The best foundations,according to makeup artists and beauty experts
The 23 foundations that makeup artists and beauty experts rate highest, ranked by genuine consensus.
What changed, 20 October: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation joined the top ten, at number 7.
Foundation is the most personal product on the site, so the gurus weigh fit as heavily as the formula itself.
Foundation has to match the wearer's tone, suit their skin type and last through the day, which is a lot to ask of one product. The experts weigh coverage, finish, shade range and wear time, and they are fast to flag a foundation that oxidizes, separates, or clings to dry patches and pores. How a formula behaves on real skin over hours matters more than the swatch.
The split is skin-like versus full coverage. Some gurus prize a natural, skin-but-better finish that lets texture show, while others want buildable coverage that evens everything out. The ranking below rewards the foundations that deliver on their promised finish, wear well, and carry a shade range broad enough for the experts to recommend widely.
The experts' top picks at a glance
The podium
91%Guru ScoreSoft Glam Satin Foundation
“I love the finish, I love the coverage, I love everything about this foundation.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Lightweight, forgiving on fine lines; Natural-looking finish, not mask-like
The catch: Fades and patches on oily skin
Fragrance-free.
87%Guru ScoreM Perfect Cover BB Cream
“I love their foundations in general, or the Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream, which isn't really foundation but you know what I mean.”Robert Welsh
What the gurus liked: Natural, glowy finish that evens texture; Works well for oily and sensitive skin
The catch: Ashy or gray cast on some skin tones
Fragrance-free.
87%Guru ScoreHydro Grip Gel Tint
“I think they've incorporated what people love about the Hydro Grip textures, you know, that Hydro Grip primer, and really incorporated that into a really beautiful skin product. This is beautiful.”Robert Welsh
What the gurus liked: Natural dewy finish, not greasy; Lightweight enough for sheer to medium coverage
The catch: Feels heavier than claimed by end of day
The rest of the list
- 4
DiorBackstage Face & Body FoundationMid-range85%5 gurus“Another oily skin friendly foundation that I love is the Dior Backstage Face and Body.”Dr. Sam Ellis
What the gurus liked: Works on both oily and dry skin with prep
- 5
L'OrealInfallible 24-Hour Fresh Wear FoundationBudget buy83%5 gurus“This is such a beautiful foundation. It has really really nice coverage and a beautiful finish, but it doesn't feel heavy on the skin.”Alexandra Anele
What the gurus liked: Full coverage without heaviness; Doesn't exaggerate dry patches or fine lines
- 6
L'OrealTrue Match Super Blendable FoundationBudget buy82%5 gurus“I really like this foundation. It is still a really great formula that is SD alcohol free and fragrance free, so I really love it from that standpoint, and I think it just looks beautiful on the skin.”HotandFlashy
What the gurus liked: Skin-like, natural finish; Lightweight and blendable
The catch: Shade numbers changed in reformulation
Fragrance-free.
- 7
Makeup by MarioSurreal Skin Natural Finish FoundationMid-range79%5 gurus“You guys know how much I love this foundation. This might be one of my favorite Mario products.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Blurs pores and skin texture; Natural, skin-like finish
The catch: Warm undertone may not suit neutral skin
- 8
HourglassVeil Hydrating Skin Tint FoundationSplurge78%6 gurus“I'm also a really big fan of the Hourglass Skin Tint. This doesn't have as much coverage as the CL, but gives a really beautiful wash of color on the skin.”Dr. Sam Ellis
What the gurus liked: Luminous, dewy finish without greasiness; Lightweight texture that blurs imperfections
The catch: Shade range confusing with undertones
Fragrance-free.
- 9
Too FacedBorn This Way FoundationMid-range78%5 gurus“It's my perfect shade and I love the foundation for my combination. I would probably say it's my holy grail foundation.”Alexandra Anele
What the gurus liked: Hydrating, doesn't feel heavy; Smooth texture glides evenly across skin
Fragrance-free.
- 10
Haus LabsTriclone Skin Tech FoundationMid-range76%11 gurus“I'm going to start off with my [Haus Labs] foundation. I've been obsessed with it. It's beautiful. Such a beautiful color.”Alexandra Anele
What the gurus liked: Holds up well in pores after settling; Extensive shade range with mixing options
The catch: Denatured alcohol may irritate acne-prone skin
Fragrance-free.
- 11
NARSLight Reflecting Advanced Skincare FoundationMid-range76%10 gurus“I have so many that I love and there's been so many new launches too that are great as far as foundation goes, but this one is just simply the best.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Beautiful finish; Coverage beyond a tint
The catch: Fragrance concerns for skin of color
- 12
NARSNatural Radiant Longwear FoundationMid-range76%5 gurus“I recently got the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, which I'm still trying, but I really like it so far.”Dimma Umeh
What the gurus liked: Satin matte finish that looks like skin; Blends easily and doesn't feel heavy or caaky
The catch: Can cause breakouts and congestion
Fragrance-free.
- 13
Lisa EldridgeSeamless Skin FoundationSplurge76%5 gurus“I would say this foundation is kind of like the Armani that I've loved and loved and loved for years, but with a touch more coverage to it.”Mixed Makeup
What the gurus liked: Skin-like, seamless finish; Excellent shade range
The catch: Gets shiny and loses matte finish
- 14
Estée LauderDouble Wear Stay-in-Place Longwear Matte FoundationSplurge75%6 gurus“Estee Lauder Double Wear was so impressive, this reformulated version is amazing.”CYoung
What the gurus liked: Exceptional staying power in heat and humidity; Full coverage without looking caaky
The catch: Emphasizes pores and texture
Fragrance-free.
- 15
Fenty BeautyPro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear FoundationSplurge75%5 gurus“I actually do really like this foundation. It's a beautiful foundation, it really is, and I feel like it wears really well on me.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Lightweight texture, easy to blend; Blurs skin and gives full coverage
- 16
L'OrealTrue Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum FoundationDry skinNormal skinBudget buy73%8 gurus“I think that the L'Oreal True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum is one of the best drugstore products ever to exist. It is so beautiful. I feel like it's got very gorgeous buildable coverage.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Skin-like finish without looking like makeup; Glowy but not oily
The catch: Dropper packaging is messy
Fragrance-free.
- 17
MaybellineSuper Stay 24-Hour Skin TintBudget buy72%5 gurus“If you don't want to splurge on foundations, I love the Maybelline Skin Tint. The 24-hour one has great coverage and great longevity.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Longest wear for a skin tint; Blends smoothly without clinging to texture
The catch: Alcohol is a high-ranking ingredient
Fragrance-free.
- 18
bareMineralsOriginal Loose Powder FoundationMid-range69%5 gurus“One best clean foundation, the bareMinerals Original.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Looks natural enough to wear alone; Natural finish that doesn't look overdone
The catch: Loose powder format harder to apply for light coverage
Fragrance-free.
- 19
Giorgio ArmaniLuminous Silk FoundationSplurge67%9 gurus“Now if you're someone who's ridiculously oily you probably aren't going to like it. But I will say that it's gorgeous. This is a gorgeous like I would say medium coverage foundation.”Alexandra Anele
What the gurus liked: Lightweight and hydrating without feeling oily; Blends seamlessly, wears all day without fading
The catch: Shade range skews orange and yellow
- 20
Summer FridaysSheer Skin TintMid-range64%5 gurus“I love this stuff. If you're looking for a really nice, actual proper skin tint that gives a healthy veil and glow and slight tint to the skin, check this one out, it's so pretty.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Gives a healthy glow and natural finish; Calms redness like rosacea
The catch: Very emollient, may break up other products underneath
Fragrance-free.
- 21
Laura MercierTinted Moisturizer SPF 20Splurge64%5 gurus“I use Laura Mercier on my face for tinted moisturizer. It's very lightweight. You guys are watching it and seeing it right now in action. It is a beautiful moisturizer.”Dr. Shereene Idriss
What the gurus liked: Fine for winter use; Works well layered over sunscreen
The catch: SPF 20 below dermatologist threshold
- 22
TirtirMask Fit Red Cushion FoundationMid-range55%9 gurus“We all know TIRTIR for their Red Cushion Compact. Beautiful. Love it.”Robert Welsh
What the gurus liked: Lasts all day without touch-ups on oily skin; Extensive shade range
The catch: Too heavy and cakey on dry or mature skin
Who's doing the judging
Ranked from the public takes of 31 independent gurus, including 6 makeup artists, 4 dermatologists and 3 beauty journalists.
Dr. Shereene IdrissDermatologist
Dr DrayDermatologist
Dr. Sam EllisDermatologist
Dr. Vanita RattanDoctor
Dr. Jenny LiuDermatologist
Lab Muffin Beauty ScienceCosmetic Chemist
Cassandra BanksonMedical Esthetician
Caroline HironsEsthetician
Nipun KapurSkincare Consultant
Alexandra AneleMakeup Artist
Jamie GenevieveMakeup Artist
Robert WelshMakeup Artist
Mixed MakeupBeauty Journalist
Allie GlinesMakeup Artist+17These are independent experts we follow, not an in-house panel. We collect opinions they have already shared publicly on YouTube; they are not connected to The Guru Index and have not endorsed this ranking. "Guru" is our own editorial title for the voices we trust.
You asked
What is the best foundation?
On the latest data it is e.l.f. Soft Glam Satin Foundation, with a Guru Score of 91% from 8 gurus. The ranking above lists all 22 that clear our bar, in order.
What foundation do makeup artists recommend?
Of the 6 makeup artists whose reviews feed this ranking, 4 approve of each of Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation and NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation, more than any other pick on the list.
Which brand makes the best foundation?
L'Oreal has the most picks on this list, 3 of the 22, led by L'Oreal Infallible 24-Hour Fresh Wear Foundation at number 5 with a Guru Score of 83%. The list is ranked product by product, though, so the best pick for you may come from another brand.
What do the top foundations have in common?
Of the 18 we hold a full ingredient list for, 12 are fragrance-free, 11 skip drying alcohol, 6 contain hyaluronic acid and 5 contain vitamin C. That is a pattern in what the experts rate, not a rule: the ranking itself is by their verdicts.
Can a ranking identify the right shade?
No. The list ranks foundations by how warmly the gurus talk about formula, finish and wear. Shade matching is personal, and the experts often comment on how wide or narrow a line's shade range is on the product page.
Does finish, matte or dewy, affect the ranking?
Only indirectly. The gurus judge a foundation against what it promises, so a matte and a dewy formula can both rank highly if each does its job well. The takes spell out which finish a product actually delivers.
How is this ranking decided?
We rank by the Guru Index consensus score: the warmth of every independent expert take we have logged for each product, with a minimum number of reviewers required so a single enthusiastic review can't top the list. Nothing here is paid placement.
How we make money. Some shopping links may earn The Guru Index a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which products rank or how they score.