These 9 Full-Coverage Foundations Are Worth Investing In (2024)

• Our Picks

• How We Tested

• What To Look For

• FAQ

• Why Trust Byrdie

This is, without a doubt, one of the most popular full-coverage foundations on the market, and for good reason. Despite having a pretty thick texture which often makes for a cakey finish, it blends out beautifully on the face and can create a natural-looking base—if used properly. It can cling to dry patches, which is pretty common with full-coverage foundations—but if you properly exfoliate and moisturize before using it, you’ll be able to yield a smooth, full-coverage result that appears skin-like and most importantly, lasts.

In addition to revering its long-wearing ability, we appreciated that it passed the transfer test with perfect scores—this is especially important if you have oily skin and struggle with your foundation migrating or breaking apart. It also comes in a pretty extensive shade range that's well dispersed across the skin tones, which is especially important for foundations that offer lots of coverage and won't be forgiving if your shade doesn't match your skin color.

Who It's For

If you’re looking for a matte, full-coverage foundation that will last all day and night without creasing or fading, we can’t recommend this one enough.Though we think it's ideal for those with oily or balanced skin, it's also a good choice for those with dry or combination skin, so long as you properly exfoliate and moisturize prior to application. Essentially, it's for people who want coverage, longevity, and perhaps a little slice of luxury—we can't ignore how gorgeous the bottle is.

Finish: Matte | Number of shades: 40 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

It’s not often that cushion foundations provide significant coverage, but this one can be layered and built up to go from fairly light coverage to offering enough coverage to completely even out your complexion. Aside from experiencing a bit of transfer, our experience with this foundation was overwhelmingly positive. We loved the natural, glowy finish, how easily it blended into the skin, and how weightless and comfortable it felt when applied. It completely covered redness while maintaining a skin-like appearance and didn’t settle into pores or fine lines.

One thing we're not impressed by is the shade range—it's very limited. While the colors are fairly flexible because it doesn't offer full-on coverage right off the bat, we would still like to see the brand expand the range significantly.

Who It's For

If you’re sensitive to the feeling of makeup sitting on your skin but you still want to wear a product that you can build up for total coverage, this is a fantastic option for you. It's great for people who crave versatility out of their makeup—it can be used on days when you don't want or need complete coverage, but it can also be layered up to offer you the covering capabilities when you want it.

Finish: Natural | Number of shades: 6 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

With a unique mousse-like consistency and incredible buildability, this budget-friendly foundation quickly became a favorite during testing. With one pump, we were able to blend out the formula seamlessly with a brush and a sponge to yield medium coverage that nicely canceled out redness in the skin. A second layer allowed us to achieve completely full coverage that totally blurred the appearance of dark spots and blemishes. We love that it sets down to a natural matte finish that doesn’t look dry or radiant—it’s truly somewhere in the middle. The mousse-y texture is easy to blend, though it is slightly thick and can look heavy if you have obvious dry patches on your skin. To avoid this, we recommend gently exfoliating and moisturizing prior to application. It’s also worth noting that it can start to look a bit greasy on oily skin throughout the day, so we recommend setting it in place with powder if you tend to get oily in your T-zone.

All-in-all, we were extremely impressed by this foundation. It provides excellent coverage, has a beautiful, natural-looking finish, and comes in 45 shades that range from fair to dark in a variety of undertones.

Who It’s For

This foundation is a great choice for anyone who wants a full-coverage formula at an affordable price tag. Although it can get a bit greasy throughout the day, it’s oil-free, making it a great option for those with oily or acne-prone skin types who want to avoid pore-clogging oils. We think all skin types can wear this pick so long as you prep and set it accordingly.

Finish: Natural matte | Number of shades: 45 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Read Full Review: Milani's Conceal + Perfect Foundation Is Great for All-Day Glam

Another incredibly popular full-coverage foundation, this one stands out for its long-wearing capabilities. Once applied to the skin, it’s not going anywhere. So, it’s no surprise that it performed beautifully in our transfer test and resisted creasing and fading as we wore it.

