These Foundations for Dry Skin Are So Good, Makeup Artists Use Them Too

"I love Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation. It's medium coverage, but you can thin it down by using [a] damp Beautyblender, or you can layer it for more coverage. It really looks like skin, because it has a luminosity to it, thanks to what they call 'water glow,' that mimics skin's natural radiance—nothing too shimmery or shiny looking, [it] just looks like skin. I find it even wears well on oily skin, too…even though it has the water glow in it, it doesn't add shine." — Nick Barose, celebrity makeup artist

"It brings life to your face, transforms it, and makes the skin glow in the most natural, flawless way. For me, skin is what defines age, and radiant skin will always make one look youthful—and this is exactly what this foundation does." — Carola Gonzalez, celebrity makeup artist

"I call it my kitchen sink foundation because it works on every skin tone and type. It has buildable coverage—it starts off super sheer, and it can be layered to an almost full-coverage appearance. I even put it on legs in lieu of pantyhose." — Kelli J. Bartlett, Glamsquad's director of artistry and education

"I love Tarte's Amazonian Clay BB Tinted Moisturizer. It's lightweight, has buildable coverage, and is known to be great for sensitive skin or skin that's prone to breakouts. I add it to my tinted moisturizer to even out my skin tone while still looking natural, sometimes going up a half shade to give my pale skin a little help." — Amy Strozzi, celebrity makeup artist

"I use It Cosmetics CC cream in medium most days because it's super easy to apply, gives me great coverage, and it has an SPF of 50." — Monika Blunder, celebrity makeup artist

"My all-time favorite drugstore foundation is the L'Oréal True Match. I discovered it way back when I was in college and had a bad breakout from stressing over all those midterm papers. Now I use it on clients whenever I need a product with great coverage that doesn't get cakey. True Match is not only a buildable foundation, but it's also oil-free, which is great for anyone with trouble-prone skin. It leaves a nice, even, and airy finish comparable to more costly foundations, and it's got great wear for clients headed to events. For the best finish and coverage manageability, I use a damp sponge. It's definitely my drugstore secret!" — Kelly Hunt, celebrity makeup artist

"La Mer foundation is my current favorite for when I'm going out at night or for a special event. I can wear it for hours without getting cakey or oily, and the shade is a perfect match for my skin." — Kayleen McAdams, celebrity makeup artist

"My favorite foundation is BareMinerals BareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation. This is the lightest foundation I've yet to discover. It feels like water on your skin, but it offers an incredible amount of pigment, so just a few drops will give your complexion a flawless, radiant finish. It's free of oil, parabens, fragrance and silicone, making it healthier for your skin and giving it better staying power in warm and hot weather because of it. I LOVE the chemical-free SPF 20 in it. I wear a few drops of this foundation when I train, and it stays put through my sweat, keeping my skin looking fresh, and it never breaks me out." — Roxanne Saffaie, celebrity makeup artist

Light, medium, or full coverage—this liquid foundation’s got it all. The silky texture blends easily into the skin, masking any imperfections, but without totally covering up your natural complexion. Infused with glycerin and vitamin C, the powerful, but seemingly weightless formula boosts hydration levels as it effectively reduces discoloration. Antioxidants also prevent free radicals from damaging and aging the skin. If you love a bit more radiance, you’ll love the dewy finish of this foundation. It will give you a natural, glowing look without feeling heavy.

When you hear the words “anti-aging treatment,” you don’t typically think of foundation. In fact, you might think it’s even counterintuitive. But with new innovations and breakthrough formulas, makeup is starting to become a hybrid skincare category all on its own. This foundation from Physicians Formula is a complete upgrade from your usual product. Packed with skin-softening hyaluronic acid, soothing vitamins, and a whopping SPF 20, this foundation is a total gamechanger. It helps to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for a healthy complexion.

This convenient, handy pot is a double whammy: a concealer and a foundation. You only need a bit of this potent formula for major coverage. Perfect for the under-eye area and any other problem zones, this texture is made to spot treat rather than masking the entire face. You can cover up anything from pimples, blemishes, scars, and even discoloration. The color is pigmented, so start small and work your way up. The product melts into the skin (thanks to cocoa seed butter), blending in seamlessly to minimize the look of pores while providing a clean, glowing finish. It’s best to use this sparingly with your fingers as the color is concentrated—a little goes a long, long way.