13 best foundations for combination skin to target dry patches and oiliness in one fell swoop
Finding the best foundations for combination skin isn’t always the easiest task, but if you’re on the hunt for a new product to add to your makeup bag then you’ve come to the right place. While there are a few things to consider before you add a combo skin foundation basket, it’s important to find something that will straddle the (very fine) line between preventing that inevitable middle-of-the-day oil slick, while ensuring that it won’t cling onto dry patches or, God forbid, dry skin out further.
Typically speaking, people with combination skin tend to have an oily t-zone, pores that are more visible and are prone to breakouts – all whilst simultaneously having to deal with dry, duller areas in other areas of your face. Let’s just say it’s not an easy thing to juggle – and once you’ve found the best moisturiser for your combination skin – it’s time to find a foundation that will compliment and work in tandem with it.
It's not hard to see why.
Speaking from experience, it’s usually the case that anybody with combination skin will want a foundation with a finish that sits somewhere in the middle of matte and dewy – too matte and skin could look flat, which is likely to make dry areas much more obvious, but if it falls too far on the dewy side, that glow could be mistaken for excess oil production.
Of course, the finish you choose is a completely personal choice, and if you prefer something more illuminating, go for it – but one thing to look out for is that any product you do choose is non-comedogenic. In short, that means it won’t further clog pores and is therefore much less likely to cause breakouts.
Should you believe the huge hype?
So, whatever your chosen finish to slather on with your foundation brush, we guarantee that your perfect match really does exist. Keep scrolling to discover just a few of the best foundations for combination skin according to GLAMOUR editors that we hope will help you nail your next base purchase.
The best foundation for combination skin at a glance.
- Best glowy foundation for combination skin = It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream, £33 cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best full coverage foundation for combination skin = Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Le Teint Foundation, £36 boots.com
- Best liquid foundation for combination skin = Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, £43 lookfantastic.com
- Best matte foundation for combination skin = Uoma Say What Foundation, £29.50 cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best high-end foundation for combination skin = Gucci Fluide De Beauté Fini Naturel Natural Finish Foundation, £46 selfridges.com
- Best medium coverage foundation for combination skin = Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation, £40 cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best luxury foundation for combination skin = Chantecaille Future Skin Gel Foundation, £72 spacenk.com
- Best weightless foundation for combination skin = Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless foundation, £34, Cult Beauty
- Best long-lasting foundation for combination skin = Clinique Even Better Makeup SPF15 Foundation, £28.50 feelunique.com
- Best affordable foundation for combination skin = NYX Professional Cosmetics Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Foundation, £15 boots.com
- Best oil-free foundation for combination skin = Too Faced Born This Way Liquid Foundation, £32 boots.com
- Best lightweight foundation for combination skin = BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel, £18 feelunique.com
Scroll for our full edit of the best full foundation for combination skin in 2022.
Best glowy foundation for combination skin
It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream, £33 cultbeauty.co.uk
A true cult classic, It Cosmetics’ CC Cream is loved by beauty editors, experts and enthusiasts alike – and for good reason. Despite being slightly heavier than what you’d expect from a traditional CC Cream, it works to hydrate skin whilst minimising the appearance of pores. Plus, it has SPF50 to boot.
Save when you shop for the best foundation for combination skin with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best full coverage foundation for combination skin
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Le Teint Foundation, £36, boots.com
With up to 24 hours’ breathable coverage while always feeling weightless on skin, this foundation is ideal for seamlessly building up from medium to heavy depending on your preferred preference. It also offers superior hydration for a truly flawless, non-cakey finish.
Save when you shop for the best foundation for combination skin with these Boots discount codes.
Best liquid foundation for combination skin
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, £43, lookfantastic.com
An iconic formula that’s universally loved, Armani’s Luminous Silk ensures a flawless, natural-looking finish that looks and feels lightweight. As well as being oil-free, it’s infused with glycerin, a moisture-magnet that works to ensure all-day hydration.
