This Is the One Foundation Makeup Artists and Facialists Recommend to (Literally) Everyone

Yep, it's universal.

Foundation preference is extremely personal. Some people love flawless, full-coverage formulas so much that they won't use anything else. Often, these individuals prefer their foundation to have a matte or matte-adjacent finish. Other people swear by light- to medium-coverage formulas. These individuals are probably partial to the sheer, natural-looking effect of skin tints and serum-like products.

While coverage is a critical consideration when choosing a foundation formula, it's not the only one. In fact, most people are missing a pretty serious component—their skin type. Yep, your skin type dictates which foundation will work best for you. Dry skin? You need a formula that will hydrate your skin and resist settling into pores, lines, wrinkles, and uneven texture. Oily skin? You need a formula that will wick away excess shine and resist slipping, sliding, and smudging. Combination skin? You need one of those magical, diamond-in-the-rough formulas to balance your complexion's contradictory needs.

Many foundations are suitable for at least one of the three major skin types, but there's only one foundation formula that works well and looks flawless on everyone—yes, every skin type. Even facialists agree, saying it won't clog pores or cause breakouts for even the most sensitive and acne-prone clients.

The Foundation That Works for Every Skin Type

The Real-Life Reviews

Kaitlyn McLintock, Beauty Editor

Beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock wearing Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation.

Kaitlyn McLintock wears Armani Beauty's Luminous Silk Foundation

(Image credit: Kaitlyn McLintock)

"I will literally only wear a foundation if it provides natural-looking coverage. I want my skin to look like, well, skin. This foundation does just that. It disguises my rosacea and discoloration, evening out my skin tone with flawless precision, yet it never looks heavy, fake, or cakey. The lit-from-within radiance is unreal." — McLintock

Maya Thomas, Associate Beauty Editor

Associate Beauty Editor Maya Thomas wearing Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Maya Thomas wears Armani Beauty's Luminous Silk Foundation

(Image credit: Maya Thomas)

"I love this one because it offers natural-looking coverage without completely erasing my skin texture and tone. It also gives the perfect amount of glow and dew, especially when paired with the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Concealer." — Thomas

Alyssa Brascia, Associate Beauty Editor

Associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia wearing Armani Luminous Silk Foundation.

Alyssa Brascia wears Armani Beauty's Luminous Silk Foundation

(Image credit: Alyssa Brascia)

"Never have I ever used a more weightless, skin-perfecting, yet radiant foundation. I opt for this formula most days because of its lighter-than-air feeling (which is equally comfortable on hot summer days and bitter winter ones) and its sheer, luminous finish that makes my skin look like my skin—just brighter, much more even, and better than it does normally." — Brascia

The Best Foundations for Dry Skin

The Best Foundations for Oily/Acne-Prone Skin

The Best Foundations for Combination Skin

How to Prep Skin for Foundation

Kaitlyn McLintock
Beauty Editor

Kaitlyn McLintock is a Beauty Editor at Who What Wear. She has 10 years of experience in the editorial industry, having previously written for other industry-leading publications, like Byrdie, InStyle, The Zoe Report, Bustle, and others. She covers all things beauty and wellness-related, but she has a special passion for creating skincare content (whether that's writing about an innovative in-office treatment, researching the benefits of a certain ingredient, or testing the latest and greatest at-home skin device). Having lived in Los Angeles, California, and Austin, Texas, she has since relocated back to her home state, Michigan. When she's not writing, researching, or testing beauty products, she's working through an ever-growing book collection or swimming in the Great Lakes.