The Best Foundation For Your Dry Skin Makeup Routine

You can watch all the makeup tutorials in the world and buy all the best beauty blenders and foundation brushes, but if you have super dry, flakey skin, it's unlikely your makeup is going to come out the way you are hoping, especially if you aren't using a foundation meant for dry skin. While proper exfoliation and moisturization are key to keeping your skin healthy, choosing the correct foundation can also go a long way to getting a smooth, supple look. 

As Allure puts it, "the wrong formulas can cling, cake, settle, and pill in all the wrong ways," so avoiding powder foundations or foundations meant to soak up oil or give a matte finish is a good idea. We know makeup that feels heavy isn't appealing to most people, but we promise there are some great, creamy foundation options that feel and look lightweight but pack a helpful, moisturizing punch. 

First, make sure that you prep your skin with a good moisturizer before you apply your foundation to ensure the best application (via Allure). Once you've done that, you're ready to try these creamy, dreamy formulas! 

Both Allure and Good Housekeeping list Beauty Bakerie InstaBake Aqua Glass Foundation as one of the best foundations for dry skin. Allure says it gives the look of an airbrushed finish and blurs pores, all while locking in moisture with an ingredient called dimethicone. Next up is Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint which helps to plump skin with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin while providing a light, tinted coverage to smooth out any imperfections and cover and discoloration. 

Georgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation tops Good Housekeeping's list because in lab testing it earned a perfect score for smooth texture and also performed impressively with regard to blendability, giving smooth, soft, even coverage that helps keep skin moisturized. If you're looking for an anti-aging boost along with great coverage, consider No7 Beauty's Lift & Luminate Triple Action Serum Foundation SPF 15, which Good Housekeeping says applies smoothly and leaves a dewey finish while blurring lines. Not bad for a drugstore brand! And if you prefer a CC Cream, Olay Total Effects 7 in One tone Correcting CC Cream was rated best because in lab tests it was shown to boost skin's hydration by 36 percent and even reduced the appearance of dark spots and pores over time.