick. We wish the price was more accessible, but the medium coverage is conveniently buildable and doesn't feel heavy or tight on the skin.

Offering a natural-looking, semi-matte finish with a slight glow, this liquid foundation doesn't appear cakey or settle into fine lines. Our tester also liked the feel of the heavy glass bottle and appreciated that the formula lasts up to 24 hours.

Price at time of publish: $52

Shades: 35 | Coverage: Medium/buildable | Finish: Natural/matte | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Light-Coverage

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint with SPF 40

4.5

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Our Ratings

• Texture
  4.5/5
• Finish
  4.5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4/5

Ilia's uber-popular Super Serum does, indeed, have a serum-like consistency. This slightly runny liquid blends effortlessly and delivers lightweight, semi-sheer coverage with a healthy-looking dewy finish that doesn't settle into your creases.

The dropper bottle isn't our favorite, as it's hard to dispense the exact right amount of product. Still, we appreciate the built-in SPF 40 protection, the hydrating formula, and the "looks like skin" results.

Price at time of publish: $48

Shades: 30 | Coverage: Light/sheer | Finish: Radiant/dewy | Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, squalane, hyaluronic acid, zinc oxide | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes

Best with SPF

FLOWER Beauty Light Illusion Liquid Foundation

4.5

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Our Ratings

• Texture
  4/5
• Finish
  5/5
• Transfer Resistance
  4.5/5

Flower Beauty Light Illusion calls on a hybrid blend of mineral and chemical blockers to provide SPF 18 protection. But since the SPF is relatively low, we recommend wearing sunscreen underneath.

This liquid foundation has a lightweight, watery consistency. Our tester said it took a little while to dry but liked the buildable coverage and natural-looking, dewy finish.

Price at time of publish: $15

Shades: 15 | Coverage: Light/buildable | Finish: Natural/dewy | Key Ingredients: Octinoxate, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No