We’ve Got You Covered—These 9 Full-Coverage Foundations Are Tester and MUA-Approved (2024)

TL;DR

Out of all the foundations we tested, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Longwear Foundation impressed us the most. It offered full coverage without budging or caking. For a more affordable pick, Milani Conceal + Perfect Liquid Foundation provides excellent coverage, has a beautiful skin-like finish, and comes in 45 shades.

There’s no denying that skin tints deserve a spot in your makeup collection, but sometimes you want a classic full-coverage foundation. Whether you’re aiming to conceal acne, redness, or hyperpigmentation, or a full-glam look is more aligned with your aesthetic or plans for the day, a fuller coverage foundation can be the way to go.

According to celebrity makeup artist Misha Shahzada, full-coverage foundations offer a more opaque finish than other types of foundation. While sheer options are typically more forgiving in terms of color match, finding the ideal full-coverage foundation for your skin tone can be more challenging. So, we put several full-coverage foundations to the test in our lab in NYC. We evaluated each based on coverage, shade range, texture, wear, finish, and transfer resistance. And ahead, we’re sharing which ones outperformed their competition.

Our Top Picks

What We Like

  • Great blendability

  • Comfortable, balanced feel on the skin

  • Strong transfer resistance

What to Consider

  • Can emphasize dry patches slightly

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

This is, without a doubt, one of the most popular full-coverage foundations around. 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. It can cling to dry patches—which is pretty common with full-coverage, matte foundations—but if you properly exfoliate and moisturize before using it, you’ll be able to achieve a smooth, full-coverage result that looks natural and, most importantly, is long-lasting. In addition to admiring its wearability, we appreciated that it passed the transfer test with perfect scores. It also comes in a pretty extensive shade range, which is especially important for foundations that offer lots of coverage and won't be as forgiving if your shade doesn't match your skin color.

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Joyce, tester: “With two pumps, it covered almost all my imperfections and made my skin look very even. There was no foundation transfer when I used a blotting paper, so it has great staying power.”

Finish: Natural matte | Number of Shades: 45 | 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 cancels out redness in the skin. A second layer allowed us to achieve completely full coverage that totally blurs 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. To avoid accentuating dry patches, we recommend gently exfoliating and moisturizing prior to application. And did we mention it comes 45 shades that range from fair to dark in a variety of undertones?

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Mia, tester: “The foundation feels weightless. Since it’s full coverage, it was clear I was wearing a foundation, but in a way that left my skin looking like my own skin.”

What We Like

  • Lightweight, breathable texture

  • Buildable coverage

  • Imparts a natural, glowing finish

What to Consider

  • Shade range needs work

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

It’s not often that cushion foundations provide significant coverage, but this one can be built up from light to full, 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, and we would like to see the brand expand the range.

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Jeanie, tester: “The coverage was amazing—it provided a natural glow, it covered the redness that I deal with, and it looked like my skin.”

What We Like

  • Budge-proof once applied

  • Sets down quickly

  • Looks natural on skin

What to Consider

  • Transfers just slightly

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

Another incredibly popular full-coverage foundation, this one stands out for its long-wearing capabilities. The sweatproof and waterproof formula won’t budge, and it’s no surprise that it performed beautifully in our transfer test, resisting creasing and fading as we wore it. As for coverage and finish, it’s full coverage 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 maintains a true skin-like appearance. We also love that it layers nicely with the makeup you apply on top of it. This product was recently reformulated, so if you previously tried it and found it to be heavy, this is your sign to give it another go. It now offers the same coverage and longevity with a much more lightweight and breathable texture.

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Michelle, tester: “The foundation blended easily and felt like a second skin. My skin looked natural and it evened out my skin tone.”

What We Like

  • Easy to blend

  • Lightweight texture

  • Smooth, skin-like finish

What to Consider

  • Creases a bit

Finish: Natural | Number of Shades: 36 | 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.

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Alyssa, tester: “I absolutely adore the finish of this product, but I knew I would. My skin truly looks airbrushed—it's the perfect amount of satin and matte finish. This looks like my skin, just a way elevated version of it.”

What We Like

  • Feels weightless on the skin

  • Can be layered up for additional coverage

  • Creates a natural matte finish

What to Consider

  • Transfers quite a bit

Finish: Matte | Number of Shades: 31 | 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 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. The skin finish is 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 powder and a setting spray.

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Sunita, tester: “This product looked natural, and I was able to control the coverage. It looked good on the skin and I think it would work well as a setting powder as well if needed.”

What We Like

  • Lightweight, matte finish

  • Stays in place once applied

  • Great shade range

What to Consider

  • Could have more coverage

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

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. During testing, 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 deal-breaker for us.

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Surfina, tester: “I would recommend this product to anyone who doesn't have blemishes or dark patches. Anyone with pretty good skin wanting to look more polished would benefit from this product.”

