What is longwear foundation?

Unlike traditional foundations, long-wear foundations are typically made that prolong wear-time.

How long should you let your foundation set?

Before applying other facial makeup, let your complexion products set for three to five minutes. When the time has passed, blot or use powder to set anywhere where your foundation tends to crease (underneath the eyes, forehead, etc.).

What is the best way to apply foundation?

Use a foundation brush, your fingertips, or a sponge to gently tap the foundation into your skin. Avoid any wiping or rubbing motions since this will cause streaks with the application.

The 14 Best Long-Wear Foundations of 2023

Commerce Photo Composite — Byrdie / Lecia Landis

Extended-wear makeup might not be something you reach for daily. Still, it's nice to have when you've got a long day (or night) ahead of you. And while there's no shortage of long-wear shadows, liners, and concealers out there, it all starts with the right foundation.

"Anyone who wants their makeup to last and may want more coverage would be a great candidate for a long-wear formula," says celebrity makeup artist Nydia Figueroa. "People with oily skin also love long-lasting foundation because it doesn't move as much."

According to beauty expert Lynnette Cole, today's brands are keeping up with consumers' demand for makeup that doesn't break down after a few hours. "We all desire a long-wear foundation that's multitasking, good for the skin, and looks flawless for more than just nine-to-five or special occasions."

Meet the Expert

Lynnette Cole is a licensed esthetician and makeup expert specializing in natural-looking, everyday beauty looks. She is also the former Miss USA and the Global Education Director at PÜR Beauty.
Nydia Figueroa is a celebrity makeup artist and beauty director at Fashion Gxd Magazine and Miss New Jersey Earth. She has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, as well as in magazines such as Allure and Nylon.

With pointers from these pros in mind, we found the best long-wear foundations currently on the market.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation

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Best Budget:

Maybelline Super Stay Active Wear Up to 30H Foundation

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Best Drugstore:

L'Oreal Infallible Foundation at Amazon

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Best Splurge:

La Mer Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 at Amazon

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Best Buildable:

NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation at Nordstrom

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Best Medium Coverage:

Make Up Forever HD Skin Undetectable Longwear Foundation at Sephora

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Best Matte:

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Foundation at Amazon

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Best for Dry Skin:

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Liquid Foundation at Nordstrom

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Best for Oily Skin:

Urban Decay All Nighter Liquid Foundation

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Best With SPF:

Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Fluid Powder Foundation SPF 20 at Nordstrom

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In This Article

Our Picks
Final Verdict
What to Look For
FAQ
How We Researched & Tested
Why Trust Byrdie

4.8

Estee Lauder DoubleWear Stay In Place Makeup SPF 10

Nordstrom

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Nordstrom

What We Like

Award-winning formula
Diverse shade range
Fragrance-free

What We Don't Like

Pricey
Contains PEGs

A go-to for brides, busy bees, folks with oily skin, and anyone who needs lasting coverage, Estée Lauder's famous Double Wear Foundation reigns in the extended-wear category. The ultra-smooth liquid conceals blemishes, evens out your skin tone, and leaves you with a natural-looking matte finish.

This award-winning, fragrance-free formula is also buildable and easy to blend. It promises up to 24 hours of coverage with minimal caking or creasing. What's more, Double Wear is now available in 56 shades to match a wide range of skin tones.

Price at time of publish: $43

Maybelline Super Stay Active Wear Up to 30H Foundation

Amazon

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What We Like

Budget-friendly
Oil-free formula
Lasts up to 30 hours

What We Don’t Like

Contains PEGs

Looking for something more affordable? Maybelline Super Stay offers up to 30 hours of full, natural-looking coverage. And the oil-free formula doesn't leave you with a heavy, cakey feeling.

Price at time of publish: $13

L'Oreal Paris Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation

Walmart

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What We Like

Budget-friendly
Contains SPF
Lightweight

What We Don't Like

Contains synthetic fragrance
Contains PEGs

L'Oreal's Infallible line holds its own against higher-end makeup brands. Available in 40 shades, this buildable foundation is lightweight, breathable, and even offers SPF 25 protection from the sun.

Price at time of publish: $16

La Mer Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20

Nordstrom

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Sephora

What We Like

Hydrating
Contains SPF
Lightweight

What We Don’t Like

Pricey

The Soft Fluid is undoubtedly expensive, but you'll get what you pay for. This top-shelf foundation camouflages blemishes, smooths uneven texture, provides SPF 20 protection, won't melt in humid environments, and maintains its airbrushed finish for hours on end.

Price at time of publish: $140

Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation

Ulta Beauty

View On Nordstrom View On Sephora View On Ulta

What We Like

Easy to blend
Sweat-resistant
Excellent shade range

What We Don't Like

Expensive
Contains PEGs

Nars Natural Radiant offers buildable, blendable coverage and a natural-looking finish. It's also sweat-resistant, unlikely to transfer, and available in 34 shades that match warm, cool, and neutral undertones.

Price at time of publish: $49

Make Up Forever HD Skin Undetectable Longwear Foundation

Sephora

View On Sephora View On Kohls.com View On Makeupforever.com

What We Like

Last up to 24 hours
Diverse shade range
Waterproof

What We Don’t Like

Contains synthetic fragrance
Contains PEGs

An improved version of the brand's iconic Ultra HD Foundation, Make Up Forever HD Skin offers a virtually undetectable natural finish that lasts up to 24 hours. Not only that, but it's now available in 40 shades to match a more diverse range of skin tones.

