The Best Foundations For Dry Skin You Can Buy In 2022
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Finding the right foundation isn't always an easy process. Now more than ever, we're inundated with products that swear they provide dewy, glowing skin or the perfect matte canvas, depending on your preference.
The search for foundation becomes even more difficult when you're dealing with dry skin. Texture is a major concern. Finding that holy grail product that doesn't settle into fine lines and wrinkles or wear like a heavy mask is the true test. The balance is delicate and can make all the difference in getting you the look you're dreaming of.
Thankfully, many makeup brands have been working on new foundation formulas that deliver a healthy dose of hydration while also covering imperfections. These picks come in different coverage levels and different shades. Here is our selection of some of the best foundation products for dry skin that will help you achieve the perfect base for every makeup look you can imagine.
Best overall foundation for dry skin
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation truly has it all. Featuring light, but buildable coverage in a long-lasting formula that blends well, it's no wonder this designer foundation is a fan favorite. Incredibly hydrating with a glowy finish, Luminous Silk is beloved by both beauty gurus and everyday users for it's natural finish. Available in 40 shades, it's a bit on the pricey side, but reviewers swear it's worth every penny.
Purchase Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation on Giorgio Armani Beauty starting at $44.
Best foundation for dry skin that appears dull
Who doesn't want that fresh glow from within look? Thankfully, NARS Sheer Glow Foundation brings coverage that serves without being cakey or flakey. Available in 34 shades, reviewers rave about the finish on this light, but buildable foundation. Glycerin and Vitamin C bring out your skin's very best, while turmeric evens tone and helps skin stay radiant and hydrated no matter what the day throws at you.
Purchase NARS Sheer Glow Foundation on Ulta for $47.
Best foundation for dry and sensitive skin
Die-hard fans of Tarte's Babassu Foundcealer Skincare Foundation swear it's the perfect halfway point between cosmetics and skincare.That's why it's such a great choice for anyone with sensitive skin. Available in 30 different shades, it's lightweight, but still offers with medium coverage. Plus, Tarte promises clinical results that boast not only improved skin hydration, but diminished signs of aging! There are also lots of fans of the pump packaging which minimizes waste
Purchase Tarte Babassu Foundcealer Skincare Foundation from Tarte Cosmetics for $39.
Best foundation for dry and mature skin
Makeup fanatics praise Make Up For Ever Reboot Foundation for providing light, buildable coverage with a satin finish in 25 beautiful shades. It's been hailed as a lifesaver for those with mature skin thanks to its brightening, firming and collagen boosting formula. The popular product even promises to reduce the appearance of wrinkles! It will leave your skin looking hydrated and healthy, with reviewers praising the dewy, glowy results.
Purchase Make Up For Ever Reboot Foundation from Sephora for $39.
Best foundation for dry skin with dark spots
A tried and true brand with years of research behind them, Clinique's Even Better dermatologist-developed foundation is made specifically for reducing dark spots. Reviewers say that the claims that dark spots are reduced in 12 weeks are legit, and in 56 shades, chances are your bound to get a good match to your skin tone. The creamy formula hydrates and smooths while also protecting against future age spots with SPF.
Purchase Even Better™ Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF 15 from Clinique for $31.
Best foundation for dry skin with a matte finish
If you think having dry skin means you can't rock a matte finish makeup look, think again. Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Wear Matte Foundation is a favorite of reviewers for a pigmented formula that doesn't crack or smudge, and provides beautiful medium coverage with a matte finish. Their 44 shade range has been praised for matching well with users of all skin tones and types.
Purchase Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Wear Matte Foundation from Sephora for $47.
Best foundation for dry skin with a dewy finish
The Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation has a cult following for good reason. With a fresh, dewy finish that's never mistaken for greasy, added vitamin E for skin health, and an unbeatable price, what's not to love. The coverage is described as light-medium, perfect for both users looking to cover a small blemish and those who prefer a full face.
Purchase Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation on Amazon for $3.15.
Best foundation for dry skin that's also vegan
Exa's High Fidelity Foundation is the "it girl" of clean foundations right now. Not only is it vegan and cruelty-free, but the formula promises to be free of parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, hydroquinone, and other harmful ingredients. Available in 43 shades, this eco-friendly brand also promises that it's packaging is both compost friendly and recyclable. The best part, it's clean beauty that actually delivers results!
Purchase Exa High Fidelity Foundation from Credo Beauty for $38.
Best gel foundation for dry skin
Chantecaille Future Skin Gel Foundation is praised for its refreshing, lightweight formula that's 60% water. For dry skin, that's ultimate hydration. The ingredient list boasts herbs and botanicals like rosemary and chamomile that soothe sensitive skin and calm existing irritations, all while providing medium to full coverage. The fragrance-free formula is lightweight giving the skin a silky finish all while minimizing imperfections and discoloration.
Purchase Chantecaille Future Skin Gel Foundation from Nordstrom for $79.
Best light coverage foundation for dry skin
Beauty Bakerie's InstaBake Aqua Glass Foundation is all about a poreless finish without cakey coverage. If an Instagram filter look is your objective, this flawless boasting light coverage formula is for you. Both cruelty-free and paraben-free reviewers can't get enough of it's airy feel. And fans promise that a little goes a long way. The price is certainly right for a product that's promised to last.
