These Dewy Foundations Will Help You Get Your Glow On

The Best Dewy Foundations at a Glance:

BEST FOR DRY SKIN: KOSAS Tinted Face Oil Foundation

BEST BB CREAM: PURLISSE BEAUTY Perfect Glow BB Cream SPF 30

BEST WITH SPF: COOLA Mineral Face SPF 30 Rōsilliance® BB+ Cream

BEST NATURAL FINISH: WANDER BEAUTY Nude Illusion Liquid Foundation

BEST CREAM FOUNDATION: CHARLOTTE TILBURY Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation

BEST SHEER TO LIGHT COVERAGE: LAURA GELLER Quench-n-Tint Hydrating Foundation

BEST CONCEALER USED AS A FOUNDATION: DIOR Forever Skin Correct

BEST MEDIUM TO FULL COVERAGE: ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Luminous Foundation

BEST CC CREAM: IT COSMETICS Your Skin But Better® CC+® Cream with SPF 50+ (Medium)

BEST HYDRATING INGREDIENTS: TARTE™ Maracuja Tinted Hydrator

BEST BUILDABLE FOUNDATION: MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation

BEST LONG LASTING: YENSA BEAUTY BC Foundation in Medium Warm

BEST FOR OILY SKIN: SMASHBOX COSMETICS Studio Skin Foundation

BEST TINTED MOISTURIZER: THEBALM COSMETICS Anne T. Dotes Tinted Moisturizer

Our Top Dewy Foundation Picks:

1. BEST FOR DRY SKIN:

KOSAS Tinted Face Oil Foundation

• Price: $$
• Coverage: Light 
• Shade Range: 16

When on the quest for a more even complexion, don’t just cover up—treat your skin. This face oil and foundation in-one offers a natural-looking, velvety finish while nourishing your skin with avocado, jojoba, and rosehip seed oils (to name a few). Ipster MLWhoa says, “One of the best products I've received by far. It's perfect to wear by itself or as a primer. A little goes a long way!”

2. BEST BB CREAM:

PURLISSE BEAUTY Perfect Glow BB Cream SPF 30

• Price: $$
• Coverage: Medium 
• Shade Range: 11

For sheer, hydrating coverage, this glowy BB cream is one of our faves (and will be one of yours too once you try it!). With the ultra-lightweight texture of a tinted moisturizer, this foundation suits a wide range of skin types. It's oil-free and light enough for oily skin, but it also layers beautifully with moisturizer for those with dry skin. Plus, it’s formulated with ingredients like chamomile, artemisia, and sugar maple, which work together to boost glow and soothe your skin.

"Every time I've worn this, I get TONS of compliments," says Ipster mrsallen_511. "One person actually thought I had gotten a facial because of the natural glow that I had. Phenomenal product!"

3. BEST WITH SPF:

COOLA Mineral Face SPF 30 Rōsilliance® BB+ Cream

• Price: $$
• Coverage: Sheer 
• Shade Range: 3

Lightweight, water-resistant, plus sun protection—meet your new everyday go-to for complexion-perfecting coverage. It gives the instant results of a smooth, dewy complexion while also being full of vitamins to reverse damage and plankton to brighten dark spots overtime. 

 4. BEST NATURAL FINISH:

WANDER BEAUTY Nude Illusion Liquid Foundation

• Price: $$
• Coverage: Medium to Full 
• Shade Range: 12

This liquid foundation features a handful of nourishing skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid, passiflora incarnata extract, lotus extract, and niacinamide—all of which work together to hydrate your skin, reduce redness, and boost radiance. While those ingredients help your skin look better naturally, this buildable formula easily creates medium to full coverage with a supple, dewy finish.

It's exactly what I have been looking for," says Ipster classy53. "I'm usually a fan of matte foundations but this one gave a luminosity within my comfort zone. It sat perfectly on my skin without cracking or clumping.”

5. BEST CREAM FOUNDATION:

CHARLOTTE TILBURY Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation

• Price: $$
• Coverage: Medium 
• Shade Range: 30

CHARLOTTE TILBURY loves using the word “magic” and for good reason. From her magic moisturizer to this beautiful skin foundation, the secret ingredients make TILBURY’s products more than just run-of-the-mill makeup. This foundation is made with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, which naturally gives skin a moisture-boost to aid in the dewy appearance. The inclusion of coconut extract helps skin appear plumper while also adding moisturizing properties. All of these ingredients come together to create a dewy finish that’s super easy to apply. Just choose a flat foundation brush to blend into imperfections and pores. 

6. BEST SHEER TO LIGHT COVERAGE:

LAURA GELLER Quench-n-Tint Hydrating Foundation

• Price: $$
• Coverage: Sheer to Light
• Shade Range: 5

Think of this as a moisturizer-meets-foundation. The weightless formula is ideal for dry, dehydrated skin (including mature skin), and It’s infused with hyaluronic acid for intense hydration. The sheer-to-light coverage is easy to apply with your finger tips for an even complexion and a dewy glow.

Cherikaydoty says, “[it’s] perfectly moisturizing, nice light coverage, doesn’t ever feel cakey, and doesn’t crease over time.”

