When picking foundations, those with oily, normal, and dry skin have it fairly easy—certain formulas target those skin types. But if you have combination skin? That's a different story.
"Combination skin can be more challenging when it comes to foundation, as different sections of your face have different needs," says celebrity makeup artist Dani Kimiko Vincent, founder of KIMIKO. "But with so many incredible foundation formulas and a vast range of shade options available these days, you should be able to find the foundation that’s perfect for you."
We've compiled a list of our favorite foundations for combination skin, and we’ve even gathered professional tips for application to ensure all-day coverage. Moreover, our beauty team editors also chimed in with their own experiences with specific products.
Our Top Picks
Best Lightweight:
Best Matte Finish:
Gucci Full Coverage Luminous Matte Finish Foundation at Nordstrom$69
Best with SPF:
Best for Sensitive Skin:
Best for Acne-Prone Skin:
Best Overall
Makeup For Ever HD Skin Hydra Glow Foundation
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What Stands Out
The addition of hyaluronic acid adds welcome moisture to your skin.
What Could Be Improved
It's not a full-coverage foundation.
"When it comes to foundation for combo skin, you want something that’s hydrating but lightweight," says Real Simple fashion and beauty editor Hana Hong, who recommends this foundation for combination skin. "With a formula that’s inspired by a sheet mask, the featherlight texture sinks in instantly, feels like nothing on, and gives skin an I-woke-up-like-this glow."
The formula includes hyaluronic acid, and it actually plumps and smooths skin over time, making this a skincare product, too. It creates a natural-looking blurring coverage—but it's non-comedogenic (it won’t clog your pores)—and it makes your skin look radiant. "Whether you’re oily, dry, or somewhere in between (me!), it’ll be your new favorite foundation," adds Real Simple beauty director Heather Muir.
Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural and radiant | SPF: None | Size: 1 oz
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What Stands Out
It's all about that moisture with the hyaluronic acid.
What Could Be Improved
The shade range is a bit limited.
Consider this tinted serum foundation for a more budget-friendly version of our top pick. Like the Makeup Forever foundation, this formula includes hyaluronic acid for moisturizing, and it ultimately has a very lightweight finish. That said, because it's a serum formula, the coverage is fairly sheer, though it is buildable to a point. So if you're looking for a radiant but natural finish, this foundation gets the job done. Plus, it can smooth your skin over time. Something to consider is the shade range: There are only 14 shades, but because this is a sheer product, each shade works with multiple skin tones.
Coverage: Sheer | Finish: Matte | SPF: None | Size: 1 oz
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What Stands Out
The formula soothes irritated skin, reduces redness, and adds moisture.
What Could Be Improved
This formula has a distinct smell.
This formula is fully loaded with aloe, squalane, niacinamide, and allantoin—together they smooth uneven texture, soothe irritation, reduce redness, and add moisture. Yet somehow this foundation feels incredibly lightweight. It comes in 30 shades varying in tones and undertones, offering buildable medium coverage and a dewy, natural finish.
Again, it's truly magical that it's lightweight! We also love the foundation's easy-to-use pump that disperses the product cleanly. However, we will note that the formula has a distinct smell that may take a while to adjust to. The price of this foundation is higher but considering that it covers both skincare and makeup, it's worth the splurge.
Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural | SPF: None | Size: 1 oz
Best Matte Finish
Gucci Full Coverage Luminous Matte Finish Foundation
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What Stands Out
There are 40 shades with varying graphics to find your perfect match.
What Could Be Improved
This foundation is the most expensive option on our list for the same amount of product.
Matte finishes can be tricky on combination skin, but this formula achieves just that. It moisturizes dry skin with hyaluronic acid and black rose oil and keeps oily skin shine-free with absorbent bamboo powder. On top of that, this is a full-coverage foundation that hides almost all imperfections without looking cakey. And it doesn't feel cakey, either, with a breathable yet sweatproof finish (no need to worry about transfer!).
