Best foundation for sensitive skin

Table of Contents

The BEST FOUNDATION is the one that:

matches your skin color
covers eventual imperfections
it is easy to apply
will remain on your face for a longer period of time
makes you feel good about yourself

We wear foundation to cover imperfections, to highlight the natural beauty and enhance our appearance but also to protect us against outside elements such as cold and sun.

On our most special days such as the wedding day is, the foundation should be chosen carefully. For tips on how to select your foundation for this special day, have a look at our article with recommendations on choosing the best foundation for weddings.

Foundation comes in various types such as:

liquid
cream
powder
loose powder
mousse
stick
tinted moisturizer

If your skin is sensitive just like mine you probably struggle sometimes to find the best foundation to offer full coverage for sensitive skin without any negative effects. Some products make your skin feel really dry and itchy, sometimes even accentuating your skin imperfections. To make it even more difficult, if the skin is not protected, outside factors such as cold weather and wind, dust particles, pollen, pollution, and sun, can accentuate the sensitivity of our facial skin. Wearing a suitable foundation can offer protection against these factors.

Choosing the right foundation for sensitive skin is a nightmare at times and this is why I have tried and tested some products and made this list in order to help you find the best foundation for sensitive skin:

1. Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear Foundation

This foundation is easy to apply, you don’t need a huge amount and it doesn’t make your face feel like wearing a mask.

One of the most important aspects to me was that my imperfect skin was covered for a long period during the day. It is truly long wear and I think this is the best lightweight foundation for sensitive skin.

Benefits

Full and natural coverage
Lightweight sensation
Easy to apply
Is oil-free
Natural
SFF 15
Affordable prices

Brand

When choosing your skin products it’s worth to find out more information about the brand name, its ethos, read reviews, and then decide if you really want to try one of their products.

Lancome is a well-known French luxury brand created in 1935 by Armand Petitjean and Guillaume d’Ornano and now is part of the L’Oreal Luxury division. Its name derives from Lancome forest in an area renowned for its roses, hence the rose symbol on Lancome products.

Lancome’s vision is celebrating the beauty of women.

Their products are sold internationally in shops across the World and online.

Why do I like this brand? It’s a luxury brand but affordable. Celebrities are proudly wearing Lancome on the red carpet. Ordinary people like me can wear it any day, too.

2. Vichy Dermafinish Liquid Foundation with SPF 30

Vichy products are aimed at dry sensitive skin and it was an obvious choice for me to test their makeup products in addition to facial care.

I found this liquid foundation easy to apply and offered great coverage. It didn’t require a lot of retouching and it’s definitely weightless.

Benefits:

Designed for sensitive skin
Natural coverage
Weightless
SPF 30 (the higher, the better!)
Non-comedogenic
Does not dry your skin
Vichy Thermal Water as an added ingredient
Good coverage for redness and acne
Clinically tested

Brand:

The company was founded in 1931 by Dr Prosper Haller and today’s factory location is the same one as at the beginning, in the volcanic region of Auvergne, France. All Vichy products are infused with thermal water from this pollution protected area.

Vichy focuses on producing high-quality products for people that have dry sensitive skin. Vichy thermal springs are famous for containing a high number of minerals and are well-known for their therapeutic properties for centuries.

Why do I like this brand? Their ethos is a commitment to protect the environment and believes in sustainability.

This foundation is easy to apply, you don’t need a huge amount and it doesn’t make your face feel like wearing a mask.

3. Dermablend Cover Creme Full Coverage Foundation with SPF 30

Although I find the creme foundation to be a bit harder to apply, this Dermablend product is quite smooth and blends well into the skin. To apply you need to use the spatula provided, gently blend, and then place it into your palm. The crème softens and becomes easier to apply.

Benefits:

It offers good coverage (dark spots, redness)
Designed for sensitive skin
Non-comedogenic
Skin doesn’t break up
Sun protection SPF30
Takes a while to wear off
A lot of shades to choose from
Created by dermatologists

Brand:

Dermablend Professional was created by a dermatologist in 1981, Dr. Craig Roberts in the US. Paired together with his wife, Flori Roberts, a make-up artist, Dr. Roberts created a brand that caters to all skin types and addresses all skin concerns: scars, birthmarks, acne, redness, sensitivity, dry skin.

Why do I like this brand? It offers professional products that adapt to any skin concerns

4. La Mav Anti-Ageing Mineral Foundation Powder

I found this mineral foundation powder to be really light on the skin, very easy to apply, and a good color match (medium). My biggest concern was that my sensitive skin might be irritated and become dry after using this product. However, it wasn’t the case and my skin remained the same and this is a great benefit of this foundation.