Purchase InstaBake Aqua Glass Foundation from Beauty Bakerie for $34.
Best medium coverage foundation for dry skin
When it comes to medium coverage foundation for dry skin, tarte's SEA Hydroflex™ Serum Foundation is a fan favorite. The long-lasting formula is beloved for bringing a smooth and radiant finish that goes on with the fluidity of a serum instead of a foundation. It's available in 38 shades, which makes it relatively easy to find a match. Fans also rave that this formula has minimal transfer onto masks and white shirts.
Purchase tarte SEA Hydroflex™ Serum Foundation from Sephora starting at $15.
Best full-coverage foundation for dry skin
When you want it all covered, look no further than Morphe's Fluidity Full-Coverage Foundation. It's available in 48 shades at a price no one can argue with. Reviewers rave about how blendable this formula is and what a smooth finish it provides. If coverage is key without feeling dry and weighted down, this is the product for you. From beginners to seasoned pros, everyone loves this pick.
Purchase Fluidity Full-Coverage Foundation from Morphe for $7.
Best BB cream foundation for dry skin
Combining the ingenuity of Korean skincare with makeup, purlisse Perfect Glow BB Cream is the cream of the crop when it comes to BB cream. Lightweight, hydrating, and oil-free, it's a BB cream that still provides coverage like a full-fledged foundation. Promising coverage, sunscreen, and moisturizer, in one highly rated product, reviewers say purlisse Perfect Glow BB Cream is perfect for a fresh daytime look that's buildable. This foundation also provides your skin a serious dose of moisture that even the most sensitive skin can handle.
Purchase purlisse Perfect Glow BB Cream from Amazon starting at $20.
Best CC cream foundation for dry skin
Thrive Causemetics' Buildable Blur CC cream, available in 18 shades, packs a powerful punch in one little tube. It's a paraben-free, sulfate-free, cruelty-free vegan formula with no phthalates or synthetic fragrances. It's a multitasking color-correcting cream that blurs and diffuses skin imperfections, while providing buildable coverage. The Buildable Blur CC Cream also has Broad Spectrum SPF 35 sunscreen, which keeps you protected from UVA and UVB rays, as well as blue light damage from computer screens and phones.
Purchase Thrive Buildable Blur CC Cream from Thrive Causemetics for $38.
Best tinted moisturizer for dry skin
If you're into the bare minimum when it comes to foundation, Glossier's Perfect Skin Tint may be just what you're looking for. It provides amazingly sheer coverage that gives your bare skin a beautiful boost. Reviewers of all ages have reaped the benefits of a formula that evens skin and prevents your skin from drying out. It covers redness and imperfections, but lets your beauty marks and freckles shine through.
Purchase Perfecting Skin Tint from Glossier for $26.
Best professional foundation for dry skin
Whether you're an aspiring makeup artist or just want to look like one, sometimes you want to go straight to the preferred products the pros use to really give your look that extra-flawless quality. Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin Caring Glow Foundation lets you do just that with buildable coverage that's full of skincare benefits. Reviewers love how silky and blendable the formula is. It also provides good range with 30 shades available to help you create your best look.
Purchase Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin-Caring Glow Foundation from Sephora for $49.
Best stick foundation for dry skin
Stick foundations are a must-have for the makeup obsessed on-the-go. Mented Cosmetics Skin allows for easy-to-apply, smooth, buildable coverage in 16 gorgeous shades. With Vitamin E and grape seed oil, this hydrating stick formula won't leave you feeling cakey and dry. Fans love the lightweight coverage that makes them feel like they're makeup-free but still provides the kind of flawless coverage that will have you leaving selfie filters in your past.
Purchase mented cosmetics Skin by Mented Foundation from Ulta for $30.
Best budget friendly foundation for dry skin
What's better than professional grade makeup at a drugstore price? Thanks to No7 Protect & Perfect Advanced All in One Foundation you can score a hydrating foundation with an anti-aging serum, sunscreen, and a concealer in one package! A moisturizing base not only guarantees blendability and gorgeous coverage, but also promises your look will stay utterly perfect all day long.
Purchase No7 Protect & Perfect Advanced All in One Foundation from Walgreens for $15.99
Best luxury foundation for dry skin
If you're going to splurge on foundation, you want to make sure it's worth every penny. Fans of Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Foundation SPF 50 say this is a product well worth the investment. Available in 38 shades, reviewers say that a little bit of this hydrating, medium coverage formula goes the distance. If you want to feel like you've just stepped off a runway in Milan when you're on your daily coffee run, this is the one for you.
Purchase Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Soft Radiance Foundation SPF 50 from Nordstrom for $150.
Best long-lasting foundation for dry skin
NYX Born To Glow Naturally Radiant Foundation is in it for the long haul! Available in 44 shades, fans of this foundation love that it doesn't cling to dry spots on your skin, no matter how many hours into your day it is, and the coverage doesn't fade or run either! The dewy finish works great with just about any look, giving quality at an affordable price point.
Purchase NYX Born To Glow Naturally Radiant Foundation from Amazon starting at $5.99.