Which foundation should I use?
Choosing a foundation without understanding your skin type can lead to creasing, excess shine, dryness or an uneven finish. With the right match, foundations are easy to apply with a brush or sponge, helping you achieve a comfortable, confidence‑boosting base that aligns with your skincare routine and lifestyle.
Finding your skin type
There is quick and easy way to find out what type of skin you have:
- Cleanse your skin
- Leave your face bare for 30–60 minutes
- Check how it looks and feels in natural light
- If it shines all over, your skin is likely oily
- If it feels tight or flaky, your skin is likely dry
- If only your T‑zone is shiny, your skin is likely combination
- If it feels comfortable and balanced, your skin is likely normal
- If it often stings, reddens or reacts, your skin is likely sensitive
Once you know whether your skin is oily, dry, combination, normal or sensitive, choosing texture, coverage and finish becomes much easier.
Oily Skin
For oil‑control and long lasting wear, Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay‑in‑Place Makeup or Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless are oil‑free liquid formulas that deliver matte, shine‑resistant coverage and perform especially well when you apply them with a dense brush or damp sponge.
Dry Skin
Dry or normal skin generally benefits from hydrating, water‑based or skincare‑inspired options such as Estée Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue SPF45 or Max Factor Miracle Pure Skin‑Improving Foundation, which offer comfortable medium coverage with a dewy, luminous effect.
Combination Skin
If you have combination skin, using a semi‑matte, hydrating foundation like Rimmel Lasting Finish 25H Foundation or Max Factor Miracle Touch Foundation gives balanced, long wearing results.
Sensitive Skin
If your skin is sensitive or you prefer sheer, breathable make‑up, a tinted lotion such as Australian Gold Botanical SPF50 Tinted Face Lotion is recommend for a long wearing tint that feels lightweight and can be applied quickly with fingers or a sponge for a softly perfected complexion. You could also use a BB cream like Dr.Jart+ BB Premium Beauty Balm SPF50 which is packed with skincare ingredients to balance skin while delivering light coverage.
By aligning your skin type, skincare routine, preferred finish and undertone, you can narrow down foundations that are more likely to feel comfortable and look refined throughout the day. We stock a wide range of makeup to suit every skin type.
How skincare and prep supports your foundation
Consistent skincare tailored to your skin type helps makeup glide on smoothly, look more even and stay long wearing. For oily or blemish‑prone skin, pairing a gentle cleanser such as Simple Kind to Skin products with a lightweight, non‑comedogenic moisturiser from such as the Sukin Oil Balancing Mattifying Facial Moisturiser creates an ideal base under matte foundations. If you have dry or mature skin, richer hydrators such as L'Oréal Paris Triple Active Day Moisturiser or other nourishing creams lock in moisture and support a dewy, luminous finish for your foundation. For senstive skin, it is best to choose a fragrance‑free brands like CeraVe, followed by a gentle lightweight foundation, creating a calm, protected canvas that complements lighter coverage and long lasting comfort. Using skincare and makeup with very different ingredients, such as heavy oils under a water‑based foundation, can sometimes cause beading, pilling or peeling, so choosing textures that complement each other is important in getting a seamless, long lasting finish to your makeup.
All skin is unique, so a foundation or skincare pairing that works for one person may not behave the same way for another, which is why patch testing, checking ingredients and adjusting your brush or sponge application technique are wise steps before committing fully.