It's getting hot out there and keeping your makeup from gliding off can be a real challenge. Don't sweat it! We've rounded up the best stay-put, warm-weather foundations (highly-rated by you, of course) to help you beat the heat—with pro tips sprinkled throughout from celebrity makeup artist Brian Duprey to keep you looking fresh all day.
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PERFECT FOR: THE ULTIMATE MATTE FINISH
MUA REVIEWER GAUGE-O-METER: "This foundation is everything I need it to be. It is matte and therefore you definitely need to moisturize properly before applying, and a good primer will give optimal results. With that said, I use this foundation daily and I always get lots of compliments. The coverage is medium but is buildable to full when needed. The result is a very natural look which holds up for hours without any signs for letting up. I have not tried this out in the winter, but hopefully, it won't be too dry."
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PERFECT FOR: FILTERING OUT COMPLEXION IMPERFECTIONS
MUA REVIEWER GAUGE-O-METER: "I'm very happy with the results. It's a medium to sheer lightweight foundation. I have combination to dry skin, so I was a little worried about the alcohol listed in the ingredients. Surprisingly it doesn't dry my skin out, it actually feels silky. Of all the foundations I've ever tried, this one looks the most natural. I set it with Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish powder. I get a good six hours before having to powder again. Three pumps is usually all I need to cover my face. I definitely will repurchase when I finish this bottle."
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PERFECT FOR: ACHIEVING VELVETY-LOOKING COMPLEXIONS
MUA REVIEWER GAUGE-O-METER: "...When I applied this using my fingers, with just a little product, the finish was more natural and smooth. This is actually more matte than I imagined ([because] of the Luminous name). But it is not a dry flat matte on me. This is one my of my go to foundations if I want good coverage all day long without looking too heavy. It does not feel thick at all. I still do set this with some powder as I do with all other foundations just because it is so humid where I live. This is my fave Nars foundation so far!!!"
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PERFECT FOR: THOSE NO-MAKEUP MAKEUP DAYS
MUA REVIEWER GAUGE-O-METER: "Beautiful for natural no makeup days. It’s expensive, but I’ve not found anything that works as well. I layer it over moisturiser and sunscreen—wouldn’t trust the spf 20 on its own. It lasts all day and looks natural."
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PERFECT FOR: THAT EXTRA LEVEL OF SUNSCREEN PROTECTION
MUA REVIEWER GAUGE-O-METER: "After years of trying, loving, then rejecting foundations, I've found a keeper. Your Skin But Better is amazing, with a few caveats. It's light, long-lasting, and flattering. BUT the color range is limited... Even applying it with a sponge, I have to use a very light hand and make sure I cover my neck and decolletage... With all those caveats, I just love this product! It's got all-day wear, and I don't get shiny in my T-zone. On top of that, it's SPF 50!. If you blend, blend, blend, this is a true winner."
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PERFECT FOR: MAKING UP ON THE GO
MUA REVIEWER GAUGE-O-METER: "Great finish, good coverage. Looks a bit powdery at first but settles into a nice smooth finish very quickly. Doesn't make me more oily or emphasize my dry areas. No breakouts. I apply this with a flat top brush. Longer lasting than other powder foundations I have tried and needs less touch ups. Would repurchase.."
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PERFECT FOR: HYDRATING SKIN WITHOUT THE SLIP & SLIDE
MUA REVIEWER GAUGE-O-METER: "I've literally tried everything, from NYX to La Prairie, in an endless search for a foundation/tinted moisturizer that will make my skin just look a little better than it is. I have very dry, dehydrated skin. I pretty much always have flakes around my nose; I have lots of fine wrinkles; I have melasma and I get cystic acne fairly regularly. Which also means I have some awesome acne scars. Oh, and I [needed] to find something long wearing enough that I could count on it in hot and humid weather...[I tested this] against other foundations and I just couldn't understand it. My flakes disappeared, it improved my skin texture, it gave light to medium coverage and it was essentially bullet proof in the heat...This does not make my face flawless. But it doesn't make it cakey; it makes my skin look better than it is and I can rely on it to stay looking good through any weather. I haven't used any other foundation since buying this."
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PERFECT FOR: COVERING UP REDNESS OR ROSACEA
MUA REVIEWER GAUGE-O-METER: "...I have also used setting sprays (or none), setting powder (or none), and/or finishing powder (or none) - or combos of these. It looks great on me no matter what. At the end of the day, my skin looks like there's no foundation on it - just looks like great skin. But when I take my makeup off, there is a lot of foundation that is removed. So, it's still there. It makes my skin look like skin but better. It's also very hard for me to find foundations that are light enough. This is a perfect match for me."
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PERFECT FOR: WHEN YOU WANT TO LOOK EFFORTLESSLY FLAWLESS
MUA REVIEWER GAUGE-O-METER: "I finally understand why this is really good. It has great coverage but act like it's still skin and not like wearing a heavy foundation and looking overly done. It is very vesatile! I’d wear different foundation to different occassion, day, mood, time and settings etc. This foundation is great for day wear, going to the beach or going for outdoor activities. Best for dry to combo skin. And if there is only one foundation that I have to retain and use constantly for anytime or anywhere then this would be it."
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PERFECT FOR: ITS LIGHTWEIGHT FEEL
MUA REVIEWER GAUGE-O-METER: "I’ve been reaching [for] this foundation a lot lately. I love the coverage (medium and buildable to full) to quickly even out my skin tone and yet doesn’t look like a mask or feel heavy/suffocating. It just makes my daily routine much quicker especially before going to work. Because of its fantastic coverage, I also use a small amount and apply great with fingers. It also lasts hours, a full work day to 18 hours (when I’m required to do a double shift at the hospital). My skin type is now normal (used to be acne prone and oily when I was younger) but still has issues with clogged pores. It covers my pores nicely without a primer (just moisturizer).”
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PERFECT FOR: WHEN YOU NEED A LITTLE TO GO A LONG WAY (ONLY A DIME-SIZE AMOUNT IS NEEDED TO COVER YOUR ENTIRE FACE)
MUA REVIEWER GAUGE-O-METER: "Got oily skin? This foundation is gonna be your HOLY GRAIL. I have tried many different foundations to find “the one” and this might just be it. I’ve worn it a few times and can confirm it’s the best shine-control foundation I’ve tested so far. The coverage is full but it’s lightweight, something very rare in full coverage foundations. It’s literally Facetune in a bottle, and covered any blemishes/scarring I had. It can be cakey but ONLY if you apply too much. One pump will do a full face, and will look flawless but any more than that will cake your face up. Also, buy this a shade or two lighter, it does oxidize but only if you buy in your shade—matching a shade or two lighter easily fixes the problem. :)"
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PERFECT FOR: LONG-LASTING, FULL COVERAGE
MUA REVIEWER GAUGE-O-METER: "I’ve bought this foundation many times; I work 12 hr shifts and need a long wearing formula. I used to use Revlon Colorstay, but it no longer seems to cover or match as well as it used to. So this is my new standby. Pros: Lasts well through long days with minimal transfer and no oxidation on me. Does not irritate fungal acne or cause breakouts for me. Coverage is strong; reduces the need for concealer over spots. Cons: Seem to be big gaps between shades. Can look heavy, definitely recommend a good primer or moisturized face to help it lay more nicely on the skin. Sets quickly so you have to work fast... All in all, this product is a reliable workhorse. Not the most glamorous, but it does what it’s supposed to when I need high coverage that lasts all day, and mixes well with other products when I don’t.”