Just in time for summer, our correspondent has curated a list of the 10 best luxury lightweight foundations for an effortless no-makeup look, including Chanel, Fenty Beauty, Pat McGrath and Glossier.
get a natural summer glow with the best lightweight foundation
What used to be a must-have in every woman’s makeup wardrobe has now become a contentious topic? Foundation.
Whether you love foundation or hate it, one thing we can agree on, is that the days of full-coverage foundation with a matte finish is a thing of the past. While everyone’s tastes differ, one of the biggest beauty trends right now is the glowy, no-makeup makeup look. With many women including Alicia Keys opting even to forgo makeup and foundation completely. Less work and more power to them, but we’re not quite there yet. We still find ourselves wanting to touch up a spot or two with our Chanel Vitalumiėre Aqua ($50).
The best luxury lightweight foundations for a no-makeup look, including Chanel, Fenty Beauty, Pat McGrath and Glossier.
Interested in exploring the natural makeup look for yourself? A lightweight foundation that gives you that dewy finish but still looks like skin just might be the start for you.
Not only do lightweight foundations feel like you have barely anything on your skin, but they are also often buildable, so you can easily adjust coverage whenever you need it – like after a long night at the office.
Thanks to new technology lightweight foundations are long lasting and hydrating without being oily. And unlike they’re thicker counterparts, they won’t be as prone to smudging, caking or creasing – sounds amazing.
The best luxury lightweight foundations for a no-makeup look, including Chanel, Fenty Beauty, Pat McGrath and Glossier.
That said, finding the right type is not always easy. From tinted moisturizers to beauty balms, we’ve found 10 of the best luxury lightweight foundations to help you master that natural skin-like look.
10 best luxury lightweight foundations for a no makeup look
1. ilia
Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint ($48) combines makeup, skincare and sunscreen into one easy to apply product. The hydrating serum is packed with powerful ingredients like hyaluronic acid, plant-based squalane and niacinamide, which work together to moisturize and plump skin while boosting elasticity and improving your skin’s texture. If that was not enough the tint blurs imperfections while still letting your skin shine through, meaning zero filters required.
BUY NOW – $48.
2. chanel
Les Beiges Healthy Glow ($60) from Chanel are “water-fresh” tints that are 75% water for the lightest touch of coverage that lasts up to 12 hours. The formula contains “light-reflecting pigments,” which are intended to smooth and provide a subtle luminosity, as well as antioxidants to protect against damage from free radicals and other pollutants.
BUY NOW – $60.
3. pat mcgrath
The buildable coverage and glowing finish of Pat McGrath Sublime Perfection Foundation ($68) makes it not only an Allure Best of Beauty Award winner but a cult favorite too. Choose from a lineup of 36 shades and wear a light smattering where you need it. Chances are you won’t even need concealer. Who doesn’t love being able to skip a step?
BUY NOW – $68.
4. rare beauty
Rare Beauty’s Positive Light Tinted Moisturizer ($29) is marketed as “no makeup, makeup in a bottle.” Filled with ingredients like moisturizing Vitamin E via sunflower seed oil as well as a botanical blend of lotus, gardenia and white water lily extracts, the formula works to nourish your skin while providing light coverage.
BUY NOW – $29.
5. jones road
Unlike a typical foundation, Bobbi Brown’s tinted moisture balm What the Foundation ($44) from her new brand Jones Road comes in a jar. The foundation’s consistency is like that of a creamy and buildable salve where less is definitely more when it comes to softly touching up your skin.
BUY NOW – $44.
6. fenty beauty
Fenty Beauty’s Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint ($32) provides coverage that’s somewhere between a tinted moisturizer and a foundation. It also creates an instant blurring effect for a hydrated, diffused finish that you can dot on for a casual, no makeup, makeup look or you can add more layers for a slightly glammed-up situation. All 25 flexible shades are humidity, sweat, and transfer proof, too, which is ideal for a boss lady on the move.
BUY NOW – $32.
7. kjaer weiss
Like Jones Road, Kjaer Weiss’s cream Foundation ($70) is easy to use and ultra hydrating (it’s blended with hydrating Sweet Almond Seed, Coconut and Jojoba Seed oils). All you need is warm, freshly washed fingers to apply. The best part is that the sleek metal case is re-usable, so once you make your way through the product, you can keep refilling it instead of tossing it in the trash.
BUY NOW – $70.
8. chantecaille
A hydrating, oil-free gel foundation with a refreshing and lightweight texture, Chantecaille’s Future Skin Gel Foundation ($82) is a medium-coverage option that feels lightweight. Spread across 15 light reflecting shades, this luxe formula provides sheer coverage that can be built upon for days when you feel you need a little more oompfh.
BUY NOW – $82.
9. glossier
If you’re trying to go for a “your skin but better” look, try Glossier’s Perfecting Skin Tint ($26). Its breathable, ultra-light formula is designed to even out your skin tone, resulting in a blurred yet dewy finish. The formula includes glycerin, which is a great moisturizing component that will keep your skin hydrated throughout the whole day.
BUY NOW – $26.
10. burberry
A unique aloe vera and water gel based formula, Burberry’s Fresh Glow Gel Sticks ($48) will quench your skin all day long while imparting glowing coverage. Not sure about using a stick? Trace a few lines on your forehead, cheeks, chin and nose, then blend out with a sponge or brush. It blends nicely all over the complexion, or it’s also perfect for more precise spot concealing.
BUY NOW – $48.
10 best luxury lightweight foundations for a no makeup look
That’s what our expert has to say about the best luxury lightweight foundations right now for a no-makeup look this summer, including Chanel, Fenty Beauty, Pat McGrath and Glossier. Just don’t forget that true beauty comes from within, dear reader.
