12 Best Dewy Foundations for a Radiant Finish

For a more budget-friendly option, try L’Oréal Paris’ Infallible Pro-Glow foundation. I’ve used this $12 radiant formula for years and lost count of the number of times people have mentioned how flawless my skin looks—even as I’m covering up a crop of pesky dark marks and inflammation. I love that it makes me look neither too shiny nor flaky and seriously lasts all day, without having that dreaded patchy or melty effect.

Shades: 13

Coverage: Medium

Key ingredients: Glycerin

When you want to thoroughly cover your blemishes while still allowing your skin to, well, look like skin, Charlotte Tilbury’s liquid foundation is a must. Featuring hyaluronic acid, brightening rose, and smoothing Bix-Activ, the medium-coverage formula aims to give you a fresh glow while effectively blurring the appearance of pores and imperfections. Per the brand, the seamless formula is vegan and should last on your mug for up to 16 hours.

“For a long time, I stayed away from any foundation with a dewy finish out of fear it’d make my semi-oily skin look as if I dipped my head in a bowl of grease. Charlotte Tilbury’s Beautiful Skin Foundation changed my mind. I love how I can control the coverage—and one pump is good enough for an even base—and how natural my face looks after back-to-back meetings and hustling to several events throughout the day.”—Nerisha Penrose, ELLE.com beauty commerce editor

Shade range: 30

Coverage: Medium

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, rose complex, Bix-Activ

From famed celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic, this editor-favorite foundation (we reviewed in depth, here) stars nourishing grapeseed oil and squalane to quench dehydrated skin and a touch of light-reflecting mica for added glow. The lightweight, breathable formula is also easily buildable and non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores. Check out our TikTok to see it in action.

“If I want my makeup to look dewy, but my skin is on the dryer side, I reach for this foundation. Thanks to a combination of hydrating oils and light-reflecting minerals, I can cheat a glow that makes my skin look a lot dewier than it actually is.”—Tatjana Freund, Fashion & Luxury Commerce editor

Shades: 30

Coverage: Sheer to full

Key ingredients: Grapeseed oil, squalane, mica

Nourishing ingredients are key to any dewy foundation, especially when it comes to the best foundations for mature skin. ILIA’s fan-favorite clean formula packs a punch on the hydration front, complete with squalane, niacinamide, and aloe leaf juice, so it shouldn’t crease or sink into wrinkles. Notably, it also contains allantoin, which not only works to hydrate and soothe skin but may also help prevent wrinkles.

An ILIA reviewer says: “I love this foundation. It is lightweight and easy to build up and blend. It does not irritate my skin. It made my skin glowy and also felt like it firmed it. It didn’t settle into any of my fine lines and seemed to diffuse the light, so I looked younger. I set it with powder and my makeup look lasted the entire day.”

Shades: 30

Coverage: Medium

Key ingredients: Squalane, niacinamide, aloe leaf juice, allantoin

The extra-hydrating sister to Lancôme’s OG full-coverage foundation, this glowy formula uses nourishing hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and mandelic acid to help even out texture and add firmness. Boasting buildable coverage, it’s designed to expertly cover the skin minus any cakey finish.

A Sephora reviewer says: “If you’re looking to glow while achieving maximum coverage and protecting your skin, this is that girl! This is easy to apply and lightweight. I’m so glad to add this to my collection!”

Shades: 30

Coverage: Medium to full

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, mandelic acid

Folks with oily skin know all too well that the line between looking glowy and greasy is a very fine one. With Armani Beauty’s luminous foundation, striking the right balance is easier than ever to achieve. This silky, oil-free formula minimizes shine and masks the look of pores while giving you a healthy-looking glimmer.

“This foundation is lightweight and provides light to medium coverage. You don’t need to apply a ton of product to get an even glow. It’s long-lasting and made it through my workday without oxidizing or wearing off. I do recommend using with the Luminous Silk primer—it prevents the product from settling into fine lines and wrinkles.” — Danielle James, Beauty Director, ELLE.com

Shades: 39

Coverage: Medium

Key ingredients: Glycerin

Available in a whopping 42 shades, Dior’s Forever Skin Glow foundation makes it easier to find just the right match. The formula contains a blend of moisturizing, antioxidant-rich plant extracts to help you look radiant and visibly improve skin health over time. And although the foundation is designed to be both heat- and humidity-resistant, allowing it to stay put on even the sweatiest days, shoppers report it feels nearly weightless on skin.

