Foundations & Primers

Foundations and primers act as a canvas to even skin, add glow, and make sure the rest of your makeup stays put. Here, find expert-vetted tips and tricks for how to best apply foundation and primer for your own personal needs, as well as the products we're loving for every skin tone.

Katie Jane Hughes wears a cut crease smoky eyeshadow look and dewy makeup
How to DIY Eyeshadow Primer When You Don't Have It on Hand

Tarte Maracuja Juicy Glow Foundation
Tarte's New Maracuja Juicy Glow Foundation Is Guaranteed to Go TikTok Viral

Woman wearing Makeup By Mario Foundation
Makeup By Mario Finally Dropped a Foundation—And We Tried It

Hailey Bieber with glowing skin
Hailey Bieber's Dewy Foundation Trick Works Like a Charm

Best Pore-Minimizing Primers
The 9 Best Pore Minimizing Primers of 2023

Stick Foundations
12 Stick Foundations for Quick, Easy Application

Long Wearing Foundations
The 11 Best Long-Wearing Foundations That Will Take You From Day to Night

 Primers for Dry Skin
The 16 Best Primers for Dry Skin of 2023

Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer
The 10 Best Face Primers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Drugstore Foundations
The 18 Best Drugstore Foundations of 2023 That Rival Expensive Formulas

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14 Best Foundations for Oily Skin of 2023

How to Apply Foundation With a Sponge, Brush, or Your Fingers

A Product Collage of Several Skin Foundation Serums
Serum Foundations Are All We Want to Wear Right Now

Foundation drops in various neutral shades
Foundation vs. BB Cream vs. CC Cream: A Makeup Artist Settles the Debate

Best Foundations
The 17 Best Foundations of 2023

IT Cosmetics CC Cream
The 19 Best Foundations for Mature Skin of 2023

Full Coverage Foundation Test
The 9 Best Full-Coverage Foundations of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

matte v dewy
Dewy or Matte Foundation? Here's How to Make Your Decision Once and For All

Cream and Blush Tone Swatches of Primer
What Is Primer? How to Use Makeup Primers Like a Pro

Charlotte Tilbury Foundations
Charlotte Tilbury Foundation Review—Which of the 4 Formulas Is Best for You?

Eyeshadow Primer Hero
We Tested 29 Eyeshadow Primers—These 10 Are the Best

Indian Woman Smiling Looking Off to the Side on A Designed Background
The 13 Best Foundations for Indian Skin

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These 14 Lip Primers Guarantee Long-Lasting Color

NARS Light Reflecting Foundation
The Nars Light Reflecting Foundation Gives My Skin a Hydrated, Healthy Glow

makeup
Clinique's Even Better Makeup Is Like an IRL Instagram Filter

primer
7 Acne-Fighting Primers With Derm-Approved Ingredients

Commerce Photo Composite
The Best 12 Anti-Aging Foundations of 2023 for Multi-Tasking Coverage

Black Woman Looking Off Camera Applying Lightweight Foundation to Her Cheek
8 Lightweight Foundations for People Who Hate Makeup

Physicians Formula Super CC Color-Correction + Care CC Cream
I Reviewed Physicians Formula’s Super CC Cream and the Coverage Is Excellent

foundation
The 12 Best Powder Foundations Ever

foundation
How to Stop Your Foundation From Oxidizing, According to a Cosmetic Dermatologist

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour & Highlight Stick
I Tried Anastasia Beverly Hills' Contour & Highlight Stick and Loved The Finish
Bride Getting Her Makeup Done on Her Wedding Day
Makeup Artists Say These Are the Best Foundations for Weddings

Lady Gaga and models wearing Haus Labs foundation
Haus Labs' New Foundation Is Worth The TikTok Hype

Tanya Akim
These are the Only Foundations That Don't Irritate My Perioral Dermatitis

Woman applying foundation with a blending sponge.
10 Reasons Your Foundation Looks Cakey—and How to Fix It

celebrity-makeup-tips
How to Hide Pores with Makeup, According to the Pros

The Best Primers for Combination Skin, According to Makeup Artists

Close up of a makeup brush and powder on a cream colored background
How to Apply Powder Foundation Like a Pro MUA (According to a Pro MUA)

Zendaya on the red carpet
I Tried Zendaya's Favorite Foundation for Glowy Skin

Foundations for Acne-Prone Skin
The 10 Best Foundations for Acne-Prone Skin

A Person Holding a Bottle of Foundation on a Designed Background
As the Weather Gets Colder, Don't Get Caught Out by This Foundation Mistake

Revlon ColorStay Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin
Revlon's ColorStay Makeup for Combination/Oily Skin Delivers Impressive Coverage

Byrdie writer Celeste Polanco before and after applying KVD Beauty's Lock-It Tattoo Foundation
KVD Beauty's Lock-It Foundation Creates a Next-Level Finish

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

Young woman applying foundation to skin
12 Expert-Approved Foundations for Sensitive Skin

foundation
According to Reddit, These 6 Tricks Will Make Your Foundation Last

Foundation Water Hack on TikTok step-by-step
TikTok Has People Mixing Their Foundation With Water, But Is It Worth the Hype?

Jasmine Phillips Byrdie Editor wearing Jones Road foundation
Jones Road Just Dropped a Balmy New Foundation—So, We Tried It

Foundation on a Variety of Skin Tones
Why I'm Over Foundation (and What I Use Instead)

woman looking at camera
12 Best High-End Foundations Worth the Price Tag

Split of woman and Westman Atelier Complexion Drops
Jennifer Aniston's MUA Is Launching an Extra-Glowy Skin Tint—And We Tried it

Commerce Photo Composite
The 13 Best Drugstore Primers of 2023, All Under $25

best-foundation-for-dry-skin
The 13 Best Foundations for Dry Skin of 2023

A Glossier Foundation Product Designed on a Simple Background
The 8 Main Types of Foundations, Demystified

Best Foundations for Rosacea That Are Comfortable to Wear All Day
The Best Foundations for Rosacea That Are Comfortable to Wear All Day

Various shades of foundation spilled on neutral background
9 Tips to Pick the Best Foundation Color for Your Skin Tone

How to Find the Perfect Foundation Online Without Testing It

Good News: These Water-Based Primers Won't Leave You Feeling Greasy

Best Sweat Proof Foundations and Makeup
16 Foundations That Hold Strong Even on the Hottest, Sweatiest Days

Commerce Photo Composite
12 Waterproof Foundations That Prevent Melty, Cakey Makeup

Commerce Photo Composite
These Are the 10 Best Foundations With SPF—And We've Tried So Many

Commerce Photo Composite
We Found the 18 Best Blurring Primers for Every Complexion

What Exactly Is Eyeliner Primer? I Tried 2 Different Versions