Now, if you thought the Ilia foundation was expensive, get ready for some sticker shock. This Gucci foundation is even higher, but it’s a great full-day, special event makeup.
Coverage: Full | Finish: Matte | SPF: None | Size: 1 oz
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What Stands Out
The luminous finish gives your skin a radiant glow.
What Could Be Improved
It's better applied with a brush than a beauty blender.
One of the most important things you can do for your skin is protect it from the sun's harmful rays. And if you're not a fan of elaborate skincare and makeup routines, you can combine a few steps by using a foundation with SPF, like this one by Shiseido (which has SPF 30).
Beyond its protective properties, we love that this buildable medium-coverage formula has a radiant finish, thanks to "Responsive Sensor Technology" which creates a luminous effect. The brand claims the formula adapts to the skin’s condition, tone, and texture, and we can see the result—your skin will have a natural glow that minimizes fine lines and wrinkles.
Coverage: Medium, buildable | Finish: Fresh, natural | SPF: 30 | Size: 1 oz
Best for Sensitive Skin
BareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation
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What Stands Out
It's made from just five mineral ingredients.
What Could Be Improved
It's easy to over-apply the loose powder, so you need a light hand.
bareMinerals is a well-trusted brand, particularly for its original loose powder foundation. This formula is clean as can be—there are just five mineral ingredients, which are ideal for those with sensitive skin. What's impressive about this foundation is that it creates a perfect airbrushed effect with very little product.
If you go in with a very light touch, you can create a sheer finish that smooths pores, but if you want full coverage, it's buildable. Just be aware that it's easy to overdo it on the application if you're not used to working with loose powder. Start light and build up!
Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural | SPF: 15 or 30 | Size: 0.28 oz
Best for Acne-Prone Skin
Clinique Acne Solutions Foundation
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What Stands Out
It has salicylic acid for acne and post-biotics to reduce irritation and redness.
What Could Be Improved
The coverage isn't full, so you might still see some blemishes through it.
This foundation is specifically formulated for acne-prone skin thanks to an oil-free formula with active ingredients to target blemishes. Salicylic acid unclogs pores and clears breakouts, while the post-biotic lactobacillus ferment, red algae extract, licorice, and caffeine reduce redness.
It’s available in 24 shades and has a pore-smoothing natural matte finish. But with medium coverage, it won't completely cover imperfections on the skin—you might need to go in with concealer to spot treat.
Coverage: Medium | Finish: Natural matte | SPF: None | Size: 1 oz
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What Stands Out
It's water-resistant for up to 40 minutes and reef-safe.
What Could Be Improved
There's no powder puff included.
This might just be the perfect summer foundation for combination skin. It has SPF 20 protection, is water-resistant for 40 minutes, and is reef-safe, which makes it perfect for use at the beach. It comes in a (refillable!) compact that makes it easy to take on the go, though you'll have to bring an applicator separately—there's no powder puff in the compact.
We also love that it's formulated with antioxidants to boost your skin barrier and sea minerals to soothe the skin. This is a highly buildable foundation, so you can keep things sheer with a light swipe or build to full coverage if desired.
Coverage: Sheer-to-full | Finish: Semi-matte | SPF: 20 | Size: 0.2 oz
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What Stands Out
The matte finish is great for those with oily skin.
What Could Be Improved
The matte finish can get a little cakey for those with dry skin.
Fenty has always been a beacon of inclusivity when it comes to shades. And with this foundation, the range has been extended to include an extraordinary 50 shades. The shades are evenly dispersed throughout the spectrum, so those at the lighter and darker ends aren't left hanging.
As a medium-to-full coverage foundation with a matte finish, this formula could easily feel thick but it is lightweight. The mattifying effect can appear a little cakey on dry patches—but oily skin remains shine-free all day.
