The Best Drugstore Foundations

Today I am sharing my picks for the best drugstore foundations. It's no secret I am a makeup lover. When it comes to foundations, I've tried a TON - both high end and drugstore. Sometimes high end foundations can be worth the price but it's not always necessary to shell out big bucks on makeup. Especially when there are so many great options at the drugstore. These foundations are mostly medium to full coverage and have claims of being long wearing. For this round up, I wanted to try some new foundations and see how they fared against my usual drugstore faves. The results were surprising. I found some new favorites that I am super excited about and I also got validation for some of my tried and true foundations.

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In order to keep things consistent, I used the same application method for all of the foundations. I used the TULA primer and applied the foundations with a damp beauty sponge. I also set the foundation with the same setting powder - Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder. And just for reference, I have normal/combo skin. While all the foundations listed below are great drugstore options, I have listed them in order of how much I liked them and my probability of repurchasing.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation

Revlon ColorStay Foundation has always been my number one drugstore foundation of choice and for good reason. It provides amazing coverage and it lasts ALL. DAY. LONG. Even through humid days or sweaty workouts. There are two formulations: one for oily/combo skin and one for dry/combo skin. I have always used the one for oily skin and found that it works best for me even though my skin tends to lean towards the drier side ever since going through a round of Accutane for adult acne. The only thing that used to bug me about it, is that it didn’t have a pump but in recent years that has changed and now the pump comes standard - hallelujah! It makes applying this foundation a lot cleaner and easier. This foundation sets super quickly so you have to work fast when applying but once it's set, it's not budging. If you have super dry skin, I would probably go with the one for dry/combo skin. If you're on the oily side, the oily/combo version will be your BFF.

This foundation is available at Target and runs for about $10 or at Ulta for $13.99 I wear shade 240 - Medium Beige.

L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte / Pro-Glow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These two foundations are tied in my eyes but for different reasons. Both foundations come in a tube with a squeeze type application. Pro-Glow is the foundation that made my skin look the best right after first application. My skin looked hydrated, glowy and the coverage is medium-full. It claims to have a 24 hour wear. I didn't find that to be true but it does definitely lasts a long time. There was minimal breaking up on my face by the end of a full day. This is the foundation I would choose if I was going to take pictures or going out for the day and wanted a pretty healthy glow. It gives me dull winter skin amazing life!

The Pro-Matte version is one of my absolute faves.  It's matte but not drying so it lasts all day long while looking just how it did when I applied it in the mornings. It's sweat and humidity resistant and makes my skin look healthy while hiding any imperfections. I typically use this one interchangeably with my Revlon ColorStay. Another thing I love about both of these, is that my other products (blush, bronzer, highlighter) blend out  seamlessly and effortlessly on top. Nice and smooth!

Pro-Matte and Pro-Glow Foundations are available at Target (links above) for $10.99 or Ulta for $12.99 I wear shade 204 (Natural Buff) in Pro-Glow and 104 in Pro-Matte.

Revlon PhotoReady Candid Natural Finish Anti-Pollution Foundation

This foundation was new to me and it is one that I will now continue to buy on a regular basis. I definitely found a new favorite in this foundation. First of all, it's under $10 which is awesome. It's provides a medium to full coverage and it is very buildable without getting cakes. It's a thicker creamy foundation and has a pump applicator. The website indicates that this foundation is inspired by skincare and has antioxidants and anti-pollutants which may be why it feels so comfortable on the skin. It goes on super smooth and almost felt like a hydrating moisturizer versus a foundation.  This foundation gave me flawless looking skin with great coverage all day long and my skin felt hydrated but not greasy.

This foundation is $8.99 at Target and $10.99 at Ulta. I wear shade 240 (Natural Beige).

