12 Foundations The Experts Really Rate

“I’ve been reaching for this foundation a lot recently for brides and special events. It photographs beautifully, which is hugely important when I’m working with brides, and it has really good staying power while still leaving the skin looking fresh. The coverage is medium but perfecting, so I find it particularly good on normal-to-combination skin when I want the complexion to look polished and flawless without looking overly matte or mask-like. It’s become one of my favourites when I know the make-up needs to look just as good in photographs as it does in person and last throughout a long event. One thing to note is that the shades can run slightly warm but if you find your match, it’s a great option.” – Natasha Ahmed

Available at SEPHORA.ME

“With genuinely dry skin, the prep underneath the foundation is everything for me. I like to really nourish and cushion the skin first with Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid Peptide Cream, let that properly settle into the skin and then go in with Dior Forever Skin Glow. The foundation itself is gorgeous on dry skin. It’s radiant, comfortable and gives beautiful buildable coverage without taking away that freshness you’ve created underneath. It also contains hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, which I love to see in a formula for this skin type. The combination leaves the skin looking really supple and healthy rather than having foundation catch on dry areas or texture.” – Aiza Qureshi

Available at DIOR.COM

“This is my ultimate go-to for longevity. A classic for a reason, it’s one of my top recommendations and a product I know I can always rely on. It provides beautiful coverage, keeps excess shine at bay and stays locked in place for hours without feeling cakey. It works particularly well for oily or combination skin types and is a must-have for special events, or anyone who needs long-wearing make-up that stays looking fresh all day.” – Lynn Azzi

Available at SEPHORA.ME

“If I want proper coverage and that really flawless, perfected skin, this is such a good one. You get a lot of coverage without needing to pile loads of product onto the face, which is really important to me because I still want skin to look like skin, even when I’m going for fuller coverage. It smooths and blurs beautifully and gives that almost filtered finish in real life. I love it for events, special occasions and photography, or any time I need the complexion to look really polished. It also has glycerin in the formula, so although you’re getting that full-coverage finish, it still feels comfortable on the skin.” – Aiza Qureshi

Available at CHARLOTTETILBURY.COM

“With mature skin, less is always more for me. I don’t want to try to cover every line or bit of texture because too much product can actually emphasise it. I’d much rather even out the complexion, keep the skin looking fresh and only build coverage where it’s actually needed. The Victoria Beckham Foundation Drops are perfect for that because they’re incredibly lightweight and serum-like. You get this really sheer veil of coverage and can still see the skin underneath. I also love that there’s proper skincare behind the formula, including Augustinus Bader’s TFC8 technology alongside ingredients like squalane and glycerin. It just leaves mature skin looking polished, fresh and luminous rather than overly made up.”– Aiza Qureshi

Available at HARRODS.COM

“I’ve tried this foundation on so many different skin types and it always works beautifully, so it’s a formula I really feel suits everyone and is my ultimate go-to foundation. It’s lightweight and long-wearing, while also providing long-lasting hydration and helping to improve the appearance of skin texture over time. And there’s a reason it’s called Luminous Silk: it mimics the texture of silk on the skin.” – Gaelle Hanna 

“There’s a reason this foundation is so iconic. For me, glowing skin isn’t about looking shiny or overly dewy. I want it to look like the glow is coming from the skin itself, and Armani Luminous Silk gives you exactly that. It’s so lightweight and beautifully buildable that you don’t lose that gorgeous prep underneath. Everything still comes through and you’re left with really polished, expensive-looking skin with that soft, sophisticated glow, which photographs beautifully too.” – Aiza Qureshi

Available at ARMANI BEAUTY.COM

“This foundation works across different skin types and can be adapted depending on the level of coverage you want. The creaminess and blendability, combined with its ability to last, are what make it so special. I choose this over all my other foundations because I can use it for a super-simple, ‘no-make-up make-up’ look or build it up for full bridal glam with one little product. It’s quick, easy to blend and makes the skin look perfected without the base ever looking or feeling heavy. And the shade range means there really is something for everyone.” – Sarah Sequeira 

“I have to give Dior Forever Skin Perfect Foundation Stick its flowers. This is always in my bag when I travel. No heavy glass bottle, no mess, and I can wear it really sheer when I want more of a skin tint, build it for a proper foundation finish, or use it over existing make-up for quick touch-ups without disrupting my whole base. Such a good one.” – Aiza Qureshi

Available at DIOR.COM

“This gives the skin such a beautiful luminosity but once it’s blended onto the skin, it doesn’t look glittery or shimmery. It just creates this gorgeous, healthy radiance. I use it on clients all the time, particularly those with normal-to-dry or more mature skin, because it makes the complexion look fresh and alive rather than heavy. I also really appreciate the shade range and the inclusion of some genuinely good olive undertones, which can still be surprisingly difficult to find.” – Natasha Ahmed

Available at SEPHORA.ME