Related Posts
Beauty Newsletter
Fill your email for Subscribe our newsletter.
By Sophie Joaman • April 1, 2024 • 11 mins read
Products featured on Ntrl Look are chosen independently by our editorial team. When you purchase through our affiliate links, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
| Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation £39 |
| Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear £41 |
| Morphe Filter Effect Soft-Focus Foundation £18 |
| Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In Place Makeup £39.50 |
| Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation £23 |
| Armani Beauty Luminous Silk £47 |
| YSL All Hours Foundation £42 |
| Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation £35 |
| Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation £61 |
| NARS Natural Radiant Long Wear Foundation £42 |
| Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick £49 |
| Too Faced Born This Way Foundation £38 |
| NYX Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop Foundation £15 |
| Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage 30 Hr Wear £12.99 |
| Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation £34 |
When buying a foundation, there’s a lot to consider. Not only do you have to find the right shade for your skin tone, but there are also various finishes and textures to contend with. And then there’s also the type of coverage of your foundation. Like we said, it’s a lot! When it comes to the coverage of your foundation, do you have a type that you like to wear? Or are you struggling to decide?
To understand more about different finishes, check out our guide on dewy vs matte foundation
For some people, they may prefer a light coverage to even the skin, but to still keep things natural. For others, they may want full coverage makeup to blur pores and blemishes or just because they like the look of fuller coverage. Unlike choosing your foundation shade (which has to be correctly matched), coverage can certainly come down to personal choice a lot of the time. Full coverage foundation usually lasts longer than a lower coverage foundation.
It also helps to even skin tone, blur pores, and hide blemishes. Of course, as with anything in makeup there are a lot of myths that need to be busted too. A lot of people are put off by choosing full coverage foundations because of things they’ve heard about caking and dryness or because of past experiences. Today, full coverage foundations, however, are a lot more innovative than those from years gone by. There are also so many different brands working on constantly improving their high coverage formula to avoid the pitfalls that many have experienced in the past.
In short, full coverage foundations are totally worth buying if you want more out of your foundation. So essentially, choosing a foundation coverage is either a breeze or a task, right? Well, we strongly believe that it is the former, and we’re about to show you how easy it is to pick a photo-ready foundation that you’ll love. We’ve got 15 of the best full coverage foundations that deserve your attention right now, so read on to find out.
The Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation really does a lot. Like a lot, a lot! This long-lasting foundation blurs pores, smooths and evens skin whilst simultaneously colour correcting and even hydrating like a serum. Plus, it keeps your makeup cool and fresh for much longer, so you really get that ‘just applied’ airbrushed look all day. This foundation will undoubtedly give you the silky, flawless finish of dreams that will have you feeling your absolute best, be it at a party or on a Monday morning.
£39
A full coverage foundation that doesn’t weigh your skin down? Yes, please. The Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear foundation absolutely does light-weight, full coverage foundation extremely well. While you get a flawless base that blurs pores and blemishes, you will also marvel at the lightweight feel of it on your skin. This is in part thanks to the innovative Eternal Soft Polymer, which reacts to your skin to give you the ultimate comfort and still keep your foundation looking fresher for up to 24 hours.
This foundation also helps to correct uneven skin tone and provides a streak-free finish. Now that’s worth the money if you ask us.
For a more budget-friendly full coverage foundation for dry skin and full coverage foundation for oily skin, the Morphe Filter Effect Soft-Focus Foundation is a good choice. Packed full of antioxidants and boosts of Vitamin E, this foundation works to keep your skin hydrated, supple and soft as well as keeping your complexion glowing throughout the day. It also keeps your makeup in place without budging or sweating off your skin — perfect if you want sweat resistant makeup with full day wear.
When we say that the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In Place Foundation is worth both the price tag and the hype, we absolutely mean it. One of the best-selling foundations of our time, this luxury foundation really does everything you want it to do and more. And if you are looking for a best full coverage foundation that gives you a flawless base with long-lasting foundation wear, then this is one to consider. While of fuller coverage, you can still get a natural day-to-day look and still build upon it for desired glam results.
It also stays crease-free and colour true for up to 24 hours, so you’ll look fresh even as the day wears on. And despite what you might have heard about full coverage makeup in the past, this matte finish foundation breaks down every myth — it is non-comedogenic and will not dry out your skin.
Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation redefines natural coverage with a breathable, skin-like finish that feels virtually invisible on your complexion. This innovative liquid foundation features weightless pigments and skin-loving ingredients that provide buildable coverage while maintaining your skin’s natural texture and movement. The flexible, long-wearing formula adapts to your unique skin needs, offering 12-hour comfortable wear without caking, settling, or looking mask-like.
