Full coverage foundation can be a tricky product to master - it can look thick and cakey, but it can also offer the airbrushed complexion we all dream of having.
We decided to sample a range of foundations on a quest to find one that'll stay put all day long. The foundations we tried cover multiple price points and brands - all of which have been tested by our journalists to find the best one for you.
We tried some pricier products, as well as a few budget-friendly options, too. Here's how we got on:
Too Faced Born this Way Foundation
I've tried a lot of foundations over the years in my quest to find something that looks natural while providing decent coverage on the horrendous and painful spots that often pop up on my chin ahead of special occasions.
Fun and cruelty-free brand Too Faced's Born This Way foundation - an oil-free foundation which offers medium to full coverage for a natural and "flawless makeup look", has long been my favourite. It's a buildable formula that easily converts to full coverage, without the dreaded cakey consistency associated with some products.
The liquid foundation boasts a vegan formula and also utilises coconut water to help replenish moisture levels. I adore this foundation - though if you've got stubborn or particularly vibrant spots, you may need a little support from concealer.
I do have to put concealer over the top of some of my spots but it's completely worth it for the natural and dewy complexion this product creates. A little also goes a long way so it's well worth the £34 price tag.
If you prefer a matte finish, a quick sweep of powder over this dreamy foundation will do the trick - and it'll make your makeup last longer, too. This is my favourite foundation and I love the way my skin looks and feels while wearing it. I will definitely be repurchasing.
Price: £34 (prices vary)
Where to buy: You can buy Too Faced Born This Way Foundation from Boots, Look Fantastic, the Too Faced website and more.
Rating: 4/5
Collection Lasting Perfection Foundation
These past few years I've found myself increasingly more impressed with Collection products.
After trying and testing numerous different products, I've found that a little can really can go a long way with the Collection Lasting Perfection Foundation. I'd never found a more affordable alternative that felt generally nicer on my face, until now.
I was really impressed at how thin and breathable this foundation felt on my face, considering it had a very high coverage and is extremely thick. I'm someone that likes to wear quite a lot of foundation, and this one felt really smooth and soft on my face.
Now, let's talk about the finish, because I was utterly amazed. It made my face look practically airbrushed, and blended seamlessly with my Collection concealer and loose powder.
I've been wearing this foundation for a full eight hours at work without having to touch it up once, which means it could be perfect for the Grand National. If you want to completely make sure there's no risk of shine on your chin or forehead, just touch it up with some powder and you're sorted.
Price: £6.99
Where to buy: You can buy the Collection Lasting Perfection Foundation from Superdrug, and the 'Glow' version from Boots
Rating: 5/5
DCYPHER My Custom Foundation
When I read I could send a selfie and have my "perfect" foundation delivered to my house a few days later, I wasn't entirely convinced. But in under a minute the brand's app scanned my face and, sure enough, two days later the product hit my doormat.
It costs £28 which may seem like a gamble, considering you don't yet know whether or not it will suit you, but you can alter the shade and have edited samples sent to your home for free. Thankfully, I didn't need this as my shade literally was perfect.
I wore this foundation under my usual "going out" makeup and when my husband saw me he actually asked if I'd been to get my makeup done professionally!
It was the perfect base for the rest of my makeup, and made my skin look flawless without looking I had lots of product on. My makeup didn't budge at all during the day and evening, and a little goes a long way with this foundation, meaning the bottle will likely last a while.
Ordering foundations online can be a minefield but I very much recommend DCYPHER for your perfect match.
Price: £28
Where to buy: You can buy DCYPHER My Custom Foundation here.
Rating: 5/5
Maybelline Superstay Active Wear Full Coverage 30H Liquid
This Maybelline foundation is described as 'suitable for all skin types' with a coverage that claims to be 'water-resistent, transfer-resistant, sweat-resistant and oil-free'.
Of course, this sounds perfect for a day at the races - but did it live up to my expectations? I was a little worried because the consistency for this foundation was so thick, but it actually blended really nicely with my beauty blender.
The foundation claims to last for up to 30 hours, and is described as leaving a 'smooth and even natural-looking base' it also promises to 'conceal the look of imperfections' which sounded pretty promising.
After a few hours had passed, the foundation really began to sink into my fine lines and dry skin on my face. I tried to touch it up with powder, but it sadly made it look worse.
For me, I think this formula was just a little bit too thick. For a day at the races, I don't really want to be touching my foundation up and reapplying it every five minutes.
Price: £10.99
Where to buy: You can buy the Maybelline Superstay Active Wear Full Coverage 30H Liquid foundation from Boots and LOOKFANTASTIC.
Rating: 3/5
Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation 30ml
I used to absolutely love the Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation and would wear it religiously, even when I was going to school! Last year, I thought I'd purchase a new bottle as I had a wedding to go to and I wanted to make sure my foundation lasted.
Sadly, I actually ended up regretting using this foundation as the day progressed. Everytime I topped it up with powder, anything extra added onto the thick foundation began to collect and layer under my eye.
It also began to cling to my dry skin around the nose, and soak into my fine lines. Perhaps it was my powder of choice, or the fact I was wearing the wrong primer, but this ones a bit of a risky move if you don't want your foundation to budge.
However, if you can find the perfect set of products that work with this foundation, it could be a winner. I sadly, did not.
Price: £33.75
Where to buy: You can purchase the Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation from LOOKFANTASTIC.
Rating: 3/5
Revolution Fast Base Stick Foundation
Although the shade I went for was a little pale, this Revolution foundation gave a really nice almost airbrushed finish.
For £4.79, I was pretty blown away by the quality of the foundation, but it did have its downsides. As this particular foundation had more of a 'dewy' and 'radiant' aesthetic, it did begin to cling to my wrinkles after a few hours.
I found myself having to top up the foundation with a bit of powder after two hours because it felt sticky, but after doing so, it did still look pretty flawless. The stick application for the foundation definitely isn't for everyone, and it does feel different to other foundations I've tried.
You really have to get used to the consistency and work out what products work best with this foundation for the best restults. As a whole though, I was pretty impressed.
Price: £4.79
Where to buy: You can purchase the Revolution Fast Base Stick Foundation from the Revolution website.
Rating: 4/5
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