As for coverage and finish, the coverage is full and can be built up or sheered out depending on your preferences, and the finish is matte but not flat. Though it can cover pretty much anything, it manages to maintain a true skin-like appearance. We also love that it layers nicely with the makeup you apply on top of it. And if you've tried this foundation in the past and found it to be a bit heavy, we recommend giving it another go—it was recently reformulated and now offers the same coverage and longevity with a much more lightweight and breathable texture.

Who It's For

If you’re in need of a foundation to last you through a long day or a special event, we think you’ll really enjoy this one.Though it has a matte finish and is great for oily and balanced skin, it also works beautifully on dry skin. Plus, it's sweat-proof and water-proof, so if you live in a hot or humid climate, it has your name written all over it.

Finish: Matte | Number of shades: 50 | Cruelty-Free: No

Pat McGrath Labs nailed the shade selection of this foundation. In addition to creating shades that vary in depth, there's also a vast range of undertones to cater to a large spectrum of skin tones. Even better? The formula looks stunning on the skin and performs beautifully. While it’s not marketed as a full-coverage foundation, it’s extremely buildable and can be layered on to create a pretty full-coverage look. After applying just one coat, it worked beautifully to even out the complexion while maintaining a natural appearance that didn’t lean overly matte or dewy.

While we did notice a bit of creasing in the smile lines, it wasn’t significant and could likely be avoided by setting the area with powder. Considering the inclusive shade range, airbrushed finish on the skin, and long-wearing nature of this formula, we highly recommend checking it out.

Who It's For

If you struggle to find foundations that match your skin tone, give this pick with a great range a try. It's also an excellent choice for people who can't stand the feeling of heavy makeup on their skin. Though many full-coverage options can feel a bit heavy on the skin, this one is an exception—it feels weightless without sacrificing coverage.

Finish: Natural | Number of shades: 36 | Cruelty-Free: No

One layer of this full-coverage powder foundation will provide light coverage, while additional layers will build up the pigmentation to offer much more covering ability. We loved the buildability and how well it evened out the complexion, but we would have liked to see just a bit more coverage on top of the discoloration. If you want to opt for powder foundation but need additional coverage, you can always conceal blemishes first and then apply the powder.

In terms of the finish on the skin, it looks completely matte without appearing dry or cakey. It layered nicely on top of moisturizer and didn’t crease or fade as we wore it. Keep in mind that it did rub off quite a bit onto the blotting paper during the transfer test, so we recommend setting it in place with a setting spray.

Who It's For

Powder foundations are excellent for people with oily skin or those who dislike the feeling of liquid products on their face—and if you’re looking for a powder formula with great coverage, this one is Byrdie-approved. It's also ideal for anyone who wants additional coverage on top of their liquid foundation.

Finish: Matte | Number of shades: 31 | Cruelty-Free: No

We’d be surprised if you're not already familiar with this iconic foundation from Fenty Beauty. Aside from helping to set the industry standard for shade range inclusivity, this one also has a loyal fan base who praise it for its formula. We can see why it’s so well-loved, thanks to how blendable it is, how comfortable it is on the skin, and how it's almost completely transfer-proof (it's a great example of a transfer-resistant foundation). It didn’t crease or fade and we loved how skin-like it looked.

If we could change one thing about it, it would be the level of coverage. Despite being marketed as a full-coverage foundation, one tester struggled to get it to fully cover her melasma. The good news is it builds well and can be layered with concealer, so this isn’t a dealbreaker for us.

Who It's For

This is a great option for a wide range of foundation-wearers. It comes in a very extensive shade range, feels comfortable on the skin, builds up nicely, and offers a matte finish. It's suitable for everyday wear and for achieving a more perfect look, making it a versatile option to have in your makeup stash.

Finish: Matte | Number of shades: 59 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

After going viral on TikTok a while back, we were curious to see if this foundation balm lives up to the hype—and it does. It provides complete coverage in just one layer, a little bit of product goes a very long way, and it can be applied using your fingertips, a brush, or a sponge, without the mess that liquid and powder formulas can create. Despite having a matte finish, we found that our skin looked and felt more hydrated after applying it, and we appreciated that it set in place and didn’t crease as we wore it.

