These Long-Lasting Foundations Cover Everything (2024)

If you want to fully cover hyperpigmentation like sun spots or melasma, acne flare-ups, or dark under-eye circles, then a full-coverage foundation is the best formula for you. Even if don't have anything to cover, a full-coverage foundation can create the most flawless, air-brushed finish, which makes it perfect for big events and photos.

To choose the right formula for you, think about your skin type. If your skin skews oily, opt for a matte or oil-free foundation. Dry or mature skin? Set your sights on hydrating formulas with a radiant or dewy finish. Less is more when it comes to foundation on mature skin, says celebrity makeup artist Elaina Badro. Swirl it on with a brush to create a natural airbrushed look. Also, make sure to stipple around areas like the nose and mouth, which tend to have more dryness.

No matter your skin type, applying a primer before the foundation is a good idea. A matte primer will help control oil and increase your wear-time. A primer with hydrators like hyaluronic acid can help prevent full-coverage foundation from looking cakey, Badro says.

To help you find the best full-coverage foundation for your own skin, whether mature and dry or oily and acne-prone, we asked makeup artists to share their most tried-and-true formulas.

"If you have problematic skin that is rosacea-prone, this is an awesome product that hides imperfections well,” says celebrity makeup artist Marcia Williams of Embellish Beauty. It's also great for wearers with mature skin, she says. That's because it's a super-hydrating formula infused with hyaluronic acid, aloe vera extract, and vitamins E and B5. "It's also buildable, so keep applying lightly until you achieve your desired look,” she says.

Sometimes called a pro makeup artist's "best-kept secret," this buildable full-coverage foundation is beloved by makeup artist Dominique Lerma for its natural but blurred finish. "The finish is subtly luminous," she says. It's a winning pick for those with sensitive skin because it's lightweight and infused with aloe vera.

Makeup artist Stephanie G-M praises this formula for its creamy texture, noting "it builds well while leaving skin looking natural and dewy, and not cakey." Its ingredient list hinges on clean ingredients, including organic cold centrifuged coconut oil and a blend of oils and herbs to soften and hydrate skin. The finish is radiant, but not so heavy that it won't work for those with combination or oily skin.

"Estée Lauder's foundation is a classic pick," says Badro. "Not only does it offer full coverage, but it even claims 24-hour staying power." The formula may be a bit too matte for those with dry skin, but for those with more oily complexions, it's a home run. As a nice bonus, the foundation also contains SPF 15 (of course, do still apply a separate sunscreen).

Do you want a foundation that nourishes your skin while concealing and evening skin tone? Of course you do, and that's exactly what you'll get out of this lightweight formula, recommended by Badro. It contains iris, rose, and wild pansy extracts for hydration benefits and delivers a natural, matte finish with up to 24 hours of staying power.

Available in a whopping 51 shades, there's a match here for everyone and anyone. Makeup artists particularly like the foundation for warm days and clients with oily skin, since it's fully sweat- and shine-resistant, says makeup artist Ehlie Luna. You can cover acne or hyperpigmentation without excess oil or streaking—just a blurred, poreless finish.

It’s a sort of secret weapon,” makeup artist Jenna Kristina says about Maybelline's Super Stay Full Coverage Foundation. “Just as the name indicates, this foundation is sweat-proof, oil-proof, dance-proof, and guarantees that even if you don’t have time to reapply your makeup, you’re still going to look good.”

For photo frenzies like weddings, you can't beat this full-coverage foundation from NARS, says Lerma, who calls it her "holy grail" for these types of events. "Know that it is full coverage; a little goes a long way," she says. The 16-hour long-lasting foundation is suitable for most skin types, too—dry, normal, and combination.

An affordable drugstore pick with an impressive shade range, NYX's Can't Stop Won't Stop Foundation comes highly recommended by celebrity makeup artist Lola Okanlawon, who uses it on Leslie Jones. “It’s lightweight, waterproof, transfer proof, and has 24-hour staying power," she says. The liquid foundation, which offers a matte finish, is also cruelty-free.

Lancôme's most popular foundation—the Teint Idole Ultra Wear 24H Full Coverage Foundation—expertly covers dark spots and blurs imperfections like blemishes of hyperpigmentation with a natural, matte finish. It also contains SPF 15 and promises to last a full 24 hours without needing a touch-up. It's suitable for all skin types, though it's particularly hydrating for dry skin, thanks to ingredients likes hyaluronic acid and moringa seed extracts.