Finding the perfect foundation as a bride needn’t be a headache. There are certain failsafe cult favourites that have stood the test of time, year after year – Estée Lauder Double Wear, I’m looking at you! There are also newer formulas on the block that will have your back throughout your entire day, even at the after party when you’re dancing the night away. With the plethora of options available, it can be tricky to know exactly which foundation will be the best for your unique skin type. But there’s no need to worry: regardless of your skin shade, type or desired finish, our expert guide has you covered! Discover the best foundations for brides for each skin type below, all of which have an impressive array of shades for every different skin tone. The right foundation will make the perfect base for the rest of your wedding makeup, and is guaranteed to make you feel utterly fabulous!
The Best Foundations For Brides at a Glance:
- Best for oily skin: Laura Mercier Silk Crème Oil-Free Foundation, £38, cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best budget foundation: L’Oréal Paris True Match Liquid Foundation, £10.99, lookfantastic.com
- Best glowy foundation: Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, £44.50, feelunique.com
- Best high coverage foundation: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup, £35, harrods.com
The Best Foundations For Brides
Chantecaille Future Skin Cushion Foundation, £132.00
For brides craving a luminous glow and flawless complexion, Chantecaille Future Skin Cushion Foundation is a must-have. Its buildable coverage and long-lasting formula ensure a picture-perfect finish, ideal for capturing radiant beauty on your wedding day. This innovative cushion foundation seamlessly enhances your natural allure, making it a firm favourite among editors for its effortless elegance and timeless appeal.
SHADE AND ILLUMINATE SOFT RADIANCE FOUNDATION SPF 50, £112
This silky-smooth Tom Ford hero product is regularly spotted inside London’s top make-up artist’s kits for a weightless yet tenacious formula that leaves behind an enviable glow that never clings to dry areas and leaves your complexion looking plump and smooth. Also known for impressive coverage that looks great in pictures, it has a very inclusive shade range.
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup, £35, harrods.com
An icon, and an icon for a reason, Esteé Lauder’s high coverage foundation launched in 1997 but it remains a favourite of wedding make-up artists, brides and mothers of the bride alike. It’s so good that it’s surprising it doesn’t come with a guarantee – this is one formula that looks just as good straight after application as it does after ten hours (dance floor included). Not sure which is your perfect shade? Head to counter where clever technology can shade match you on the spot.
MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation, £29, maccosmetics.co.uk
MAC’s studio range is formulated for being in front of the camera, whether that be under hot lights in a photography studio or out on location on a film set, and seeing as you’re going to be spending the entirety of your day getting snapped, it’s no wonder MAC’s high-coverage formula is a great choice for brides. It has a natural matte finish, so if it’s glow you’re after, you can amp up the ‘lit-from-within’ look with a liquid blush and/or highlighter on top.
Pixi H2O Skin Tint, £24, pixibeauty.co.uk
Smooth, fresh-faced, like you but just that little bit brighter – say hello to Pixi’s skin tint. The water-based gel tint formula is much lighter than a traditional foundation, and makes your skin feel cool and refreshed (beach brides – this is your ‘One’!). Plus, it’s water resistant, so won’t run if you happen to shed a tear or two
Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, £44.50, feelunique.com
This multi-award-winning foundation is famed for its instant glow-factor, but it’s also a great choice for those looking for light coverage. It’s a cult celebrity favourite, including Kim Kardashian West’s who loves it for nailing her signature ‘soft glow’ look. For sheer coverage, swirl it on to skin with a stippling brush and build up in the areas that you’d like it.
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation £34, charlottetilbury.com
A recent addition to the foundation market, and one that’s already making waves for its medium, buildable coverage and all-over glow. If you’re conscious about using kind-to-skin make-up, this is a brilliant choice. Charlotte’s formula contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate, coconut extract to help your skin keep hydrated throughout the day, and a brightening rose complex that targets dullness and dryness. Glow, guaranteed.
Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Cream Foundation, £108, harrods.com
While this may not be an option for brides on a budget, the quality of Clé de Peau Beaute’s foundation range is exceptional. It has a knack of offering good coverage while making skin still look like skin. It’ll conceal any unwanted redness but let freckles shine through and is a brilliant choice for brides getting married abroad, as it works seamlessly with your skin, whatever the climate.
Laura Mercier Silk Crème Oil-Free Foundation, £38, cultbeauty.co.uk
‘Oil-free’, unsurprisingly, is one of the key terms to look out for when you’re after a foundation that won’t leave you with a second skin sheen after three hours. This is an oil-free version of Laura Mercier’s bestselling foundation, and a winning choice for brides with oily skin. It’s high coverage but feels wonderfully lightweight, so you can apply once and then forget about it – just the ticket for a busy Big Day.
Bare Minerals Matte Mineral Loose Powder Foundation
Bare Minerals’ original icon, its loose powder foundation is a brilliant option for those with oily skin. It’s both non-comodogenic and non-acnegenic, meaning that it won’t clog pores to cause breakouts or blemishes (in fact, the brand claims the formula is so clean you could even sleep in it – though we wouldn’t recommend). Buff on with the complementary brush and build from light to full as required.
Bare Minerals Matte Mineral Loose Powder Foundation, bareminerals.co.uk
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation
Hydrating and longwear are two buzzwords you want to see if you’re a bride with skin on the dry side. Fenty Beauty’s ultra-smooth formula glides on effortlessly – just one pump goes a long way. What’s more, it’s sweat and humidity-proof (tick, tick) and with its 50 shades, you’re sure to find one you can’t wait to wear down the aisle.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation, £30, boots.com
Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation
Bridal expert Bobbi Brown has a solution for dry skin woes with its innovative serum foundation. With lychee, bamboo grass and cordyceps mushrooms which reduce inflammation and gives skin a glowing boost. Just be sure to dust a layer of loose powder across the t-zone and you’ll be good to go all day.
Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF 40, £51, bobbibrown.co.uk
Lancôme Custom Made Foundation
You’ve found one perfect match, but how about your foundation partner? Le Teint Particular allows you to find your exact shade – and choose your level of hydration, too. It’s only available in-store but it’s worth a visit to take out the guessing.
Lancôme Le Teint Particular Custom-Made Foundation, find it in-store in The Beauty Halls at Harrods.
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