The Best Hydrating Foundation

Buying Guide

Moisturizer is an important part of maintaining skin health. From a young age, applying hydrating products to your skin can help preserve the skin’s natural oils and provide the nutrients you need. But you also likely use products that disguise blemishes and provide a smooth, balanced look as you head out for the day. That’s where hydrating foundation can help.

There are varying degrees of hydrating foundation, though. You can easily find a wide range of products that apply a light tint to the face to help with blemishes while also boosting hydration. But the other end of the spectrum is full foundation that builds in moisturizing power. In between those two extremes are moisturizers with stronger tint and foundations that focus more heavily on hydration than layering makeup onto the skin.

Whichever route you choose, it’s important to look at the ingredients in the hydrating foundation you choose. Hyaluronic acid seems to be the must-have ingredient in moisturizing products today, and there’s a reason for that. Only a ¼ teaspoon serving of hyaluronic acid can hold 1½ gallons of water. The interesting thing about hyaluronic acid, though, is that your body produces it naturally. As you age, that production slows down, so buying products with hyaluronic acid built in can help make up for your body’s natural loss.

You’ll see some moisturizing foundations marketing their formulas as “buildable.” This means that the more you layer the cream onto your skin, the more coverage you’ll get. If you opt for this type of formula, you can customize your foundation to exactly what you need. If you want a light tint, simply spread a little on, while heavier coverage that disguises blemishes calls for a heavier application.

• Instead of hydrating foundation, some choose to go for tinted moisturizer. Depending on the level of coverage you’re looking for, tinted moisturizer could be sufficient. Tinted moisturizer focuses on hydrating your skin, but it has the added benefit of helping to add a little color to your skin. However, for covering blemishes, a foundation on top of your hydrating products might be necessary.
• It’s important to consider how you’ll apply your foundation. Some come with an applicator brush that lets you scoop out the exact amount you need.
• For best results, look for a hydrating foundation that uses water gel or hydrating natural oils for your skin. Chemicals can dry out your skin and even potentially cause long-term damage.
• Some products can clog pores and lead to blemishes. Those are known as “comedogenic” products. That’s why you’ll see the term “non-comedogenic” on cosmetics that are formulated specifically to avoid clogging pores.
• If you’re going for a more natural look, search for a hydrating foundation that is designed to keep things lightweight. You’ll want one that’s lightly tinted to conceal blemishes as needed but that focuses on hydrating the skin.
• Different skin tones need different foundation colors. Some hydrating foundations are marked as working with a wide range of skin types and tones, but that might not be the case for your skin. Take a close look at the color you’ll get with your foundation to ensure you’re getting the coverage you need.
• When trying out a new skincare product, it’s typically best to try it out on a small patch of skin, particularly if you have sensitivities or allergies. After your patch test, you can expand to your full face with confidence.
• Some cosmetics are tested on animals. If this is important to you, look for products that are marked free from animal testing.