When we speak of foundations, there are some misconceptions among people regarding their ease of application, finish, and impact on the skin which makes people refrain from using them. In this article, we aim to bust these myths by presenting you with some of the best long-lasting foundations that not only provide the perfect makeup base, but also provide sublime consistency, fantastic hydration, and more benefits. 

Our research indicates that many people avoid applying foundation because they fear that it may become patchy upon the slightest hints of sweat. And, there’s no point in a makeup product that worsens your appearance in place of enhancing your natural features! Fortunately, long-wear foundation formulas these days have evolved a lot from high concentrations of talc, mica, and oil-based emulsifiers. 

Drawing from our experience, foundations today consist of a high content of humectants as well as silicones and polymers so that the makeup does not dry out the skin but instead mollycoddles it like a nourishing cream. Adding to that, newer formulations these days are lighter, non-comedogenic, and more likely to provide a natural finish. Scroll away to see our product recommendations to reap these benefits.

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  Best Overall

  DERMACOL FILM STUDIO PRAGUE MAKE-UP COVER

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This  long-lasting foundation by DermaCol is a holy grail makeup product that cleverly masks acne scars, bruises and reddened pimples to give you a flawless finish. The product is available in a wide range of shades to choose from as per your skin tone. It has an absorbent texture and provides a satin-smooth matte finish on the skin, without getting collected in the wrinkles or contours of the face. Its non-cakey formulation binds the make-up elements together and tightens pores, minimizing the chances of blackheads.

Coverage: Full

Finish: Natural

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Best Non-comedogenic Formula

PHOERA SOFT MATTE LONG-WEAR LIQUID FOUNDATION

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People with acne-prone skin often avoid foundation for fear of acne getting aggravated — and for such fear-stricken people, we present the Phoera soft matte foundation. This magical lightweight liquid has the pliable properties of skin-friendly silicones that are ideal for treating eczema-prone skin whereas other film-formers that provide a silky smooth base for your makeup. The formula also gives a delectable shine to your skin that doesn’t look too artificial. You’ll notice that this foundation acts as a layer between the skin and the external pollutants and prevents the skin from accumulating dust.

Coverage: Full

Finish: Matte

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Best Antioxidant-rich Formula

SuperThinker Moisture Foundation

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You can rest assured about preventing allergic reactions and inflammation with this product by SuperThinker as it is undoubtedly one of the best long-lasting foundations for super-sensitive skin. It provides an even finish and keeps the skin refreshed all day. It contains tremella extracts that curb redness and centella extracts that treat your skin with its amazing anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains vitamin E that has moisture-replenishing powers, perfect to prevent your skin from feeling rough or dehydrated.

Coverage: Medium

Finish: Natural

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Best for All Skin Types

Dermablend Flawless Creator Multi-Use Liquid Foundation Drops

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Formulated with just 10 ingredients, this liquid foundation by Dermablend deposits more color pigments and less nonsense onto your skin. Therefore, this foundation offers excellent coverage and reduces the chances of reactions or irritation in your skin. The serum-like formula is quite humecting for your skin, which leaves it feeling nourished and comforted and prevents tightness or dehydration. Adding on, the formula is oil-free, which makes it unlikely to clog your pores or trigger any blemishes. All you need to do is dispense 3-4 drops of the product onto your face, spread evenly, and then forget you have applied anything at all for the next few hours!

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MISSHA Magic Cushion Cover

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Carrying sunscreen every time with your make-up essentials may be a real hassle, hence the MISSHA magic Cushion Cover comes with a powerful defense system of SPF 50 and PA+++ that helps block UVA and UVB rays. It has a feathery weight composition that makes it feel comfortable against your skin and prevents inhibition of pores. This long-wear foundation also protects your skin against free oxygen radicals, thereby making it one of the best long-lasting foundations for aging skin. 

