In my opinion, foundation is the most important step in your makeup routine. A good base ensures that the rest of your products look amazing, whilst the wrong foundation will throw off your whole look. There are so many amazing luxury foundations out there but it’s really important to choose the right one for your skin type. What works for dry skin probably won’t work for oily skin – and vice versa. I’ve broken down the best high, medium and sheer coverage luxury foundations for every skin type so that you can find your perfect match. 

Full Coverage Luxury Foundations

Dry Skin: Jouer Essential High Coverage

I often find that full coverage foundations cling to dry patches but that’s not the case with this hydrating holy grail from Jouer Cosmetics. It offers extreme coverage and blends flawlessly, without feeling heavy, cakey or drying on the skin. Best of all, this foundation is formulated with hyaluronic acid, peptides and soothing camomile and cucumber extract so it’s a real treat for your skin. 

If you’ve got dry skin, make sure to check out this post on slugging. 

Normal Skin: Estee Lauder Double Wear 

I put Estee Lauder Double Wear under the ‘normal skin’ category but to be honest, this foundation looks amazing on pretty much everyone. Double Wear has been a cult favorite product for well over 20 years for two key reasons: a) it makes your skin look incredible and b) it lasts forever. I mean forever. Unlike so many foundations out there, it doesn’t disappear from your nose, chin and forehead halfway through the day. This baby stays on until you decide to take it off. 

Oily Skin: KVD Vegan Beauty Lock-It Foundation

KVD Vegan Beauty was originally launched by controversial makeup and tattoo artist Kat Von D. It was wildly successful due to its high-quality products but many consumers began to boycott the line due to Von D’s problematic views and behavior. However she’s now sold and stepped away from the company, so you can once again buy it in good conscience. That’s good news, because this really is an unbeatable luxury foundation for oily skin.

The Lock-It foundation makes some bold claims – namely that it’s capable of covering tattoos. Therefore, a few blemishes should be no problem for this high-coverage product. This is an ultra-matte foundation that’s perfect for oily skin. It’ll last for hours and hours, but you it won’t make you look flat, either. A little goes a long way, so a bottle of Lock-It should last you a long time. 

Medium Coverage Luxury Foundations

Dry Skin: Armani Luminous Silk 

If you’re after a soft and radiant finish then look no further than Armani Luminous Silk. This foundation is perfect for dry skin because it doesn’t emphasize dry patches or fine lines. It sits beautifully on the skin and offers a good level of coverage whilst still looking natural. 

Normal Skin: Urban Decay Stay Naked 

The Urban Decay Stay Naked Foundation is a perfect everyday choice. It offers a gorgeous satin finish and does an amazing job at blurring pores. It’s long-lasting yet feels so light that you’ll forget you’re even wearing makeup. 

Oily Skin: Stila 2-in-1 Stay All Day 

Oily skin really tests the staying power of a foundation, but Stila 2-in-1 passes with flying colors. It’s a lovely medium-coverage choice that works for any occasion. I love that it comes with a matching concealer – why don’t all foundations do that?! 

Sheer coverage 

Dry Skin: Makeup Forever HD Invisible

HD foundations are designed to be undetectable on camera, so this product is perfect for a natural makeup look. The formula is lightweight, comfortable and infused with hyaluronic acid, which is one of the best skin care ingredients out there in terms of hydration. This is definitely one of the best luxury foundations for those with dry or mature skin who don’t want the product to sink into fine lines.  

Normal Skin: Diorskin Nude Air Serum Foundation

This lightweight foundation has a barely-there feel yet evens out skin tone beautifully. As you’d expect from a Dior product, the formula feels silky and luxurious and is total a pleasure to apply. I really appreciate that this foundation comes in a dropper bottle, as this gives you more control over how much product you use, which is essential for nailing the no-makeup-makeup look. 

Oily Skin: Laura Mercier Silk Creme Oil Free

By their very nature, sheer foundations tend to work better on drier skin types but the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Oil Free foundation is the exception to the rule. It offers a lovely natural finish and it’ll stay on all day. 

These are my favorite luxury foundations for every skin type – but what’s a good foundation without the right foundation brush? Check out this article on the best luxury foundation brushes so that you can achieve a flawless finish every time.