13 Best Matte Foundations
1. Best Long-Lasting Formula:Revlon ColorStay Matte Finish Liquid Foundation
The Revlon ColorStay Makeup Foundation wears for up to 24 hours. It offers the best coverage with SPF 15. It glides on smoothly onto the skin and leaves a gorgeous look. It also withstands the oil and greasiness and stays on the skin throughout the day. It does not settle into the fine lines. Its time-release technology, which is specially formulated for combination or oily skin, controls oil secretion and shine and leaves a matte finish. The foundation is available in 43 different shades, ranging from light to medium to dark. Skin Type: Combination and oily, acne-prone skin Texture: Liquid Pros
Lightweight SPF 15 Wears up to 24 hours Glides on easily Minimizes large pores
Cons None
2. Best Lightweight:L’Oreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Foundation
The L’Oreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Foundation gives you a matte finish and keeps oil at bay for up to 24 hours. It has medium coverage and is perfect for everyday use. It resists sweat, humidity, and heat. It leaves a buildable coverage. The product itself is lightweight and creamy. It glides onto the face smoothly. It creates a flawless base and hides any imperfections. Skin Type: Normal to oily skin Texture: Liquid Pros
Lightweight Long-wearing Glides smoothly Transfer-resistant Sweat-resistant 24-hour shine control
Cons
Leaves a streaky orange finish
3. Best Allergy-Tested:Maybelline New York Dream Matte Mousse Foundation
The Maybelline New York Dream Matte Mousse Foundation makes your matte stay for up to 16 hours with medium-to-full coverage. It is lightweight and mattifies effortlessly, leaving a shine-free finish. It does not leave a cakey appearance. This long-lasting foundation mousse glides onto the skin easily and gives a flawless finish. The unique formula does not clog the pores and reduces pore size. It is allergy-tested, dermatologically-approved, and safe for daily use. Check out this video on YouTube for a detailed understanding of the product. Skin Type: All skin types (including sensitive skin) Texture: Mousse Pros
Long-lasting makeup wear Lightweight Glides smoothly Dermatologist-tested Allergy-tested Non-comedogenic Provides perfect coverage
Cons
May dry the skin out
4. Best Fragrance-Free:Rimmel Stay Matte Full Coverage Mattifying Foundation
The Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation is lightweight. It has an airy mousse texture that will keep your skin from feeling oily or greasy throughout the day. It blends in well with the skin and minimizes pores. It does not sink down into the fine lines and wrinkles and leaves no cakey appearance. The oil-free, silky-smooth formula offers an all-day shine-free natural finish. This long-lasting liquid foundation gives a baby soft powder finish that ensures long-lasting makeup wear. If you want to know more about this product, check out this video on YouTube. Skin Type: Oily skin Texture: Liquid Pros
Lightweight Fragrance-free Gives full-coverage Reduces the appearance of pores No cakey appearance Does not settle into fine lines or wrinkles Long-lasting
Cons
Leaves orange streaks Could dry the skin out Consistency is too thick
5. Best For Buildable Coverage:NYX Professional Stay Matte But Not Flat Powder Foundation
The NYX Professional Powder Foundation creates a matter-finish to help you achieve a flawless complexion. It is lightweight and offers enough coverage to mask blemishes and redness. It offers buildable coverage for long-lasting makeup wear. The powdery texture does not dry the skin out. It perfectly blends with the skin tone. You will look naturally flawless with minimal effort. This is an excellent foundation for those who are not a fan of liquid foundation and have just started their makeup journey. Go ahead and check out this YouTuber’s video for more details about the product. Skin Type: Combination skin Texture: Powder Pros
Easy to use Lightweight Non-comedogenic Controls oil secretion Shin-control finish Buildable coverage 100% vegan
Cons None
6. Best For Enlarged Pores:Covergirl TruBlend Matte Made Liquid Foundation
The Covergirl TruBlend Matte Liquid Foundation is formulated with Flexi-hold technology. It creates a strong yet flexible film on the skin that delivers a smooth, flawless, matte-finish look. This unique formula absorbs excess oil and reduces the visible appearance of pores. The soft matte formula glides effortlessly with the skin tone and stays up to 12 hours for long-lasting makeup wear. Skin Type: Normal to oily skin, and acne-prone skin Texture: Liquid Pros
Absorbs excess oil Minimizes the appearance of pores Long-lasting wear Provides a strong, flexible film
Cons
Not transfer-proof Not sweat-resistant
7. Best Waterproof:Phoera Oil-Control Liquid Foundation
If you want a two-in-one foundation that brightens your look and conceals imperfections, the Phoera Oil-Control Liquid Foundation is the right pick. This waterproof foundation provides full coverage with a soft matte finish. It is lightweight and easy to blend. It contains whitening and moisturizing ingredients that correct an uneven skin tone and plump your skin. This liquid foundation can mask fine lines and wrinkles and reduce pore size. It boosts radiance for 24 hours and leaves skin feeling silky smooth and shine-free. Skin Type: Dry and oily skin Texture: Thick Liquid Pros
Lightweight Waterproof Easy to wear Provides 24-hour makeup wear Long-lasting Protects the skin
Cons
Leaves orange streaks
8. Best Vegan Formula:bareMinerals Matte Foundation
The bareMinerals Matte Foundation is formulated with mineral sunscreen with a broad spectrum SPF 15 that protects your skin from sun damage. It delivers breathable, buildable sheer-to-full coverage with a silky matte finish. The product claims to reduce the appearance of pores by 93% and improves skin clarity by 85%. It is oil-free, and its baby-soft powder finish absorbs excess oil and leaves a shine-free, flawless look. It is ultra-lightweight, 100% vegan, and non-comedogenic. Skin Type: All skin types (except sensitive skin) Texture: Translucent powder Pros
Provides buildable coverage Lightweight 100% vegan Non-comedogenic Breathable No settling into fine lines SPF 15 Control excess oil secretion
Cons
Expensive
9. Best Shine Control:Clinique Stay-Matte Makeup Foundation
