How to match your foundation to your skin

Skin School Blog

How To Match Your Foundation To Your Skin Type

Skin School Blog

How To Match Your Foundation To Your Skin Type

Words by Shona Wallace

The right foundation can make or break a makeup look, so there’s a lot to consider when it comes to choosing a new one. Coverage, finish, look, feel – and that’s before you even get to the shade-matching part. We know how easy it is to get overwhelmed when shopping for foundation, so let’s strip it right back to the basics. You choose your skincare regime based on your skin type, so why not your foundation?

At Clinique, our foundations are backed by skincare expertise and formulated with ingredients that go beyond makeup. Everyone’s skin is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to finding the right foundation, so it’s worth taking the time to find one that works for you. The first step is to identify your broader skin type. If you need a little help with this, try Clinical Reality, our virtual skin analysis tool which diagnoses skin concerns in just 30 seconds. Next, consider what it is you want from a formula. Are you looking for a full-coverage foundation that won’t budge, or a hydrating sheer foundation that lets your skin shine through? Or maybe a happy medium sounds about right?

Whatever your skin type, texture and goals, there’s a Clinique foundation for you. Here, we highlight three of our most-loved formulas, so you can find the best foundation for your complexion.

Even Better Clinical™ Serum Foundation SPF20
Coverage: Buildable full
Finish: Satin matte
Best for: Oily, combination oily
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If you often find yourself reaching for mattifying powder after just a few hours, you’ll know how tricky it can be to find the best foundation for oily skin. There’s lots of buzz around dewy bases, but on oily skin the finish can quickly go from glowy to shiny. Then on the flip side, a super matte or powdery base can look flat and ageing. The solution? Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation SPF20.

Our latest foundation innovation, this lightweight, oil-free liquid delivers buildable full coverage with a satin-matte finish that’s ideal for oilier skin types. This flawless coverage lasts all day long with no touch-ups required, so you don’t need to worry about it looking shiny or settling into fine lines and pores. What’s more, it’s formulated with skincare ingredients like vitamin C, salicylic acid, and hyaluronic acid to improve the appearance of skin, and it also features mineral SPF 20 to protect as it perfects.

For best results, prep and prime with an oil-free moisturiser like Moisture Surge™, to ensure smooth, even application and avoid potential patchiness on any dry areas.

Even Better™ Makeup SPF 15
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural
Best For: Dry combination, combination oily
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Finding a foundation for combination skin can be every bit as tricky to navigate. You’ll need something oil-free yet hydrating, to simultaneously keep dryness and oiliness at bay. It’s a hard balance to strike, but we’ve done just that with Even Better Makeup SPF 15 – our bestselling foundation.

The lightweight, hydrating liquid delivers second-skin comfort that lasts all day without creasing, caking, or settling on drier patches. Available in 39 shades, the creamy formula perfects skin with medium, long-lasting coverage and protects with broad-spectrum SPF 15. With a no-makeup makeup effect, the natural-looking finish is particularly flattering on those with dry skin, and the creamy yet light formula feels as good as it looks.

You can build up the coverage as desired, or for a lighter summer base, try mixing a little Even Better Makeup SPF 15 with a refreshing hydrator like Moisture Surge™ for a lightweight, sheer base that’s great for sunny days at home or abroad.

Moisture Surge™ Sheertint Hydrator SPF 25
Coverage: Sheer
Finish: Natural
Best For: Very dry, dry, combination dry + mature skin
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If you often find your skin feeling dry or tight under makeup, you’ll benefit from a more hydrating base that’s closer to a tinted moisturiser than a traditional foundation. Enter, Moisture Surge Sheertint Hydrator, which hydrates, perfects, and protects skin with SPF 25.

Part of our much-loved Moisture Surge family, it’s formulated with hyaluronic acid and activated aloe water to hydrate for up to 12 hours, keeping skin soft, plump, and dewy with a subtle sheer tint.

Packed with all that hydrating goodness, it’s a no-brainer for very dry and dry skin types, but it’s also a great foundation for for mature skin, which needs lots of moisture to counteract dryness caused by ageing. We also highly recommend it as a lighter, barely-there base for the summer months. Plus, with SPF 25, it’s a win-win for sun-soaked days. For more summer foundation options, read our guide to the best lightweight foundations for summer.

Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup
Coverage: Medium
Finish: Natural matte
Best For: Oily, oily combination + blemish/acne-prone skin
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True to our skin-first ethos, our innovative Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup is an effective foundation that also helps to fight existing blemishes, and prevent future breakouts.

Our new-and-improved formula is oil-free, dermatologist-tested and salicylic acid-powered to help improve the look of clogged pores and blemishes. The formula also includes lactobacillus ferment and skin-soothing ingredients like liquorice, algae and caffeine to help calm and sooth irritated skin. The lightweight formula instantly blurs pores and mattifies, blending away blemishes with medium coverage and a natural matte finish.

For best results, we recommend using our Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup alongside our targeted Anti-Blemish Solutions skincare formulas. Our experts have worked hard to incorporate powerful blemish-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid into a super gentle, yet effetive anti-blemish routine that'll help keep your skin in the clear. Learn more about the best skincare routine for oily and blemish-prone skin here.

Now you’ve settled on a formula, it’s time to shade match. It’s tricky to find the right foundation shade online, but our handy Virtual Try On tool takes some of the guesswork out, allowing you to virtually sample our broad range of shades and formulas. Plus, if you buy a foundation, try it, but don’t love it, you can return it free of charge.

If you have any questions or need more help finding your foundation match, book in for a virtual consultation with one of our Clinique experts, who can help with everything from shade matching to application tips.

Need more help?

Book in for a complimentary bespoke Skin School consultation with one of our own beauty experts. Following your initial consultation, we'll also offer you 15% off* your next online order.

Want to get rewarded every time you shop with us? Join Clinique Smart Rewards today to unlock exclusive beauty perks including 10% off your first purchase* plus free standard delivery on every order.

* Terms and conditions apply.

Shop Clinique foundations:

Even Better™ Makeup SPF15

30ml

Beyond Perfecting™ Foundation and Concealer

30ml

Superbalanced™ Makeup

30ml

Even Better™ Makeup SPF15

Beyond Perfecting™ Foundation and Concealer

Superbalanced™ Makeup

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