Rimmel Lasting Finish 25HR Breathable Foundation

Prior to this, I had not tried a foundation from Rimmel but I was so pleasantly surprised by this one. What I loved about it before I even tried it on was the applicator. The cap has a sponge tip applicator attached. It makes application clean and easy as I can go right from the bottle and swipe to where I want it on my face before blending with a beauty sponge. In addition to the cool applicator, this foundation lasted for HOURS. My foundation looked the same at 8 PM as it did at 8 AM.  The coverage was super buildable so you can go as light or as full as you'd like. This is another one that I plan on purchasing from here on out and the price point really can't be beat!

This foundation is $6.99 at Target. I wear shade 200 (soft beige)

CoverGirl TruBlend Matte Made

I love CoverGirl mascaras but I gotta be honest - I did not have a lot of faith in their foundations. CoverGirl foundation brought back Junior High flashbacks with their old school super scented orange-y liquid. I decided to give them a shot since this foundation boasted a full coverage long wearing matte consistency. I was so surprised but this foundation worked out great!  Awesome coverage, a matte finish that was similar to my beloved Estee Lauder Double Wear and lasted all day long. This foundation has a pump applicator and is a creamy liquid consistency. Seriously surprised by how well this worked out! I will say if you prefer a lighter foundation, this may not be the one for you. It's definitely a more full and less lightweight foundation.

This foundation is available at Target for $8.99 or at Ulta for $11.99 I picked out shade M10 (golden natural) but this was a 1 shade too dark for me.

Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation

This foundation did not impress me upon first application. In fact, if I based my opinion on the first 5 minutes of wear, it wouldn't have even made it to the list. It felt like it was sitting on my skin rather than blending in and all the texture in my skin looked more pronounced. So why is it in this post? Well, after about 30 minutes or so, I noticed the foundation started to settle in - in a good way. This is the type of foundation that looked better and better as the day went on. Just like the others, awesome coverage and staying power which is just what I looked for in a foundation.

This foundation is available at Target for $9.99 and at Ulta for $11.99. I wear shade 112 (Natural Ivory)

NYX Professional Makeup Can't Stop Won't Stop

This is marketed as a full coverage foundation with a matte finish and a pump applicator. The texture is a thinner liquid and it gives me a flawless finish right after initial application. The coverage is more on the medium side rather than full as the bottle indicates but it is definitely buildable to full. This foundation goes on super lightweight but it does dry really quickly so you have to work fast to avoid streaky application. I learned that on my second go around with this one. I wouldn't say that this gave me 24hours of wear but definitely a good 10-12 which is awesome for a drugstore foundation. Plus it's so lightweight that it truly doesn't feel like I have anything on. This one is a smidge pricer than the other ones on the list.

This foundation is available at Target for $14.99 and at Ulta for $15.00 I wear shade "Buff".

L'Oreal Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation

This foundation lives up to its "Fresh Wear" claims. It's very lightweight and airy on the skin and gives a natural finish. The texture is a thin liquid and it is very easily blendable into the skin. This is definitely a lighter coverage foundation and I needed a couple layers before it gave me the coverage I was looking for. This would be perfect for those wanting a lighter, more natural finish. The only negative thing I have to say about this foundation is that it gave me the shortest amount of wear time before I started to see the foundation breaking up in certain spots. I am still adding it to the list because the finish and coverage leaves the skin looking so pretty and healthy! This isn't a foundation I would count on for all day wear and humid days but for a night out or for shorter bouts of time - it's perfect!

This foundation is available at Target for $11.99 and at Ulta for $14.99 I wear shade 425 (linen).

That's all for now...

There were a couple other drugstore foundations I tried but they didn't quite make the cut for one reason or another. These foundations are the best drugstore foundations I tried. I will definitely keep this post updated as I find new ones to share. I hear the one from Milani is great so I will be grabbing that one next! If you have any recommendations, let me know below! My next drugstore product to test out will be mascaras so stay tuned!

 

 

Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. The products linked are ones I use personally and wholeheartedly recommend.

Thank you for your continued support!