Teen Vogue Editors Pick Their Favorite Foundations
If you've ever so much as walked into a Sephora, you know there are certain challenges that await you within. Among the most difficult? Finding your perfect foundation match, for a number of reasons. Brands have gotten better at finally offering a diverse array of colors for every skin tone — thank you, Fenty Beauty, for helping make this the norm! — but different formulas, finishes, and oxidization levels can mean you leave with a bottle that looks right in the store, but totally different out in the real world. Asking your friends for recommendations is a tried and true method... but if your BFF has dry skin and you have oily pores, you're probably going to have different foundation needs.
At Teen Vogue HQ, we know finding the right base layer for your skin type, texture, and tone can be tricky, and that once you find a fave, you'd be hard pressed to try anything else. So what are our editors's tried-and-true favorites? We polled the crew to explain their picks. Some editors prefer drugstore formulas, others splurge on the high-end stuff. One editor loves a foundation stick while another picked a liquid formula precisely because it is watery. The point is, there is a foundation out there for you — let this edition of the Teen Vogue Top 10 serve as a starting point.
1/11Nars Velvet Matte Foundation Stick
"I don't typically wear foundation (or base makeup at all), and when I do, I don't want or really need a lot of coverage. The stick allows for a lot of control so I can apply just the right amount and even though it's a matte, the texture and sponge applicator prevent me from looking dry or cakey." — Sammie Scott, Social Media Editor
Shop Now: Nars Velvet Matte Foundation Stick, $45, available at Sephora.
2/11Too Faced Born this Way
"Five words: Smooth, full coverage, perfect match. I have medium tone skin with yellow-ish undertones, and this color gets that exactly. Every time I wear it, people say 'you look great.'" — Samhita Mukhopadhyay, Executive Editor
Shop Now: Too Faced Born this Way, $39, available at Sephora.
3/11The Ordinary Serum Foundation
"I'm typically pretty anti-foundation because I'm not great with makeup and also sweat a lot, so this super lightweight formula from The Ordinary is perfect. It's very low-maintenance and not heavy, and goes on like a serum. It makes my face look slightly more even and less red, but not in an intense way, which is nice because again, sweat." — Claire Dodson, Entertainment News Editor
Shop Now: The Ordinary Serum Foundation, $6.70, available at The Ordinary.
4/11Cover FX Total Cover Cream Foundation
"I'm still in shock I actually found a foundation that works with my skin tone; I remember having to mix them together and settle for something that makes my skin look dull and gray. Cover FX is one of those rare brands that offers a wide selection of shades and pays attention to your undertone as well. My skin looks so smooth and even, I get compliments all the time!" — Jessica Andrews, Fashion Features Editor
Shop now: Cover FX Total Cover Cream Foundation, $42, available at Sephora.
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5/11L'Oréal Infallible Pro-Glow
"It's a very liquid formula, but it dries down pretty quickly — perfect for building the coverage I need on any given day. If you apply a translucent powder on top, it removes some of the glow and highlight effect, leaving you looking dewy in all the right places. I like buffing a thin layer on with a kabuki brush, and that cancels out all of my rosacea and my skin's natural redness. Because I have keratosis pilaris and dry skin, a heavy formula can make my foundation looked caked on; this feels like my skin, but better." — Ella Cerón, Deputy Editor
Shop Now: L'Oréal Infallible Pro-Glow, $12.99, available at L'Oréal.
6/11Beautycounter Dew Skin Moisturizing Coverage
"This lightweight foundation goes on super smoothly and provides the perfect amount of coverage — instead of looking matte or cakey. It gives my skin a natural looking glow. Plus, it has SPF 20 in it, so on days when I forget to put sunscreen on under my makeup (... which happens more than I like to admit), I know my skin is protected." — Zoe Weiner, Beauty Writer
Shop Now: Beautycounter Dew Skin Moisturizing Coverage, $45, available at Beautycounter.
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7/11Too Faced Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation
"You only need a little, it doesn't look too heavy or cakey, and most importantly, it doesn't make my nose shiny or oily which I experience often with medium or full-coverage foundations. I am at constant war with my nose pores, and I find this covers them nicely. It also blends easily with a brush, which is my preferred method of application." — Carrie Marks, Associate Director of Audience Development & Social Media
Shop Now: Too Faced Peach Perfect, $36, available at Sephora.
8/11Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r
"It doesn't dry out my skin, provides great coverage, and lasts forever." — Lucy Diavolo, News and Politics News Editor
Shop Now: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r, $34, available at Sephora.
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9/11Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation
"My skin has a lot of redness in it and I've dealt with rosacea throughout my life. It's been hard finding a foundation that neutralizes my skin, and the redness was a huge source of self-consciousness throughout my teenage years. (I almost never wore my hair up because I would pull it in front of my face when I had a flare-up.) I started using Tarte's Amazonian Clay Foundation last year after experimenting with a few others, and I love it more than any other product that I've ever tried. It's long-lasting, goes on really evenly, and has a matte finish that keeps my face from getting shiny. Best of all, I feel like it hides the redness and makes me feel more confident." — De Elizabeth, Weekend Editor
Shop Now: Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation, $39, available at Sephora.
10/11W3ll People Altruist Foundation Powder
"I initially sought it out for its natural, toxin-free qualities; but became hooked because it's just so good. It's so light that it truly feels like I'm barely wearing anything on my face, but the coverage is amazing. I feel like I put a smoothing Instagram filter on my face whenever I apply the Altruist powder. I like to follow it up with W3ll People's Bio Brightener Invisible Powder to set my makeup. I rarely used powder foundation before this (when I go liquid, I use Charlotte Tilbury Light Wonder), but I am so in love." — Emma Sarran Webster, Contributing Editor
Shop Now: W3ll People Altruist Foundation Powder, $29.49, available at Target.
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