7. BEST CONCEALER USED AS A FOUNDATION:

DIOR Forever Skin Correct

• Price: $$$
• Coverage: Medium 
• Shade Range: 30

Maybe full coverage just isn’t your style, which is completely fine. If you like to dab a bit of concealer on certain areas of your face rather than going full-out with foundation but still want a dewy look, this concealer is for you. The DIOR spot corrector is a creamy concealer that lasts for up to 24 hours. It’s not mattifying or drying, so you can use it on your cheeks or just on your nose and forehead to get that dewy look while still blurring imperfections. 

8. BEST MEDIUM TO FULL COVERAGE:

ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Luminous Foundation

• Price: $$
• Coverage: Medium 
• Shade Range: 30

If you’re used to a more full coverage look but also want to embrace a luminous glow, this foundation hits the sweet spot. It does its job at hiding redness, dark spots, and discoloration while also delivering a lightweight, second-skin feel that you’ll love. It’s also water-resistant, so it lasts much longer than the standard dewy skin tint. 

This foundation is full of great reviews, including one from cvgrlmo who says, “LOVE this foundation. The shade matches my skin perfectly and even seems to glow.”

9. BEST CC CREAM:

IT COSMETICS Your Skin But Better® CC+® Cream with SPF 50+ (Medium)

• Price: $$
• Coverage: Full 
• Shade Range: 12

This CC cream checks off a lot of boxes when it comes to foundation must-haves. With SPF 50, you have ample sun protection, and it also features anti-aging technology that is clinically proven to improve skin’s texture, brightness, and hydration by 79 percent. It doesn’t just stop at the long-term benefits, you can also expect the instant gratification of dewy full coverage. 

Ipster Ashurii1990 says, “As someone that doesn't wear heavy makeup, this was a great lightweight formula for me that had just enough cover that I still looked natural.”

10. BEST HYDRATING INGREDIENTS:

TARTE™ Maracuja Tinted Hydrator

• Price: $$
• Coverage: Light Buildable 
• Shade Range: 20

You can give your brushes and sponges a break with this easy-to-use tinted hydrator. Simply apply with your fingers and you’re ready to go. The skin-loving formula delivers 12 hours of hydration and wear with light, buildable coverage that looks and feels like a more radiant version of your natural skin. It also includes maracuja oil, hyaluronic acid, and vegan collagen to promote healthy-looking skin. Major bonus: it has a great shade range in comparison to many other tinted moisturizers. 

Still unsure? Jenrandall 8 says, “This went on like lotion! Stayed on all day and I didn’t have that cake-like feeling on my face.”

11. BEST BUILDABLE FOUNDATION:

MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation

• Price: $$
• Coverage: Light Buildable 
• Shade Range: 39

This versatile foundation can be sheer and dewy or as full coverage as you want. Apply with your fingertips for that no makeup look, or apply with a flat foundation brush for medium to full coverage. It blurs imperfections while also maintaining a lightweight, natural skin finish with hyaluronic acid for a nourished, hydrated look.

Ipster Majorsmoo gives this foundation major props, leaving a review that claims, “BEST FOUNDATION I HAVE EVER USED!!!!! Goes on so light almost like there's nothing on your skin but it looks like your face is flawless.”

12. BEST LONG LASTING:

YENSA BEAUTY BC Foundation

• Price: $$
• Coverage: Full 
• Shade Range: 11

This multitasking foundation formula is a bit of an overachiever, so we’re giving it all the gold stars. It provides your daily dose of SPF, brightens your skin, smooths breakouts, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Most of those abilities are thanks to YENSA's proprietary 8 SuperBlacks Essence, a blend of superfood ingredients that gently yet visibly perfects the skin. Swipe on this buildable, creamy formula for long-lasting coverage that feels just as good as it looks.

Don’t just take our word for it. Irothermund says, “This CC cream is very rich and moisturizing and can be used without moisturizing first. It has a medium-sheer coverage and a dewy finish.”

13. BEST FOR OILY SKIN:

SMASHBOX COSMETICS Studio Skin Foundation

• Price: $$
• Coverage: Full 
• Shade Range: 38

When you want to embrace a dewy glow without going overboard for your oily skin, this hydrating yet oil-free foundation is the perfect happy medium. Technically-speaking, it has a matte finish, but it also contains hyaluronic acid to help your skin hold onto essential moisture, giving your complexion a luminous finish.

Even though this formula is super hydrating, it still provides great coverage. Ipster Kraemelton93 says, “this foundation gives me full coverage and does not feel heavy.”

14. BEST TINTED MOISTURIZER:

THEBALM COSMETICS Anne T. Dotes Tinted Moisturizer

• Price: $
• Coverage: Light
• Shade Range: 10

For those that like to keep it simple, you can never go wrong with tinted moisturizer. The anti-aging formula is great for mature skin and contains bio-retinol, which is a natural ingredient that mimics retinol in the way that it reduces fine lines and wrinkles. It also contains vitamin C to even out your skin tone, all while providing lightweight coverage.

Ipster NatashiaMcCord calls it the “best foundation/moisturiser I’ve ever used! Light, but does the job!” 

Interested in discovering more new products? Take our Beauty Quiz now to get your first IPSY Glam Bag. Already an Ipster? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and Twitter @IPSY.

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