What Celebrities Are Wearing Instead of Foundation

Whether they intend to or not, celebrities play a huge role in determining the beauty trends that the rest of us come to follow. A model reveals that her go-to lip color is bright orange, and a month later, everyone has a bright orange lipstick in their bag. An actress says she swears by daily exfoliation to keep her skin looking young, and face scrub sales skyrocket. A star is seen wearing army pants and flip flops, so we buy army pants and flip-flops. You get the idea.

One of the most surprising and widespread trends we've seen of late is that celebrities are going without foundation. Sure, they still go full-coverage for red carpet events. But off-duty, more and more celebrities are renouncing foundation in favor of sheer, dewy products, like BB creams, skin tints, and strategically placed concealers. When applied correctly, these products prove that you don't need a foundation for glowy, youthful skin. 

Keep scrolling to discover seven foundation alternatives that Gwyneth Paltrow, Alessandra Ambrosio, and more swear by!

Kerry Washington

Washington told InStyle that for her everyday makeup, she'll reach for concealer over foundation. "Most days, I let my skin breathe, so I don't wear a ton of foundation—just a bit of concealer," she said. Her long-time makeup artist, Carola Gonzalez, says that Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer in Sx11 ($48) works beautifully on her skin, especially when applied under her eyes, to the bridge of her nose, and in the center parts of her chin and forehead.

Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer $48.00

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Khloe Kardashian

Since becoming a new mom, Khloé often reaches for lighter coverage for her day-to-day makeup look. In a recent video on Vogue's YouTube Channel, Khloé stated that she likes to make her own BB cream. "What I like to do when I'm wanting light makeup, I take my moisturizer and I also like to put a little foundation with it." Her top choices? Drunk Elephant's Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer ($60) and Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick ($88).

Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Moisturizer with Ceramides $60.00

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Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick $88.00

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Gwyneth Paltrow

Paltrow's intense beauty routine is all based on natural skincare, and that includes her face makeup. Instead of a traditional foundation, she uses an organic serum-foundation hybrid ($44) from her line for Juice Beauty, which she applies on top of their Illuminating Primer ($36). The product is plant-based and formulated with hydrating skincare ingredients like coconut alkanes and hyaluronic acid, as well as protective antioxidants vitamins C and E.

Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Flawless Serum Foundation $44.00

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Alessandra Ambrosio

For everyday makeup, Ambrosio foregoes foundation in favor of Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer ($70), which offers crease-free coverage that stays all day. The product is also beloved by Byrdie editors and other celebs, including Amanda Seyfried, who says the product works well to conceal redness on her sensitive skin.

Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer $70.00

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Olivia Wilde

Being the spokeswoman for the natural skincare brand True Botanicals, Olivia Wilde showed Vouge that she loves to use the brand's Renew Radiance Face Oil ($110) in conjunction with YSL Touché èclat ($35) under her eyes. A quick and easy routine for a woman who is constantly trailblazing.

YSL Touche Eclat Radiance Perfecting Pen $38.00

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Karlie Kloss

Another Vogue Beauty video shows Karlie Kloss perfecting her day to night makeup. Kloss lets us now that she likes to "...use concealer over foundation because I don't like that cakey look on my skin." While Kloss does not say what concealer she uses in the video, it is safe to say that, as a new spokeswoman for Estee Lauder, it is probably one of their concealers. In 2016, Kloss did tell us the same thing but credits the Bobbi Brown Serum Concealer ($44) for her envious complexion. "I'm sure eventually I'll be wearing a full face before I leave the house, but for the moment, I'm enjoying not having to."

Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Concealer $44.00

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Olivia Culpo

Culpo told us that for her everyday makeup routine, she mixes her two favorite tinted moisturizers: Dior Hydration Deep Hydration Skin Tint (now discontinued); and Revision Skincare Intellishade Original ($75). "I use about a dime-size amount of each," Culpo said. "I love the color and coverage when I mix the two. Plus, they have both have SPF, which is great to protect your skin throughout the day."

Revision Skincare Intellishade SPF 45 Matte Tinted Moisturizer $75.00

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