The Best Drugstore Foundations for Dry Skin in my Stash
Disclosure: Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
Some time back, I wrote a post about the different types of foundations available, depending on consistency, finish, etc. However, I neither mentioned which type of foundation I prefer nor my favourite foundations.
Today I am going to share with you the best drugstore foundations for dry skin in my stash at this moment (you never know what will be released and maybe in a year I don’t use any of these).
My skin is dry, and, for that reason, I try to avoid powder foundation, which makes my skin look drier and highlights wrinkles and pores. I love liquid or stick foundation with a full or medium buildable coverage and, though it may be strange for someone with dry skin, most of the time I prefer a matte finish. Recently I tried some new releases with a dewy finish which I also like.
Catrice True Skin
This is one of the latest foundations I added to my stash. It is a liquid foundation with a pump dispenser. It has a matte, real skin finish which blends really well and has buildable medium to high coverage.Contains hyaluronic acid and watermelon seed oil in the formula and, therefore, moisturises your skin.It is available in 13 shades and I use the shade 039, Warm Olive (my Fitzpatrick skin type is IV with a warm undertone). The price is £6.95 for 30 mL.
L’oreal True Match
This one has been one of my favourites for the last few years. It is a liquid foundation with a pump dispenser and it is available in 40 shades. The shade I use is 3.N.
It is a full coverage foundation with a satin effect that feels lightweight on the skin. It provides 24 hours of hydration thanks to the vitamin E and vitamin B5 contained in the formula.
This foundation unifies the skin tone and covers imperfections. It is available in neutral, warm and cool undertones to perfectly blend into your skin. It has SPF 17 to protect you against sun radiation.
The price is £9.99 for 30 mL
Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 H
It is also a liquid foundation with a pump dispenser (I already said that my favourite texture for a foundation is liquid). This Rimmel foundation covers imperfections and even skin tone.
It is a long-lasting formula that doesn’t rub off and doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. It has SPF 20 to protect against harmful sun exposure. You need to use sunscreen anyway, please, don’t forget that.
It is available in 15 shades and the one I use is 200 Soft Beige. The price is £9.99 for 30 mL.
Wet’n’Wild Photo Focus
This is a liquid but creamy foundation which doesn’t come with a pump dispenser but with a spatula wand applicator.
It has excellent coverage and smooths the skin surface while leaving skin elastic and soft. It is long-lasting and has a matte finish. This foundation is ideal for photo sessions. Something I don’t like about this foundation is the smell. It smells, literally, like wall paint, but it goes quickly and the result is worth coping with the smell.
The shade I use is Golden Beige and it is available in 20 shades. The price is £4.75 for 30 mL.
Revolution Fast Base Stick Foundation
It is an easy to apply stick formula, which blends well into the skin to leave a dewy finish. It has a medium to high buildable coverage and creamy formula, very comfortable to wear. It doesn’t last long, but it is easy to re-apply and I like the feeling it leaves on my skin.
Because of the stick presentation, if you choose lighter and darker shades, you can use them as concealer and contour as well.
It is available in 18 shades and the one I use is F8. The price is £5.99 for 6.2 g of product.
These are not the unique affordable foundations I have used by far, but they are the five I use more, and I always repurchase when they are over. I have so many other foundations which are also very good, which will become a never-ending list. If you want a post with all the foundations I have let me know in the comments.
Bear in mind that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a commission. Keep in mind that I link these companies and their products because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
I have been wanting to try some new foundations. I'll have to pick some of these up!
Thanks for this guide. I am intrigued by the "dewy" finish. I haven't tried anything like that and will definitely try it!
These sound great, will pin this post for my readers.
A couple of drugstore foundations that I love for dry skin are Physicians Formula Organic Wear Silk Foundation Elixir and also L'Oréal Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation. They both sit beautifully on my skin even on my driest skin days!
I struggle with combo skin, my inner cheeks have this dry flakey patch which I find so hard to moisturize and cover up without flaking! Gonna try these, thank you!
What a great breakdown for dry skin like mine. I shy away from using foundation because of my dry skin so this is really handy.
Great review! The Catrice foundation sounds like a great product! Will be checking that on my next shopping trip! Thank you!
This is a great list…I also do not like foundations that smell, or skin care. Honest review Love it!
They are all good and not expensive at all
It is a very natural finish
Thank you
I've never tried them but I am sure I will. Thanks for sharing.
For combo skin I think L'oreal should work well.
My skin is very dry and they work really well. I highly recommend you the Catrice True Skin, it has hyaluronic acid and hydrates really well.
Thanks. If you are interested, I made a review of that foundation some time back, this is the link:
https://irenebeautyandmore.blogspot.com/2020/11/catrice-true-skin-foundation-review.html
Thanks. If you don't like smell, do not try the Photo Focus one, it is strong at the beggining though it doesn't last long.
I use mineral powder on my dry skin because I found liquid foundation left me awash with grease by midday. But I may have to give these a try and see how I get on!
I found that powder makes my skin to look dryer. These foundations don't leave me any grease, maybe try the Carrie one.
I have not do make-up for years, but I do believe a good foundation daily is a must. However, I did not know that you get foundations for specific skin conditions such as dryness – wow!
Oh, yes. You have for dry, oily, combo, sensitive, etc
I've never heard of stick foundation before. I like that it also serves as a concealer!
Yes, you can use your shade as foundation, one lower as concealer and one or two higher as contour-bronzer.
I haven't tried a new foundation in a long time. I'm always curious what others are using though because I think when my foundation runs out that I want to try something new. Thanks for sharing your recommendations!
I deal a lot with dry skin in the winter time, especially living in the Midwest. Thanks for all of these great suggestions!
I always struggle with foundation. Switching between powder and cream. I have dry skin and large pores and can’t seem to find the right one. Haven’t tried the stick style tho, so I’m interested to check that out!
I have always had trouble with foundations, so I am glad to see a lot of recommendations here that would work with my dry skin. I have never really thought about foundation for specific skin types, since I am usually so focused on finding the right color!
Having the right colour is very important, but having the right foundation for your skin type can make a big difference.