Benefits:

Suitable for sensitive skin
Offers natural coverage
Weightless powder
SPF 15
Non-comedogenic
Does not dry your skin
Does not clog your pores
Doesn’t have talc
No irritation
Anti-aging properties
Organic
Vegan
Easy to apply
4 different shades
Money-back guarantee – 30 days

Brand:

La Mav is an Australian cosmetics company and it was created by Dr. Tarj Mavi. The founder’s story is quite unique as Dr. Mavi suffered from melisma after having her second child and she found it difficult to use the products already on the market. Thus, using her previous scientific knowledge and further research on the use of bio-ingredients, Dr. Mavi created this brand where health and beauty are combined.

Why do I like this brand? Their whole concept is founded on offering the best cosmetics by using natural ingredients. Their products are made with the care of nature in mind: their products are not tested on animals, the packaging is eco-friendly and fully recyclable.

5. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Teint Mattifying Mousse Foundation

The texture of the mousse is airy and soft. The application process is effortless and feels very comfortable. It’s weightless and easy to wear and does cover all imperfections. My dry skin felt protected and it didn’t dry after wearing even if this formula is a mattifying one and I expected some dryness. However, it doesn’t stay covered for a long time and maybe it would be better to use a setting powder as well.

Benefits:

Designed for sensitive skin
Good for oily and combination skin
Without oil
Weightless
SPF 30 (the higher, the better!)
Non-comedogenic
No fragrance
Contains Airlicium that absorbs oil
Mattifier
Good coverage for redness and acne
5 shades
Recommended by dermatologists

Brand:

La Roche- Posay is a brand created in 1975 by a French pharmacist, Rene Levayer. Its products are designed for people with sensitive skin and are made in collaboration with dermatologists.

Their products are infused with thermal water from La Roche- Posay thermal spring in a medieval village in Nouvelle- Aquitaine region of France. This spring contains selenium, a powerful antioxidant, and is well known for its health benefits for skin conditions, across the whole of Europe.

Why do I like this brand? It was created with the idea to help people improve their skin condition, partnered with dermatologists, places importance on safety, efficacity, and simplicity.

What is the best foundation for dry, very dry, and sensitive skin?

When it comes to makeup for sensitive skin it’s extremely important to do a little research about the brands, ingredients contained (especially checking if it is allergen-free, non-comedogenic), read other users’ reviews, and have a chat with a skin specialist, in case it’s needed.

We hope that our article gave you an idea of what you can find this year on the market. You can shop for a foundation for sensitive skin in drugstores, pharmacies, other shops, online, and on Amazon.

After trying and testing these foundations for sensitive skin, I can happily say that they are all good for sensitive and dry skin. Each of them has their own benefits, they all offer good coverage without affecting a delicate complexion.

I have tried to offer you a selection from a variety of textures. I have found Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Long Wear to be the one that remained on the skin for a longer period without any caking and without clogging, offering the type of coverage I needed whilst at work and still being on when I arrived back home. The skin felt soft and no irritation occurred.

Vichy Dermafinish Liquid Foundation was easy to apply and it’s a good alternative for people that prefer this texture. What I liked about it was the high SPF factor and the added bonus of Vichy thermal water. In terms of enjoying the benefits of thermal water, La Roche-Posay Toleriane Teint Mattifying Mousse Foundation is a fantastic choice. I found the mousse to be very easy to apply, giving a pampered feeling. My skin felt really good after applying this product.

Dermablend Cover Creme Full Coverage Foundation also offers a high SPF and quite good weightless coverage whilst La Mav Anti Aging Mineral Foundation Powder offers the benefit of anti-aging ingredients and is one of the best powder foundations I have ever tried.

As you can see, plenty of choices and benefits with these foundation products for sensitive skin. My personal favorite is Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Long Lasting Wear as it checks all the boxes on my list:

protection for sensitive skin
non-irritant
easy to apply
long-lasting coverage
weightless
coves skin imperfections (adult acne, redness)
didn’t dry the skin
perfect color match

I have found the product I can name as the best foundation for sensitive skin, and I hope this list gives you an idea of what the best choice for yourself is. Click on the product name or the photos to read more information and buy the desired one.

Best foundation for sensitive skin - Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear — Best foundation for sensitive skin – Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear

Remember that sometimes it takes a few attempts before finding the best foundation for sensitive skin and I will continue to add reviews in this article but in the meantime please remember that: