10 Best Liquid Foundations for Dry Skin in 2022 (Makeup Artist-Reviewed)

These are our favorite liquid foundations for dry skin available online based on customer reviews. They have various textures, finishes, and benefits.

*Please note that these products were chosen after extensive research by mybest writers. The choices are not necessarily affiliated with or recommended by Natalya Lowe unless explicitly stated so.

In this section, you'll find a lot of useful information on how to choose a foundation for dry skin. Make sure you don't miss out on any details!

To find the right foundation, the first thing you need to do is to determine your skin tone and undertone.

Skin tones are usually divided into three categories: light, medium, and dark. The best way to find your right foundation shade is to match it to your jawline or neck. The right shade will seamlessly blend into your skin color and won't leave you looking muddy or ashy.

If you plan to use a contour or bronzer, it's a good idea to choose a shade that's a little lighter than your skin tone. A darker contour shade will help to balance out a light foundation, which will give you a flawless-looking base.

Note that your foundation can oxidize as you wear it, meaning it turns darker or orange. There's a number of reasons that can cause your foundation to oxidize, including natural oils and skin texture.

Though many people with dry skin don't have a problem with excess oils on the face, dehydrated skin can also trigger the production of more oil that can cause your foundation to oxidize.

To play it safe, consider a foundation that's one or two shades lighter than your skin color. Also, make sure to moisturize your skin well before applying your foundation to keep it from feeling tight or dry.

The easiest way to figure out your undertone is to check the color of your veins on the inside of your wrist. If your veins appear more greenish, you're likely to have a warm undertone. But if they're purple or blue, you're likely to have cool-toned skin. A mix of blue-green veins means you have a neutral undertone.

A foundation with a pink undertone is the best option for cool-toned skin and a shade with a yellow undertone is ideal for a warm complexion. For neutral undertones, look for a combination of both or a peach foundation.

Oil-based foundations are ideal for people with dry skin because they contain moisturizing ingredients that help your skin look healthy and dewy. However, they may take longer to penetrate the skin compared to water-based foundations.

If you have dry skin with acne, consider water-based foundations. They're lightweight and breathable, so they're less likely to clog your pores. Plus, they usually contain nourishing ingredients that provide plenty of moisture to keep your skin hydrated as the day goes on.

Generally speaking, people with dry skin should try to avoid silicone-based foundations because they can cling to dry patches, making your skin look patchy and unnatural. Silicone can also make acne worse because it traps dirt, oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells.

However, silicone-based foundations can be the perfect summer foundation. They're waterproof and long-lasting, so you don't have to worry about sweating your makeup away.

It's important to look for moisturizing ingredients in your foundation. Oil-based foundations usually contain ingredients like argan oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, mineral oil, and sunflower seed oil.

Water-based foundations contain water as the main ingredient. They often include humectant moisturizers like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, aloe vera, squalane. These may be better if you're trying to avoid an oily finish.

Silicone-based usually contain silicone ending in -cone or -siloxane. Cyclopentasiloxane is a form of silicone that's good for dry skin. It has the ability to retain moisture and lubricate the skin, making it soft, smooth, and hydrated. Some products also contain hyaluronic acid, which can further moisturize.

"Dewy" and "luminous" finishes are usually the best options for dry skin because they can deposit extra hydration to your face. They're often made with moisturizing ingredients, which leave your skin looking bright, healthy, and glowing.

Try to avoid foundations with "matte" or "powder" finishes. These foundations can make your skin look tight and even drier. If you really want a matte finish, it's important to prepare your skin properly before applying a foundation. Make sure your skin is well-hydrated to prevent an unnatural or flaky finish.

There are three levels of foundation coverage: light, medium, and full. Light coverage provides a thinner layer of coverage on the skin, which means it won't cover up your freckles or hide breakouts. However, it makes a great option for people who want a natural look.

Medium coverage offers enough coverage to cover dark circles and even skin tone. The formula can be sheer to light and is also buildable. This means you can use it to cover anything you would want to hide, making it a perfect choice for people who are unsure of the coverage levels they need.

Full coverage is a highly pigmented foundation, which can cover pimples, scars, dark spots, and more. It's ideal for people who want to cover all skin imperfections and opt for a smooth texture.

In addition to checking our buying guide for accuracy, Natalya took the time to answer some commonly asked questions about liquid foundations for dry skin.

Natalya says, "You can easily mix your daily moisturizer with your foundation to give you that tinted moisturizer look. When you feel like your skin needs a bit of extra moisture and you feel that adding just a foundation onto the skin will be too heavy, you can mix the two to make the perfect moisture-infused foundation.

Use a pea-sized amount of foundation and about one pump of your daily moisturizer. You can use a makeup spatula or your fingertips to mix the two products together. The moisturizer will blend seamlessly with the foundation base. This mixture adds great hydration as well as coverage. The moisturizer adds a slightly sheer look making the application look more skin-like and feels lighter on the skin."

"There are seasons our skin can be super dry and flaky which can make it a challenge and uncomfortable to wear makeup. The best way to prepare the skin for a flawless makeup application would be to first have a skincare routine that will prep the skin, keeping it hydrated. The best way to smooth the skin out if there are any flakes or dry patches would be to first exfoliate. This will blend away any dry spots and will give your skin a smooth surface," Natalya told us.

"Right after exfoliating, you would go in with a moisturizer to lock in hydration to the face. A moisturizer for dry skin should be your best friend. Moisturizing the face will give you a healthy surface to apply your foundation. If a foundation were to still feel heavy on the skin, maybe try reaching for a tinted moisturizer after applying your skincare routine. There are also great primers that will help create a smooth surface before adding any liquid or powder foundations."

The key to choosing beauty products for dry skin is to look for moisturizing ingredients. Here are some recommendations that you might be interested in.

Author: Apinya Masuda