If you have dry skin, the last thing you need is a foundation that will make your skin feel drier. It can flake off with your dry skin as the day wears on. Thankfully, these tips will help you have the flawless finish that you want and help you figure out what foundation should I use for dry skin?
I participate in affiliate programs, including Amazon Affiliates, and may earn a small commission if products are purchased through links on the site.
Make Sure To Use A Proper Skincare Routine
If you’re not using moisturizer, your skin is already drier than it should be. Gone are the days when we thought moisturizer was terrible for us and caused breakouts. Now, it’s a necessary part of every skincare routine. You should apply a moisturizer to dry skin before applying primer.
Utilize A Skincare Routine For Dry Skin Before Applying Foundation
Your skincare routine lays the proper foundation for flawless makeup application. Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells so they won’t flake off throughout the day, and your makeup won’t flake off with them.
Cleansers designed for dry skin help moisturize and soothe the skin. Moisturizers deliver a powerful punch of hydrating ingredients and create a barrier on your skin to help lock in moisture. Ensuring you have the right products is essential to creating a smooth canvas for the foundation.
Look For Hydrating Ingredients
When searching for a foundation for dry skin, you’ll come across plenty of different foundations, all of which boast potent ingredients like hyaluronic acid. Knowing which ingredients work for your dry skin and how they can help is important to ensure you choose the right foundation.
Squalene
Squalene is a slippery liquid that feels a bit like oil. It is naturally found in plants, animals, human sebum, and the oil on your face. It delivers hydration to parched skin cells.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is another slippery substance that naturally occurs in the body. It’s found in joints because it helps keep them lubricated and moving smoothly.
Hyaluronic acid is known for holding large amounts of water. The Cleveland Clinic states, “A quarter teaspoon of hyaluronic acid holds about one and a half gallons of water.”
Hyaluronic acid helps keep the skin hydrated and promotes elasticity. Because it can hold so much water, hyaluronic acid-based products deliver hydration that lasts all day.
Ceramides
Ceramides do little to hydrate the skin, but they have an essential purpose: this ingredient helps skin cells bind together to form a protective layer. This skin barrier helps retain moisture, making ceramides a vital ingredient in beauty products for dry skin.
Glycerin
Glycerin is known as a humectant. This ingredient pulls moisture from the air around you, helping your dry skin benefit from humid air. Then, other ingredients that form a protective layer lock in moisture for lasting hydration.
Aloe
Aloe is another humectant that draws moisture into the skin. It’s also known for making dry skin feel more elastic, relieving severely dry skin.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Alpha Hydroxy Acids are best known for exfoliating away dead skin cells to reveal a smooth, even texture underneath. However, they also help the skin retain moisture, making them essential ingredients in beauty products for dry skin.
Remove Dead Skin With Tape
Before you start applying your makeup, get out some Scotch tape. Apply a small amount to areas of your face that are particularly dry, then peel them off.
When you have dry skin, you’re more likely to have dead skin cells on top of your skin. This can make your makeup look patchy and wear off sooner. Removing dead skin cells can help your makeup last longer.
Opt For Liquid And Cream Formulas
Powder foundation is not necessarily bad for dry skin, but it does nothing to help it. Instead, you want a formula that hydrates your skin throughout the day. Make sure you choose a water-based foundation for an extra dose of hydration that your skin desperately needs.
Foundations For Dry Skin
Smooth Liquid Camo Hydrating Foundation by Dermablend
This matte foundation delivers seamless coverage that easily blends into the skin for a natural appearance. It’s available in plenty of shades to ensure you can find something to suit your skin tone.
Why We Love It
We love so many things about this medium-coverage foundation for dry skin that it’s hard to name just one or two! You’ll love that it’s:
- It provides up to 16 hours of smudge-proof wear
- Buildable, so you can enjoy more coverage if you need it
- Doesn’t cake up
- SPF 25
- Hydration that lasts all day long
- Vegan
E.l.f. Flawless Satin Foundation
Flawless Satin Foundation by E.L.F. Cosmetics never seems to stop trending. It’s a budget-friendly foundation for dry skin that everyone loves, and there are many reasons why!
Why We Love It
This affordable foundation is one of e.l.f. Cosmetics best sellers. It goes viral repeatedly. It’s a luxury product at a drugstore price. We love it because:
- It’s available in 40 shades
- It’s vegan and cruelty-free
- The semi-matte finish is flawless
- It offers great coverage
- Blendable
- Buildable
Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Liquid Foundation
Maybelline FitMe Foundation is widely regarded as one of the best drugstore foundations. Its luminous finish gives your skin a dewy glow without making it look greasy. An inclusive shade range ensures everyone can find a shade that suits their skin tone. Infused with skincare ingredients, Maybelline FitMe Foundation keeps skin hydrated. The coverage is buildable, while the formula blends easily into the skin for a seamless finish.
Why We Love It
- Inclusive shade range
- Smooth finish
- Hydrating
- Buildable coverage
Laura Mercier Liquid Foundation
Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Waterproof Foundation offers an inclusive shade range, covering every skin tone and undertone. Shade-matching technology helps with accurate online ordering. The formula is designed to be a hybrid, delivering the hydration of skincare products with the color of a foundation.
Buildable coverage ensures you can conceal as much or as little as necessary. The weightless formula doesn’t feel heavy on your skin. Over time, this hybrid product visibly improves skin texture. It’s also water, sweat, and humidity proof!
Why We Love It
- Immediate oil control
- Hydration for 24 hours
- Waterproof
- Protects skin from damage, including blue light
So, What Foundation Should I Use For Dry Skin?
You should pick a water-based foundation in a liquid or cream formula. If not, ensure your foundation is packed with powerful moisturizing ingredients. Typically, these are lightweight foundations that offer light or medium coverage. Ensure you have a moisturizing skincare routine to help your skin combat dryness.
Related Articles
Is My Skin Dehydrated Skin Or Oily Skin?
Foundation For Beginners: Everything You Need To Know