Coverage: Medium-to-full | Finish: Matte | SPF: None | Size: 1.08 oz
Final Verdict
The Makeup Forever HD Skin Hydra Glow Foundation is our best overall foundation for combination skin. The hyaluronic acid in the formula plumps skin and offers medium coverage with a beautiful glow that our editors adore. For a just-as-perfect drugstore alternative, the L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum Foundation also has hyaluronic acid in its formula that keeps combination skin happy and comfortable.
How to Shop for Foundations for Combination Skin Like a Pro
Coverage
Foundations can provide sheer coverage, full coverage, and everything in between. Sheer coverage creates the most natural look, as the foundation will enhance your skin without blocking out its texture and color. Full coverage, on the other hand, covers up just about everything. If you want sheer coverage in some cases but full coverage in others, look for a buildable formula to adjust the coverage to your needs.
Finish
Common foundation finishes include natural, matte, dewy, and radiant. Ultimately, choosing a finish comes down to personal preference, but matte foundations often do well with oily skin (they reduce shine) while dewy foundations provide dry skin with a more supple look. If you have combination skin, it might take some time to play around with finishes to determine which best suits your skin type.
SPF
These days, many foundations include sun protection—look for an SPF rating of 30, though 15 or 20 will still do you good. The best part about using a foundation with SPF is that it reduces the number of steps you'll need to take in your face prep routine since you won't have to apply sunscreen separately. But if your chosen foundation doesn't have SPF, don't worry! You can layer foundations over sunscreens.
Questions You Might Ask
Which types of foundations are best for combination skin?
Combination skin varies per individual, so there's no single foundation that works best for all combination skin. "In general, combination skin can mean that you tend to be breakout-prone and get oily as the day goes on, likely through the t-zone," says Vincent. "In this case, I suggest reaching for matte or long-wear formulas that will move around less than their heavier counterparts. You can also look for oil-free options, but they are sometimes drying which can accentuate any dry areas."
If your combination skin skews more toward the dry side, one thing that can help is prepping your skin before applying foundation. "If you tend to need more hydration in the cheek area, for example, then really good skin prep and the right kind of primer will be the key to making your foundation work best for your combination skin," says Vincent.
How do you match foundation to your skin tone?
It all comes down to trial and error, so it's wise to visit a makeup store to test products before purchasing. "To match your best shade, first assess the degree of warmth and coolness in your face and neck. The inside of your wrist is also a good spot for determining what your undertones are," says Vincent. "I recommend swatching the foundation on the widest section of your jaw, right in front of your ear. Apply and blend it from the jaw down onto the neck. When the shade basically disappears into both your face and neck, you’ve found your match." She also advises testing foundations in daylight to get your best shade match.
How should you apply foundation to combination skin?
"When it comes to combination skin, the first step to flawless foundation is ensuring you’re treating your skin to the correct skincare for each specific area," says Vincent. "The better your canvas, the better your foundation will look and wear." Once you handle skin care, you should apply a primer—you might need to use different primers in different areas if some are prone to dryness and others are oily.
"When it comes to foundation application, if I’m working on myself versus on a client, I will use my hands, as the warmth of them will warm up the foundation and help create a more seamless look with your skin," says Vincent. "Apply foundation to areas that get oily just where needed and as sparingly as possible, to avoid it looking heavy. Where your skin may be more normal to dry, you can opt for a little more coverage, as it’s less likely to slip or move."
Finally, set your foundation with pressed or loose powder, focusing on the oily areas like the t-zone.
How should you prepare combination skin before applying makeup?
"When working with combination skin I grab both a mattifying primer and a hydrating primer," says Vincent. "Apply your skincare as usual and then apply the mattifying primer first through the t-zone, then follow with the moisturizing primer on the areas that tend to run dry, like the cheeks and neck."
Take Our Word for It
This article was written by Stefanie Waldek, a freelance writer with a decade of experience writing home, travel, and lifestyle stories. To compile this list, Stefanie researched dozens of products, taking into account factors such as coverage, finish, size, cost, and customer reviews. She also spoke with celebrity makeup artist, Dani Kimiko Vincent, for application tips and general shopping advice when browsing foundation options.