If you love lightweight formulas, you’ll also want to check out our top picks for the best water based foundation
that give your skin a fresh, natural glow.
A real ‘treat yourself’ foundation, the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation offers dewy full coverage foundation with a truly radiant and healthy glow for all-day wear. One of the best things about this foundation is that it is a perfect full coverage foundation for mature skin and full coverage foundation for dry skin. While oil-free, it also has that boost of hydration to keep you looking flawless for longer and prevent your makeup from drying out. So whether dry or oily, your skin will look brighter and highlighted for longer.
With the YSL All Hours Foundation, you’ll never feel like you’re wearing a mask. Instead, the matte finish foundation is completely light and breathable for a flawless finish. This foundation also acts as a barrier for your skin against the elements. Enriched with SPF 20 and a UV filter, your skin is protected against damage when you wear it.
Fenty Beauty has made waves in the beauty industry over the last few years with iconic products for a diverse audience. Their Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Finish Foundation was one of those iconic products when it was released in 50 inclusive shades! As a full coverage foundation for oily skin, it definitely fills the brief of offering long-lasting foundation wear that doesn’t dry out or block your pores. It also features Climate Adaptive Technology to flex to your skin, preventing oil from creeping in during the day. It is also totally lightweight for your comfort.
If oil control is your priority, don’t miss our tried-and-tested sweat-proof makeup hacks.
We love all Pat McGrath products, and you’ll definitely want to check this out. This formula performs beautifully and helps to cover any skin imperfections, leaving you with a flawless finish and even base. This foundation is easily buildable and layers smoothly, creating a full coverage makeup look that lasts.
NARS is always a popular choice amongst makeup lovers and experts thanks to their capsule products. One of their best-selling products, the Natural Radiant Long Wear Foundation, is a true signature piece that has become a firm favourite in many makeup bags. With long-lasting foundation wear of up to 16 hours, this transfer proof foundation is sweat resistant makeup, fade-resistant and transfer-resistant, so you can feel secure knowing that your makeup isn’t going anywhere.
The foundation is also infused with raspberry, apple and watermelon extracts to help soothe the skin, which is perfect if you are someone who is prone to sensitive skin.
The Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick is full coverage makeup in an easy-to-use stick format that delivers professional results. This foundation features advanced pigments and blurring technology that cover imperfections while maintaining a natural, lightweight feel on skin. The creamy formula glides smoothly and blends effortlessly for buildable coverage from medium to full without appearing heavy or unnatural.
A common complaint when wearing full coverage foundation is that it can look like you’re wearing a mask sometimes. While you want that somewhat heavier finish with a full coverage foundation, you still want it to look like natural skin. That is what the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation does very well. With an undetectable quality to it, your foundation will never look flat. Instead, your skin will have some luminosity to it and will keep the colour looking as true to your tone as possible.
The NYX Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop Foundation is suitable for most skin types, even those with sensitive skin. It also stays looking true for up to 24 hours without shine or transfer. The best thing about this affordable full coverage foundation for acne prone skin drug-store gem is that you can get on with your life no matter what, and this foundation can’t stop, won’t stop from giving you that flawless finish that you expect from your foundation.
Yes, you heard that right — Up to 30 hours wear! With the long-lasting foundation of any foundation on our list, the Maybelline Super Stay Full Coverage is an impressive waterproof foundation and the perfect purse-friendly product for day-to-day wear.
With a high-pigment, this foundation gives you an even matte finish foundation — great if you are someone who deals with oily skin and shine. You can also pair your base with one of the best setting powders
to lock everything in.
With an inclusive range of skin tones, the Mac Studio Fix Fluid Foundation has been reformulated with a gorgeous soft matte finish foundation to replicate the wearer’s natural skin tone, adding evenness as it sets. While natural-looking, this foundation aims to hydrate and help control oil with 87% of skincare ingredients. It also won’t settle into the fine lines or become dry and non-cakey formula either.
There are so many full coverage foundations out there that it can initially seem like a bit of a minefield to actually choose one. But we believe that with our 15 favourites, you’ll be able to find something that suits your skin and, most importantly, something that you love! If you ask us, we’d have to say that it’s hard to pick one but only because there are so many incredible foundations on the list that we’d love to add to our makeup bags.
If we had to choose, though, we’d pick the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Foundation. Its long-lasting, hard-working and reliable. You can rest assured that you’ll always get the best results from your best full coverage foundation.
