I hate to break it to you, but there’s no such thing as the best foundation. Sure, there are plenty of formulas that could be considered “the best” in their own respective categories, but there’s only a handful of those that would then be your ideal match.

For starters, we all have different skin types, skin tones, undertones and skin concerns. To make matters even more confusing, each foundation serves a different finish, level of coverage and form (stick, liquid or cushion – you name it). So, when you carefully consider all of these factors at once, the natural conclusion is simple: what may work well for one person may not necessarily work out for you.

Naturally, shopping for the right foundation is a real test of patience. From frantically trying to shade-match yourself online to figuring out which foundation brush or primer will best pair with it, the sheer pressure of knowing that your choice of formula can make or break your entire look is overwhelming. But however tedious the process may be, trust me when I tell you that it’ll be well worth the fuss.

There are a few things to consider. Maybe you’re still loving the effortless “clean girl” aesthetic, and rarely stray away from your trusty tinted moisturiser. Or maybe you’re a full-coverage loyalist who wants every pore blurred to perfection. Either way, the good news is: foundation has had a serious glow-up. Gone are the days of cakey, chalky formulas (Dream Matte Mousse, we’re looking at you). Today’s formulas, instead, span across varying finishes and flexible levels of coverage – and most contain a good chunk of skin-loving ingredients too.

To make things a little less overwhelming, we asked International Pro Artist at Dior, Jamie Coombes, what to look out for when picking a foundation online and he recommends familiarising yourself with your undertone. “If your skin has pink, red, or blue hues and your veins appear blue or purple, you have a cool undertone. And if your skin tans easily and has golden, yellow, or peachy hues, and your veins appear greenish olive, you have warm undertones,” he shares. Those with neutral undertones will spot that their “veins might appear a muted blue-green,” Jamie adds.

Last but by no means least, let’s also consider the shade range factor. In the world where the likes of Fenty and Haus Labs offer 50+ shades, why would we settle for anything less?

Without further ado, enter: our definitive guide to the very best, tried-and-true foundations of all time. While relying on our beauty expertise and first-hand testing, we’ve rounded up our favourite formulas that have managed to impress us most. From those with a matte finish and glow-giving iterations to those that offer sheer, buildable or full coverage – we’ve considered every preference and skin types. Plus, we’ve also quizzed top MUAs in the game to spill all the ‘dos and the don’ts. Here’s everything you need to know…

Meet the experts:

How we tested the best foundations:

As a beauty journalist who’s been testing makeup for over six years (both for work and, let’s be honest, for fun), I’ve probably tried close to 50 foundations – from lightweight skin tints to full-coverage gems. Every product in this edit has been worn, blended, and tested in real life (and if not by me, it’s by members of the trusted GLAMOUR team).