The Clinique Stay-Matte is a lightweight makeup foundation perfect for the ‘no-makeup look’. It is humidity-tested and absorbs shine, controls oil, and resists sweat for a flawless matte finish. This is a true liquid foundation that holds your natural finish all day long and controls excess oil secretion for 8 hours. This natural matte finish formula comes in 20 different shades. Skin type: Normal to oily skin Texture: Liquid Pros
Lightweight Fragrance-free Controls oil secretion Medium coverage
Cons None
10. Best Hypoallergenic:No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation
The No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation provides a lightweight feel with a flawless matte finish. It is formulated to glide effortlessly with the skin tone and instantly transform the appearance of your complexion. The fine texture blurs the imperfections, blemishes, and fades the signs of premature aging. The mineral sunscreen with SPF 15 protects the skin from environmental aggressors. It is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, and leaves a perfectly smooth and velvety soft skin all day. Skin Type: Oily skin Texture: Liquid Pros
Lightweight Oil-free Hypoallergenic Non-comedogenic Minimizes pores SPF 15 No powdery flatness
Cons None
11. Best Oil-Free:Almay Skin Perfecting Comfort Matte Foundation
The Almay Skin Perfecting Comfort Matte Foundation delivers a natural-looking, flawless matte finish. It offers long-lasting makeup wear for up to 16 hours. This oil-free foundation provides buildable coverage that blurs fine lines, wrinkles, and blemishes. It blends easily with the skin tone. It leaves the skin feeling velvety soft and silky smooth. Skin Type: All skin types Texture: Liquid Pros
Paraben-free Phthalate-free SLS-free Mineral oil-free No formaldehyde Hypoallergenic Fragrance-free 100% vegan Oil-free
Cons
Not suitable for mature skin
12. Best Skin Brightening:Tarte Shape Tape Matte Foundation
The Tarte Shape Tape is a 100% vegan, oil-free matte foundation that feels weightless on the skin. It glides effortlessly to provide full coverage. It is formulated with vitamin E, a natural antioxidant that protects the skin from environmental aggressors. The foundation contains mineral pigments to soothe, brighten, and soften the skin. This natural formula provides full coverage with an airbrushed matte finish. It conceals all the imperfections without leaving a cakey appearance. Skin Type: Normal, dry, and oily skin Texture: Liquid rich cream Pros
Oil-free Alcohol-free 100% vegan Dermatologist-tested Hypoallergenic Soothes and softens skin
Cons
Leaves a yellowish tinge
13. Best Pigmented Formula:A. Girl Pro Matte Foundation
The L.A. Girl Pro Matte Foundation is a liquid weightless formula that provides smooth and buildable coverage for both day and night wear. The creamy formula is infused with vitamins E and B5, and sunflower oil that smoothen and soften the skin. The foundation leaves an airbrushed matte finish. The antioxidants help minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines. The foundation does not leave a cakey appearance. This highly pigmented makeup foundation brightens the skin tone. It is perfect for all skin types. Skin Types: All skin types Texture: Creamy liquid Pros
Lightweight Paraben-free 100% vegan Highly pigmented Non-comedogenic
Cons None These are the 13 best matte foundations available online. In the following section, we will see what a matte foundation is.
What Is A Matte Finish Foundation?
A matte finish foundation often has a powdery texture and absorbs excess oil. It leaves one with a velvety finish that pulls light inward. If you want oil-free makeup that lasts from day to night, a matte foundation works like a miracle. It perfectly suits oily complexions. It blurs pores and reduces excess sebum from the sebaceous glands, leaving an airbrushed look all day long. Let us now check out the benefits of matte finish foundations.
Benefits Of Matte Finish Foundations
They offer a lightweight texture and will not leave the skin feeling heavy or cakey. They are easy to blend and provide buildable coverage. They are effective in absorbing excess oil without clogging the pores. These oil-free foundations are often sweat-resistant and are appropriate for hot, humid climates.
The following section discusses the factors you need to look for before purchasing a matte finish foundation.
Best Matte Finish Foundation – A Buying Guide
It should be oil-free and non-comedogenic to perfectly suit an oily skin tone. It should be able to provide medium to full coverage for an all-day makeup hold. It should have a powdery finish that absorbs excess oil and sebum without stripping off the skin’s natural moisture.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Baishali Bhattacharya is certified in makeup techniques and loves to review different makeup products. After thorough research, she has provided a detailed list of the best matte foundations in this post. She went through numerous reviews and feedback on multiple forums and brand websites to help you pick the best matte foundation that absorbs unwanted oil with a powdery texture. The products listed in this post withstand the oil and greasiness and stay on the skin throughout the day. What skin type is matte foundation best for? Matte foundation is the best for combination and oily skin types. Is matte foundation better for older skin? No, matte foundations settle into the fine lines and wrinkles and accentuate them. So, it is not good for older skin. Can I use a dewy concealer with my matte foundation? Yes, you can use a dewy concealer with a matte foundation. This helps take care of the oily zones without looking too dry. Does mixing loose powder into a foundation actually make it more matte? No, it does not make the formula matte, but it helps control the oiliness and holds the matte look for longer hours. Do you need setting powder for matte foundation? No. Using setting powder for a matte foundation is not necessary, but it helps keep your makeup in place and prevents oiliness in the T-zone. Which is better: matte or liquid foundation? The matte finish and liquid formula foundation are suitable for oily and combination skin types and offer long-lasting, full coverage. But a matte finish foundation is better for controlling the oiliness of the skin.
