Any beauty lover will tell you that good makeup starts with good skin prep. While that's true, this can be extra tricky for people with dry skin .
Not only do they need the right skincare products and primers, but they also need makeup that's suited for their skin type. This is especially the case when it comes to foundation .
Without the right ingredients, foundation can make dry skin look even drier and bring out any patches, peeling, or rough texture.
“When I’m working with dry skin, I will always look for a foundation that’s going to work with the skin rather than sit on top of it,” says celebrity makeup artist Alexa Persico . “I tend to gravitate toward a hydrating liquid or serum like formulas with ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin and finishes that are natural radiant or dewy.” She adds that matte and full-coverage formulas often emphasize visible dryness, so it’s better to keep it light and build it up as needed.
Considering I have combination skin that tends to run dry in the cooler months, I decided to go straight to the pros to find out which foundations are actually worth the investment. Curious about their top picks? Keep scrolling for all the details.
Any product that combines skincare and makeup is a win in my book. Turns out makeup artists love it too, which is why this Westman Atelier foundation made the list.
"I love this when I want the skin to look incredibly fresh and natural," says global makeup artist and luxury educator Alexandra McCormick . "It has that beautiful skincare-meets-makeup quality and gives dry or mature skin a luminous, healthy-looking finish without feeling like you’re wearing a lot of foundation."
Key ingredients: Exosome technology, Suprême Bio-Complex (oligopeptide-1, peptide duo, vitamin B3), sunflower, rosemary and seaweed extracts
Customer review: "I am 63 with dry skin and this foundation is perfect! I always have high expectations and have tried some of the most expensive high end foundations and this one beats them all!"
Some people automatically assume that designer makeup is overrated, but I'm here to tell you that's far from the case. The proof?
This ultra hydrating formula from Chanel. "This is such a beautiful option for dry skin because it gives you coverage while maintaining that fresh, hydrated look," says McCormick.
"It feels lightweight on the skin and is especially lovely when you want the complexion to look polished but still very much like real skin."
Pros: Lightweight, hydrating for up to 12 hours
Cons: May require layering for more coverage
Key ingredients: Jasmine extract, tamarind seed extract, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate
Customer review: "Amazing! It leaves the skin so fresh and dewy. It gives a lovely natural glow. Chanel products do not disappoint. I will be repurchasing this product and keeping it in my daily makeup routine."
I'll be the first to admit that Nars has never let me down, so it's no surprise that makeup artists love it as well. "This is one I recommend when someone wants a little more coverage without sacrificing luminosity," says McCormick. "It’s buildable, gives the skin a beautifully smooth, natural-looking finish and doesn’t have that heavy, flat appearance that can emphasize dryness."
Pros: Medium buildable coverage, suitable for normal to dry skin
Cons: Fragrance may irritate sensitive skin
Key ingredients: biomimetic oat, Japanese lilyturf, cacao peptides, milk thistle, glycerin
Customer review: "I have used so many foundations for my dry skin, but this one is the best of all. I feel very comfortable, and it does not look cakey at all."
As a beauty editor, I can confirm that this is hands down one of the most loved and talked-about foundations. In fact, several of our editors have tested this formula on numerous occasions and have given rave reviews . "This has been a makeup-artist favorite for a reason," says Persico. "It gives you that beautiful perfected finish without making the skin look heavy or overly made up, and I love how it photographs."
Pros: Natural radiant finish, blurring effect
Key ingredients: Niacinamide, glycerin, hydrolyzed lupine protein, pancratium maritimum extract
Customer review: "The Armani Luminous Silk Liquid Foundation is as fabulous as everyone says it is. It doesn't clog my pores or accentuate my fine lines. When using it, my skin looks flawless and glowy. I absolutely love it!"
Dior has a wonderful shade range and the formula is buildable and breathable. It also contains skin-loving ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides, glycerin. "This is a great option when you want a little more coverage but still want the skin to have life and radiance," says Persico. "It gives that polished, perfected look without the flatness I sometimes see with traditional full-coverage foundations.”