A Sephora reviewer says: “This was one of the ONLY products that had my shade. I’ve been looking for years and finally found this one. The texture is very light, so you don’t have to use too much, and it leaves a nice glowy feel. I love this foundation!”

Shades: 42

Coverage: Medium to full coverage

Key ingredients: Hibiscus extract, iris extract

There’s not much this powerhouse foundation can’t do. In addition to offering medium, second-skin coverage, it helps hydrate, brighten, soothe, and plump the skin via a blend of niacinamide, caffeine, peptides, and more. To top it all off, it contains reef-safe sunscreen in case you want to wear it on a beach day.

“For the ultimate ‘clean girl’ look, Kosas is the way to go. This foundation is chock-full of hydrating ingredients like peptides, squalane, and hyaluronic acid, so your skin actually becomes dewier the longer you wear it.”—T.F.

Shades: 36

Coverage: Medium

Key ingredients: Niacinamide, caffeine, peptides, squalane, pro vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid, arnica

Saie’s latest weightless formula is perfect for the foundation-averse or those seeking a lighter summer foundation. Packed with 85 percent skincare ingredients, including nourishing hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, and brightening rice bran peptides, it discreetly evens out your complexion and works overtime to actually enhance it. Thanks to mica, it’ll help give you that highlighter look when layered on key spots like the bridge of your nose and cheekbones, too.

A Saie reviewer says: “I love this product! It has been my go-to, especially this summer. It is very lightweight and adds the perfect glow/finishing touch to my makeup routine.”

Shades: 36

Coverage: Sheer to medium

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, rice bran peptides

Love a good tinted moisturizer? Rose Inc.’s serum-rich foundation offers a similar effect with its ultra-lightweight finish. Nourishing squalane and sodium hyaluronate boost glowiness, while acetyl tetrapeptide-2 helps stimulates collagen and elastin production to keep skin supple. For the best results possible, the formula also includes microencapsulated pigments that help preserve its active ingredients until they’re applied to the skin.

“Listen, Rose Inc.’s Tint Serum Foundation is intimidating at first. It’s a serum-based foundation with tiny particles of pigment that looks a lot like an expired foundation that has separated over time. But it’s truly a wonder for those looking for subtle coverage, hydration, and even tone. It’s my go-to when I want a calm, natural-looking makeup day but still want to look like I put in some effort. And, it plays well with powders if you want to minimize the ‘dew.’”—N.P.

Shades: 14

Coverage: Sheer

Key ingredients: Squalane, sodium hyaluronate, acetyl tetrapeptide-2

Somewhat newer to the makeup world, foundation balms offer the buttery texture of a cream foundation with a typically lighter, dewier finish. They’re often oil or silicone-based, making them great for moisturizing thirsty skin. Jones Road’s clean formula provides minimal to medium coverage and is beloved by shoppers for offering ultra-smoothing, hydrating benefits. Simply swipe on a light layer to let your freckles show through or blend in a few layers to mask under-eye circles and redness.

A Jones Road reviewer says: “Beautiful! Such a wonderful, lightweight product. It feels like a moisturizer going on, but it has such a clean finish! This will be my new staple…. Perfect for the girl who wants to wear a little makeup but not look caked up!”

Shades: 12

Coverage: Light to medium

Key ingredients: Jojoba oil, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin

Give your natural complexion a subtle boost with Hermès luxurious sheer balm. It stars hyaluronic acid and evening primrose oil to deeply hydrate, plus anti-inflammatory and anti-antibacterial Baikal skullcap for combatting any mild breakouts or redness. Complete with SPF30, aka the minimum amount of SPF dermatologists recommend wearing daily, it also effectively helps protect against sun damage.

“I never thought a $90 tinted moisturizer would become an essential product in my routine, but it has. For that no-makeup makeup look, this product makes my skin look dewy and glowing with minimal effort.”—T.F.

Shades: 10

Coverage: Sheer

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, evening primrose oil, Baikal skullcap