Coverage: Buildable

Finish: Satin

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Best Transfer-proof Formula

REVLON COLORSTAY FULL COVER FOUNDATION

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Another brainchild of Revlon Cosmetics is this long-lasting full-coverage foundation, which provides a remarkably flawless matte finish. It is one of the oil-free foundations that has a whipped texture and does not feel heavy on your face. Available in 15 shades, this product offers something to suit all kinds of skin tones and textures. To boot, it works magically for laugh lines, under-eye bags, and crow’s feet in mature skin types along with treating discoloration, while also soothing minor inflammations. 

Coverage: Full

Finish: Matte

Quick Tip

Apply the foundation using a stippling brush, blend with a beauty blender, and use a setting spray to set your makeup in place for the longest time possible.

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Best for Dry Skin

RUBY KISSES Cream Foundation

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This long-lasting foundation by Ruby Kisses contains the 3-in-1 benefits of a primer, highlighter, and a nourishing cream, to give a soft, dewy finish to your skin. It has a light, velvety texture which makes it indulging and easy to apply. The formula is ideal for covering bruises, acne, and breakouts. It eases signs of aging and combats discoloration. It also replenishes the skin’s natural lipid barrier, without making the base look cakey. All in all, it is one of the best long-lasting foundations you can find for dry skin. 

Coverage: Medium to full

Finish: Dewy

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Best Matte Finish

TLM FOUNDATION COLOR CHANGING -All Day Flawless LIT FROM WITHIN - Pack of 2

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Among the best long-lasting foundations for oily skin types, this product by TLM replenishes the water content of your skin, ensuring that it doesn’t look cakey or made up. It provides a velvety matte glass skin-like finish hiding and slowly warding off all kinds of skincare concerns like blackheads, whiteheads, blind pimples, and excess oil release. It has a lightweight cream-like base that keeps the makeup intact by forming an invisible layer between the skin and the makeup elements.  

Coverage: Full

Finish: Natural

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Best Silky Texture

ALMAY Truly Lasting Color 16-Hour Makeup

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Finding a place to touch up your make-up now and then can be a difficult task, hence the ALMAY Foundation comes with an unbeatable 16-hour resistance. Among the best long-lasting foundations for combination skin, it contains lemon extracts that help prevent blemishes and blackheads and vitamin E, which is known for its moisture retention abilities. It also contains green tea extracts known for their anti-inflammatory properties and sweet almonds, which is a powerhouse of vitamin A. It is free of parabens, sulfates, and artificial fragrances and hence a compatible choice for extremely sensitive skin. 

Coverage: Medium

Finish: Natural

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Best for a Natural Finish

FRANKIE ROSE COSMETICS

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Frankie Rose Cosmetics brings the best long-lasting matte foundation that doesn't need a beauty blender to spread it evenly on your skin, owing to its silky texture. It provides an even base for makeup and prevents the makeup from getting coagulated. The formula comes in a varied range of shades to complement every skin type and color. Adding to that, it not only blurs the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and freckles but also prevents these signs of aging from worsening. 

Coverage: Full

Finish: Semi-matte

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Best Sweat-resistant Formula

KYDA LIQUID FOUNDATION - Pack of 2

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The Kyda Foundation is designed to complement your summer beach body and allow you to flaunt your curves in that Bikini. This makeup product rectifies dullness restoring the skin to its lost shine. It provides a sweat-resistant ultra-smooth matte finish that lasts up to 12 hours. It shields under eye bags, and dark circles and also works for acne scars. It has a lightweight base that makes it delightfully handy for everyday wear. Besides, its pump dispenser makes the application process convenient and hygienic. 

Coverage: Full

Finish: Matte

Quick Tip

Apply a silicone-based gel primer before painting your entire face, including the neck and ears, with the foundation. It will help prolong the wear of your foundation. Finally, set the base using a setting powder for desired results.

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MIBA Cushioned Moisturizing Foundation

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For people who find the implementation of liquid foundations a messy affair, we present to you the MIBA cushion foundation. Its touch-perfect fixing formula makes it an impeccable choice to cover dark spots, acne scars, love marks, pimple zits, blackheads, fine lines, wrinkles and crow's feet. The formula is fortified with minute pearl extracts that give a delectable shine to your skin, making it one of the best long-lasting dewy foundations. In addition, it contains the goodness of damask rose water that refreshes and regenerates skin cell formation.