Pros: Natural radiant finish, 48-hour hydration
Cons: Contains fragrance, SPF 25 may not replace dedicated sunscreen
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides, glycerin
Customer review: "I super like the formula of this liquid foundation. Feels like wearing nothing, but my skin is super hydrated and glowy. Def a holy grail for a dry skin girly like me."
If you haven't tried makeup from Lady Gaga's Haus Labs, consider this your sign. "I love how this balances coverage with a really natural looking finish," says Persico. "It’s especially nice when someone wants to even everything out but doesn’t want their foundation to look thick or mask like!" It's also worth noting that it's available in 51 (!!) shades.
Pros: Natural skin-like finish, buildable coverage, hydrating feel
Key ingredients: Fermented arnica, BioFerment 7 Complex, IntelliZen 7 Complex, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, squalane
Customer review: "Love how it feels on my skin! This is my first try having a luxury foundation ,and it’s great for my dry skin. It melts in beautifully."
If you're willing to splurge a little, consider this option from Clé de Peau Beauté for a radiant finish. "The formula is enriched with moisturizing ingredients including hyaluronic acid for 12-hour hydration," says celebrity makeup artist Elaina Badro. "This product goes on evenly and smooths out imperfections." She adds that a little goes a long way considering the price point.
Pros: Lightweight texture, hydrates for 12 hours
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, argan oil, light-empowering enhancer technology
Customer review: "I’m in my 40s and have dry skin that prone to hyperpigmentation and dullness. This foundation is youthful glow in a bottle. Creamy, great coverage, but doesn’t feel heavy. Melts right in. Your only regret will be not finding this product sooner."
A foundation with SPF gets brownie points in any editor's book. This foundation from La Mer provides buildable coverage that's also lightweight. "This is a wonderful foundation for mature skin," says Badro. "What’s great about this product is that the color won’t fade, even in humidity and it contains the “Miracle Broth™,” which helps to hydrate the skin and soften fine dry lines."
Pros: Lightweight texture, buildable coverage
Key ingredients: Miracle Broth™, soft velvet ferment, seaweed extract, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate
Customer review: "My almost 40-year-old, combo-leaning dry skin loves it! It’s packed with added skincare ingredients and just melts into the face giving a natural looking appearance. It doesn’t sink into all my fine lines or anything and wears beautifully throughout the day."
A quality drugstore foundation can take you far without sacrificing your wallet. "L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation is a good friendly budget option because it actually offers a luminous glow and is very hydrating," says Badro. "It is a bit sheer in coverage, but is also buildable."
Pros: Luminous finish, lightweight feel, buildable coverage
Customer review: " This was my go-to everyday foundation for years because it looks feels so good on my dry skin. It gives a beautiful radiant finish, with medium-ish coverage but very buildable. I also quite like the cushion style foundation because it’s super convenient not as messy."
As with all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To find the best foundations for dry skin, we leaned heavily on first-hand testing and our knowledge as beauty experts.
We also considered several factors, including key ingredients, shade range, and customer reviews. We're aware of how important these factors are for a wide range of needs and preferences, so we made sure to list out all the helpful details.
At Who What Wear, we know that beauty isn't one-size-fits-all. Since 2006, our editors have tested thousands of products—including skincare, makeup, haircare, and nails—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned dermatologists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders. Together, this ensures every guide is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.
Who What Wear has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover the latest brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think of Who What Wear as your most trusted style and shopping resource.
Sabrina Talbert is a New York-based journalist with six years of experience covering lifestyle and wellness for print and digital publications. She is currently the Assistant Beauty Editor at Who What Wear and has bylines in Women’s Health, Byrdie, NYLON, The Daily Front Row, and more.
She’s passionate about covering topics related to haircare, skincare, and the latest happenings at the intersection of beauty and sports. When she’s not writing or testing products, you can catch her running and binge-watching F1 or boxing.