Save when you shop for the best foundation for combination skin with these LookFanastic discount codes.
Best matte foundation for combination skin
Uoma Say What Foundation, £29.50, cultbeauty.co.uk
Available in 51 shades and six custom formulas, each designed to suit the unique needs and concerns of different complexion tones, it’s lightweight and long-wearing, providing a soft matte finish for a truly perfected base every time.
Save when you shop for the best foundation for combination skin with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best high-end foundation for combination skin
Gucci Fluide De Beauté Fini Naturel Foundation, £46, selfridges.com
With 40 shades to choose from, Gucci’s debut foundation works to subtly blur imperfections, ensuring skin stays looking and feeling supple. The formula is buildable and applies like a dream – in short, it’s everything you’d expect (and more) from the house of Gucci.
Save when you shop for the best foundation for combination skin with these Selfridges discount codes.
Best medium coverage foundation for combination skin
Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation, £40, cultbeauty.co.uk
If it’s a fresh-faced, natural finish that you want from your foundation, Shisedo’s Synchro Skin could be the ideal choice for you. Specifically designed to even out and perfect the complexion, this medium coverage formula stays looking just as good as when you first applied it.
Save when you shop for the best foundation for combination skin with these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best luxury foundation for combination skin
Chantecaille Future Skin Gel Foundation, £7, spacenk.com
A real splurge, but one you won’t regret – Chantecaille’s Future Skin has a totally unique texture that applies seamlessly and is a dream to blend. It’s water-based and is packed with botanicals, like aloe, chamomile, rosemary and green tea – which work together to soothe any pesky irritation.
Save when you shop for the best foundation for combination skin with these Space NK discount codes.
Best weightless foundation for combination skin
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless foundation, £24, Cult Beauty
Nobody knows how to do a foundation quite like Charlotte Tilbury, and this one has a natural matte finish that stays put all day long, feels weightless and offers full coverage perfection. Plus, it moisturises skin for up to 24 hours.
Best affordable foundation for combination skin
NYX Professional Cosmetics Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Foundation, £15, boots.com
A foundation that promises to work just as hard as you do, despite being full coverage, it’s super comfortable to wear and it glides on like a dream, offering matte coverage and colour that stays true for 24 hours. Available in 45 shades, it’s even suitable for sensitive skin types – and it costs less than twenty quid.
Save when you shop for the best foundation for combination skin with these Boots discount codes.
Best oil-free foundation for combination skin
Too Faced Born This Way Liquid Foundation, £32, boots.com
Offering medium-to-full coverage that’s virtually undetectable once applied, it’s infused with coconut water to replenish the skin’s moisture levels without over hydrating. It’s also got a blend of hyaluronic acid for hydration alongside alpine rose which brightens skin.
Save when you shop for the best foundation for combination skin with these Boots discount codes.
Best lightweight foundation for combination skin
BareMinerals Complexion Rescue, £30, feelunique.com
Ideal for those days where you don’t want much coverage but feel like you need a little bit of something, BareMinerals’ Complexion Rescue is exactly what you need. Packed with incredibly hydrating skincare benefits alongside SPF30, it blends effortlessly and is easy enough to build up in places where you might need or want it.
Save when you shop for the best foundation for combination skin with these FeelUnique discount codes.
Best foundation for combination skin with SPF
Clinique Even Better Makeup SPF15, £29, LookFantastic
Available in more than 40 shades, Clinique's Even Better Makeup is ideal for combination skin types, serving up moderate coverage and formulated to smooth and hydrate the complexion. It promises up to 24-hour wear and the inclusion of SPF15 provides UV protection. It's also sweat and humidity resistant.
Save when you shop for the best foundation for combination skin with these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best foundation for combination skin
Dcypher Custom Foundation, £28, dcypher.me
A truly revolutionary brand, Dcypher allows you to customise your foundation every step of the way – from coverage level to finish and colour – making for something truly personalised. The formula itself has incredible blendability, it lasts well and the colour matching technology is second to none.