Price at time of publish: $43

4.9

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Sephora View On Fentybeauty.com

What We Like

Diverse shade range
Sweat-resistant
Oil-free formula

What We Don’t Like

Contains synthetic fragrance
Contains PEGs

Fenty Beauty's Soft Matte Foundation Kept My Skin Shine-Free in the Georgia Heat

Fenty Pro Filt'r clocked an impressive 4.9 out of 5 overall score from our at-home tester, who liked the natural-looking matte finish and long-lasting coverage. A little goes a long way, and you can expect the sweat-resistant, oil-free formula to stay put for up to 16 hours.

Price at time of publish: $39

Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Medium Coverage Liquid Foundation with Hyaluronic Acid

Sephora

View On Nordstrom View On Sephora View On Charlottetilbury.com

What We Like

Hydrating
Doesn't feel tight

What We Don’t Like

Pricey

Long-wear makeup can feel uncomfortably tight on dry skin—but not if Charlotte Tilbury has anything to say about it. This hydrating and plumping foundation smooths uneven texture, delivers a more radiant complexion, and lasts for up to 16 hours.

Price at time of publish: $46

Urban Decay All Nighter Liquid Full Coverage Foundation

Ulta

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Sephora

What We Like

Mattifying
Waterproof
Oil-free formula

What We Don't Like

Pricey
Contains PEGs

If your complexion is on the oilier side, this one's for you. Urban Decay All Nighter absorbs greasiness, eliminates shine, blurs blemishes, and delivers a mattifying effect. And did we mention it's waterproof?

Price at time of publish: $40

Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Fluid Powder Foundation SPF 20

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom View On Sephora View On Bobbibrowncosmetics.com

What We Like

Mattifying
Sweat-resistant
Diverse shade range

What We Don’t Like

Pricey
Contains PEGs

Bobbi Brown's take on a long-wear foundation is this brilliant fluid-to-powder formula that eliminates shine, controls oil, and leaves you with a comfy matte finish. It also offers SPF 20 protection, but bear in mind that sun protection won't last as long as your makeup, so don't forget to reapply.

Price at time of publish: $40

Juvia’s Place I Am Magic Velvety Matte Foundation

Ulta

View On Ulta

What We Like

Easy to blend
Diverse shade range

What We Don’t Like

Contains PEGs

Juvia's Place created 42 globally inspired shades to match all skin tones, ranging from the deepest dark to caramel, golden, and the fairest fair. The creamy formula is also super easy to blend, buildable, and most importantly, long-lasting.

Price at time of publish: $22

Glamazon Beauty

View On Glamazonbeautycosmetics.com View On Marjanibeauty.com

What We Like

Portable
Easy to blend

What We Don’t Like

Pricey

You'll be glad to have this foundation stick when you're on the go. The supremely creamy formula glides on effortlessly, blends beautifully, and lasts for hours with a natural finish.

Price at time of publish: $42

AJ Crimson

View On Ajcrimson.com

What We Like

Water-resistant
Lasts up to 18 hours
Works as concealer and contour

What We Don’t Like

Pricey

This water-resistant cream formula has an all-natural beeswax base, making it blendable, buildable, and comfortable against your skin. It can be used as foundation, concealer, or contour and promises up to 18 hours of wear time.

PÃR Cosmetics Classic 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Foundation

Amazon

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What We Like

Contains SPF
Expert-recommended
Works as concealer and finishing powder

What We Don’t Like

Not water-resistant

"My favorite everyday foundation is PÜR's Mineral Makeup, which is an all-in-one foundation, concealer, finishing powder, and SPF," says Cole. "Whether it's just a normal day or a special occasion, it's the perfect foundation for all skin types."

Price at time of publish: $30

Final Verdict

The best long-wear formula is Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation. Available in 56 shades and offering up to 24 hours of coverage, it's a go-to for special occasions, long days, and nights out. For something a little easier on your wallet, L'Oreal Infallible 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation is your best bet.

What to Look for in a Long-Wear Foundation

Staying Power

Look for product descriptions with keywords such as "long-wearing," "waterproof" or "smudge-proof" when searching for a foundation that'll last all day. You'll want to select a foundation that is specifically formulated to be worn for a multitude of hours. This will typically allow the foundation to last through tough temperatures or weather conditions (like heat or rain) and give you the long-wearing ability that we all crave.

The Finish

Since your foundation is meant to last you through the entire day, make sure you like the way the finish looks. For instance, if you're not typically into the way a matte finish appears on your skin, opt for a dewy one instead—and vice versa. You should also take into account your skin type when selecting a finish as every skin type needs something different.

Coverage

Long-wearing foundations are available in many options, so you have your choice in coverage level. If you typically go for light coverage, choose a buildable foundation. For a full-coverage finish, opt for a heavier formula. This is also about personal preference and based on what you see yourself wearing the most.

FAQ

What is longwear foundation?

Unlike traditional foundations, long-wear foundations are typically made that prolong wear-time.
How long should you let your foundation set?

Before applying other facial makeup, let your complexion products set for three to five minutes. When the time has passed, blot or use powder to set anywhere where your foundation tends to crease (underneath the eyes, forehead, etc.).
What is the best way to apply foundation?

Use a foundation brush, your fingertips, or a sponge to gently tap the foundation into your skin. Avoid any wiping or rubbing motions since this will cause streaks with the application.

How We Researched & Tested

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.

Why Trust Byrdie

Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer. She has been contributing to Byrdie since 2020, where she covers makeup, hair products, skincare, and fitness gear. For this story, she interviewed two makeup artists who provided product picks and insight into what to look for in a long-wear foundation. From the selected products, she has personally tried Estée Lauder, Maybelline, Nars, Make Up Forever, Fenty, and PÜR. You can find more of Theresa's bylines on The Spruce.

The 17 Best Foundations of 2023