Coverage: Medium to full

Finish: Dewy

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MAX FACTOR LASTING PERFORMANCE TOUCH PROOF

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The foundation by Max factor does indeed have a maximum factor of radiance and also helps in sculpting the face, thereby eliminating the need for a contour. It has a smooth application and an easily absorbent texture that makes it an ideal choice for teens. It is one of the best long-lasting foundations that aid in adding shine and eliminating acne scars, enhancing skin texture, and curbing oiliness. 

Coverage: Full

Finish: Matte

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sisley paris Long Lasting Foundation

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The foundation that naturally boosts the luminosity of the skin even after the product has been stripped off the skin is the Sisley Paris long-lasting foundation. Its splendid oil-free formulation makes it a great choice for all skin types. It is free of parabens, sulfates and alcohol and thus a very compatible choice for extremely sensitive skin. It contains buckwheat seed extract which acts as a pollution barrier along with gardenia and mallow extracts that soften skin texture and prepare the skin for makeup.

Coverage: Full

Finish: Natural

Choosing a foundation as per your shade and your skin type can be a really challenging task hence we bring to you a buying guide that would assist you with your purchase. When asked whether long-lasting foundations should be considered mistake-proof, our contributor, Malvika Sheth, Founder of fashion & beauty platform ‘Stylebymalvika,’ replies, “I would definitely say so! The most important thing to look at when finding a mistake-proof foundation for you is to ensure the formula is created to suit your skin type and concerns. That will help you understand whether it is mistake-proof for you.”

She further tells about ways to remove long-lasting foundations, saying, “With any kind of foundation, the trick is to double cleanse using two different cleansing methods. If you are starting with a micellar water, then maybe the second cleanse should be a richer, cleansing balm for long lasting foundations. However if the foundation is lightweight, or if you’ve just used a skin tint, then using micellar water and following it up with a regular facial cleansing wash or foam would be just fine.”

Here are the factors to consider before choosing the best long-lasting foundation - 

Composition of Ingredients: One should prioritize foundations, or rather any makeup product made with naturally processed ingredients such as almond oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, and cocoa butter that helps to keep the skin moisturized. In addition, anti-inflammatory ingredients like tea tree oil and lavender go a long way in soothing and mollycoddling your beautiful skin. The product should be free of sulfates, parabens, alcohol, mineral oil, etc. which tends to cause problems like hormonal imbalance and skin irritation. 

Structural Composition And Portability: The product should come along with tools of application in case of a complex composition and the texture of the product should be easily absorbent in order to provide an even flawless skin tone.  It should be made available for sale in glass bottles as glass is non-reactive to the outside debris and prevents the invasion of bacteria inside. 

Costing And Pricing of the Product: The costing and pricing of the product should be formulated keeping in mind the average demographic choices of a collective population. It should not be too low so as to raise eyebrows with regard to its efficacy and should not be too high to be only selectively available to some.

Here are easy steps to apply foundation correctly - 

1. Wash your face with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser.
2. Moisturize your facial skin using a hydrating cream or serum.
3. Apply primer on specific skin areas where you have open pores.
4. Take a pump of your non-drying foundation and apply it on your face and neck using a brush.
5. Blend well using a beauty blender for a smooth canvas. 

Tada, you are done!

Acne, scars, pimples, blackheads, and uneven skin tone are all a part of the skin’s natural aging cycle, but we should not miss out on the fun that life has to offer because of certain concerns, we all have the equal right to look and feel beautiful which is why above is a list of the best long lasting foundations that can help you ace you make up game. Do consider the factors in our buying guide before making a purchase. Happy shopping!

Contributor: Malvika Sheth, Founder of fashion & beauty platform and blog - ‘Stylebymalvika’