While we didn't dislike texture, some online reviewers claim that it feels a bit thick and heavy on the skin. If you’re sensitive to that, we recommend applying it in light layers using a damp sponge.

Who It's For

Liquid and powder foundations can be messy—raise your hand if you've ever been victimized by a major spill in your makeup bag. We have! This option is great for those who crave mess-free products because the balm can't spill and it can be applied using whatever your desired application method is. It's also a good choice for anyone seeking a formula that provides ultra-full coverage that doesn't crease or fade.

Finish: Matte | Number of shades: 40 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Finding a great full-coverage foundation that includes SPF can be tricky, but this one is fantastic. It’s formulated with zinc oxide as well as niacinamide and squalane for hydration benefits. The texture is lightweight, creamy, and easy to blend, and the finish on the skin is absolutely stunning. It’s the perfect midpoint between matte and dewy, and it creates a gorgeous veil of coverage on the face. During testing, we were impressed by how well it covered minor redness and discoloration, though we noticed that we would need additional concealer to fully cover under-eye circles.We also appreciated that it didn't settle into fine lines or emphasize texture. Though it did transfer a bit, we think this would be mitigated by lightly setting it with powder.

Who It's For

If you're someone who likes a no-fuss beauty routine with products that help you combine steps, this is the full-coverage option for you. It's great for a wide range of skin tones and skin types, and it's formulated with niacinamide and SPF so you can get skin benefits in addition to the coverage you crave.

Finish: Natural | Number of shades: 36 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Testing Full Coverage Foundation for Shade Range and Finish

FAQ

• How do I apply full-coverage foundation?

  "I highly recommend prepping the skin very well beforehand (I.e. consistent exfoliating, moisturizing, etc.) as this will offer a smoother surface for a more flawless foundation finish," says Shahzada. "Apply the foundation in layers vs. a large amount from the start."

  "Try focusing on the areas you’d like to conceal that require more coverage instead of an all-over application," adds Vargas. "Remember to blend the foundation down the neck and onto the ears for a seamless look.I like to set the foundation with a translucent powder to enhance its longevity and prevent any unwanted shine."

• How do I make a full-coverage foundation look skin-like?

  Full-coverage foundations are excellent for camouflaging redness, discoloration, and blemishes, but they can often look heavy and mask-like if not applied correctly. To avoid this and ensure you have the most natural-looking finish, be sure to prep your skin with moisturizer and apply your foundation in light layers. In addition to proper skin prep, Vargas says it's important to ensure you have a spot-on shade match and are choosing a formula that works well with your skin type.

• How do I make full coverage last?

  Making foundations last all day and night can be tricky, but there are a few things you can do to enhance their wear. Ensuring that your skin is properly prepped is important because when foundations cling to dryness or are applied on top of excess oil, they can fade and break down. Before applying your full-coverage foundation, be sure to exfoliate any dry patches and apply a light layer of moisturizer.

  Once applied, locking your base in place with setting powder and a long-wearing setting spray can make all the difference. But don’t overdo it—too much product can lead to heaviness and may make your makeup break down.

• Who should wear full-coverage foundation?

  "Full-coverage [foundation] can be for anyone, but I would suggest it for certain types of TV and for anyone who wants to hide their blemishes or discoloration completely," says Shahzada. "It benefits those with acne-prone skin, hyperpigmentation, or uneven skin texture, but it can be used by anyone who wants a high-coverage finish," adds Vargas.

  If you have acne-prone skin and are concerned about applying makeup on breakouts, allow Dr. Westbay to ease your mind. "It is absolutely OK to use full-coverage foundation if you have acne-prone skin and many with acne elect to use this type of foundation because they feel more comfortable with the coverage it provides," she tells Byrdie. "The most important cardinal rule in choosing a foundation for acne-prone skin is to look for formulations that are non-comedogenic and don’t have any ingredients that can clog pores or lead to breakouts"