Looking for the Best Foundations at Sephora? Here’s What Reviewers Say About the Most Popular Ones Leave a comment
Foundation is one of the most personal beauty products. Some people go for a velvety matte finish, some a weightless dewy glow—and other people are somewhere in the middle. We all know Sephora holds the most elite selection of makeup, so to find the best and most-loved foundations, I combed through hundreds of products and thousands of reviews to find the top foundations this beauty mecca has to offer. And let me tell you—beauty lovers spilled some serious tea in the reviews section. There’s something for everyone, so keep reading to finding your perfect foundation match.
Bareminerals
Original Loose Talc-Free Powder Mineral Foundation Spf 15
bareMineral’s OG loose powder foundation continues to be a go-to more than fifteen years after its launch. It’s the most-reviewed foundation on Sephora’s website, and has racked up 15K five-star reviews to date. A couple of longtime fans have speculated a reformulation that’s led to a more dry, cakey finish—but, the overwhelming majority of users give this major points for being a trustworthy and acne-safe option to achieve smooth, even skin.
What the Reviews Say
“This changed my life! I’m an acne sufferer and I hate wearing liquid foundation but feel like I can’t go without it. I went ahead and gave this a try, and oh my gosh! Its like my skin but PERFECT and so lightweight.” — Sephora Review
“Been using this product for over 10 years, perfect foundation!” — Sephora Review
“Throw away all other foundations, this is the GOAT. This is by far the best foundation that’s ever existed. I have dry skin with hormonal acne, and this covers my skin well and looks like a beautiful veil on natural skin. I’m truly obsessed with this product, there is nothing else that makes my skin looks better. Additionally, I have zero adverse reactions to this. Other foundations typically lead to more acne, but this feels clean on my skin. I’ve given up on all other foundations. If you have flawless skin, I also encourage you give this foundation a try because it will only make your skin look better.” — Sephora Review
Fenty Beauty
Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation
If you’re a matte foundation girlie and need one that’s going to last all day and night, this is a top pick. The weightless yet full coverage formula even withstands heat and humidity. As you may be able to surmise though, if you have dry skin (like me!) this might formula lean a little too matte for you, as some reviewers have noted.
What the Reviews Say
“I love how this foundation feels on my skin! It’s lightweight and breathable so it works well for everyday looks but can be layered for more dramatic evening looks. Because I live in Barbados, the most important thing for my makeup is that it’s heat resistant and won’t slide off my face after a few hours. This held up well in the midday heat and it’s mattifying without looking cakey.” — Sephora Review
“I used to wear foundation to work daily and loved that this was light enough for daily use. Now I only wear makeup occasionally since I changed jobs and I still love that I look natural in this foundation. It doesn’t cake at all and matches my ethnic skin tone perfectly! Also love that I can wear it in the summer and winter and it doesn’t melt off!” — Sephora Review
“I wore this to a wedding in Mexico and even though it was hot and I was sweating it stayed in place. I paired it with the All Nighter Urban Decay setting spray.” — Sephora Review
It Cosmetics
CC+ Cream Full Coverage Color Correcting Foundation With Spf 50+
Another OG favorite, this SPF-spiked CC cream is ideal for a range of skin types. You only need a few drops of the multitasking formula for a flawless complexion. But full disclosure: Some reviewers report a cakey finish and orange tint, so it’s probably best to shade match IRL before purchasing, especially for dry, fair skinned girlies.
What the Reviews Say
“Love this! What I love most is I only need one pump on my makeup brush and I easily can cover my full face! Definitely full coverage, but natural-looking. I’m 40 and so I’m getting more wrinkles but still have occasional breakouts. It covers blemishes and dark circles without settled into fine lines and has a radiant but natural finish.” — Sephora Review
“Exceptional, it literally feels like my skin color but with a natural filter. This is the product I’ve been searching for for years that would have a high SPF, coverage, and have a hydrating finish.” — Sephora Review
“I absolutely love this CC cream. It gave me the full coverage I was looking for while still feeling like skin instead of a heavy mask. It smoothed out uneven tone and covered imperfections really well right from the first layer, and I didn’t need much extra product to look polished. The finish looked natural and not cakey, even after a full day of wear, and I appreciated that it has SPF 50 built in for daily sun protection. The texture blends easily with a brush or sponge and didn’t settle into fine lines or creases on me. A little goes a long way, so even though the price is higher than drugstore options, I think it’s worth it for the coverage and the built-in SPF. Highly recommend if you want both coverage and sun protection in one step.” — Sephora Review
Ilia
Super Serum Skin Tint Spf 40 – Fragrance-Free Foundation
This ultra-hydrating, glow-giving tinted SPF provides featherweight coverage that looks like your skin, but better. Some reviewers said the light-as-air coverage wasn’t enough for them, and reported pilling when they tried to layer it with other products. That being said, it’s probably best worn on its own.
What the Reviews Say
“This serum skin tint is perfect for my dry, aging skin. I love that it doesn’t settle into my fine lines and it gives my dull skin a beautiful glow. It looks amazing on its own for a natural makeup look and it’s also buildable and looks great under other products. The color selection they offer for this serum is really good and I was able to find my perfect skin match.” — Sephora Review
I’m still using this product and that says a lot, because normally if I don’t like it even a little bit, the product would sit on the shelf collecting dust. Originally I had thought it would be more like a BB cream but the skin tint is more lightweight feeling and goes on more fluid-like. At first it seems like it will be greasy but once I put it on and let it set, the product was very lightweight and smooth on my skin, instead of heavy like most sunscreen-based products. Pleasant fluid texture and then dries to a feathery softness. I ride a bike everywhere I go and tend to sweat a lot—most tinted sunscreens will melt or bleed into your eyes but I haven’t had any of those problems, and it also helps blur out scars and blemishes.” — Sephora Review
“I never ever write reviews, but this product is definitely worth it! I have spent probably thousands of dollars trying to find the right foundation over the years, now I’m 53 and have finally found the most amazing product ever. It’s lightweight, and doesn’t get dry and crack or look cakey. I’m so happy I tried this I will keep this on constant reorder!” — Sephora Review
Estée Lauder
New Double Wear Stay-In-Place Lightweight Matte Foundation With 36h Wear
This reformulated classic is back, with most reviewers saying the buildable and ultra-longwearing formula is better than ever. It also now comes in a whopping 57 shades, making it easy to find your perfect match. But here’s the tea: One peek into recent reviews and you’ll see that the reformulation is met with mixed feelings by longtime users, with some reporting that it’s too drying, and others reporting a sticky, oily finish.
What the Reviews Say
“This new formulation is absolutely PHENOMENAL. The coverage is light to medium but buildable, so very light layers are best. It applies easily and sets to a skin-like finish, lasting all day on me with a dusting of powder. The shades seem to have improved as well, they used to run a little yellow-orange but my neutral shade is now more of a true neutral. I am absolutely loving this. I did initially receive a small sample but have since purchased a full-sized bottle with my own money.” — Sephora Review
“I’ve been using this foundation for a while now and am really impressed with the results. The texture feels smooth and lightweight on my skin, but at the same time it gives very good coverage and helps even out my complexion. I usually wear it during the day, and it stays in place for many hours without looking cakey or heavy. It also controls shine quite well, which I really appreciate.” — Sephora Review
“I really like this foundation, it is long lasting. I do prefer a little more of a dewy look, but when you need a long wear foundation this one is a great choice. I love Estee Lauder products and this one did not disappoint.” — Sephora Review