What We Like

  • A little bit goes a long way

  • Can be applied mess-free with fingertips

  • Excellent coverage

What to Consider

  • Some people might find the texture to be a bit heavy on the skin

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

We were curious to see if this foundation balm lived up to the TikTok hype—and it did. 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 its matte finish, we found that our skin looked and felt more hydrated after applying it. We appreciated that it set in place and didn’t crease as we wore it. While we didn't dislike the texture, some online reviewers share 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.

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Pooja, tester: “I only used my fingers to apply, and I used very little, but it provided full coverage in one go. It did a great job of hiding my blemishes and hyperpigmentation.”

What We Like

  • Gorgeous, natural finish on the skin

  • Easy to blend

  • Doesn’t settle into lines or pores

What to Consider

  • Transfers a bit

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

Finding a great full-coverage foundation that includes SPF can be tricky, but the Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation 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. 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.

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Lee, tester: “My face was glowing, even-toned, and, dare I say, stunning? I would still need concealer, but this foundation did an incredible job evening out my skin.”

What to Look for When Buying Full-Coverage Foundation

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  • Shade Range: We’re probably stating the obvious here, but it’s really important to seek out a foundation that comes in a wide range of shades so that you can get your best match. "I always suggest making sure the color is a perfect match because some foundations oxidize, and this is far more noticeable on someone wearing a full coverage base," says Shahzada. "When matching a shade, apply it to a small area and step outside in natural light after 20 minutes or so to ensure it’s the right match."
  • Ingredients: Board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Rachel Westbay, MD, recommends opting for a formula with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid. In terms of what she recommends avoiding, that list is a bit more extensive. If you're prone to breakouts, she says to stay away from foundations containing oils and silicones as they can be pore-clogging. "Another big one to avoid is lanolin, as it is highly comedogenic," she says. "Other names for lanolin are acetylated lanolin alcohol, ethoxylated lanolin, solulan 16, and PEG 16 lanolin. Lastly, try to steer clear of sodium chloride, which is sometimes added to foundations as a thickening agent and can exacerbate and/or induce breakouts." Celebrity makeup artist Maria Vargas agrees, and recommends avoiding formulas with potential irritants, such as fragrances, especially if you have sensitive skin.
  • Formula: It is key to find a formula that complements your skin type, feels comfortable, and aligns with your preferences. Most brands specify which skin type their foundation is best for, but generally, if you have oily skin, matte options will be fitting. If you have dry skin, more luminous picks will work.

How We Tested Full-Coverage Foundation

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We believe in using the products we recommend just like you would—which is why wemake it a priority to test products in real-life settings and in our NYC-based lab.

  • Full-Coverage Foundations Tested: 32
  • Methodology: Full-coverage foundations were tested in our lab. Each one was considered on a variety of skin types (oily, dry, sensitive, combination, etc.) in several different skin tones.
  • Factors Considered:Shade match, application, coverage, finish (matte, natural, luminous), transfer resistance, wear, and value.

FAQ

  • How do I apply full-coverage foundation?

    "I highly recommend prepping the skin very well beforehand (consistent exfoliating, moisturizing, etc.) as this will offer a smoother surface for a more flawless foundation finish," says Shahzada. "Apply the foundation in layers instead of a large amount from the start." Vargas suggests focusing on the areas you’d like to conceal, as they require more coverage.

    "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," Vargas adds.

  • How do I make full coverage foundation 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 you prep your skin properly 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 benefits those with acne-prone skin, hyperpigmentation, or uneven skin texture, but it can be used by anyone who wants a high-coverage finish," explains Vargas.

  • What type of foundation should I wear for acne-prone skin?

    If you have acne-prone skin and are concerned about applying makeup on breakouts, allow Dr. Westbay to ease your mind. "It is absolutely okay 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 noncomedogenic and don’t have any ingredients that can clog pores or lead to breakouts.

Meet Our Experts

For this story, we consulted three experts to gather more insights about what to keep in mind when buying a full-coverage foundation.

  • Dr. Rachel Westbay, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical.
  • Misha Shahzada is a celebrity makeup artist who's worked on faces like Millie Bobby Brown, Emma Stone, Lola Tung, and more
  • Maria Vargas is a celebrity makeup artist who's worked with clients like Jessica Alba, Eva Mendes, Chanel Iman, and more.

Why Trust Byrdie

Alyssa Kaplan is an associate commerce editor, experienced writer and editor in the beauty industry, and a product tester specializing in cosmetics. She has tested many foundations in various formulas, including several on this list. She's also experienced a variety of skin concerns like acne, during which she experimented with tons of different foundations and foundation application techniques. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing and product development in the cosmetics industry.

Austen Tosone is a beauty writer and content creator based in NYC. She tests dozens of products each month for work and is always looking for the top makeup, skincare, and hair product recommendations to share with readers. She updated this story in 2024.

We’ve Got You Covered—These 9 Full-Coverage Foundations Are Tester and MUA-Approved (2024)
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