The 12 best lightweight foundations for sheer coverage and natural radiance

The best lightweight foundation will punch well above its weight. If you're looking for a sheer base, your top priority is likely to be a formula that looks and feels light on the skin. But a great low-coverage foundation can offer so much more besides that, with skincare ingredients, SPF, and a variety of finishes from dewy and glowing to a soft-focus blur or velvety matte. 

As with any base product, the best foundation for your needs comes down to skin type. “Lightweight foundation is a brilliant option for someone who doesn’t necessarily have specific skin concerns but just wants to feel like a slightly more polished version of themselves,” says Rose Gallagher, MakeUp Artist and Ambassador for IT Cosmetics UK and Ireland. 

However, light formulas can also be some of the best foundations for acne-prone skin. Less likely to clog pores, a weightless base is always a safe bet if you want to keep your skin looking and feeling its best. If you're after a product that can even out skin tone, promote a healthy glow and will sit beautifully on the skin all day, look no further than our beauty team's favorite lightweight foundations.

The best lightweight foundation, as chosen by our experts

Weighing up foundation vs tinted moisturizer? Some of the best lightweight foundations come in the guise of a tinted moisturizer or skin tint, and when we tested this one, we found that it is pretty damn near faultless. 

What we loved about this foundation is that ingredients-wise, the focus is as much on skincare as it is makeup, but neither area suffers as a result. Antioxidants, sun protection, and hydrating glycerin mingle happily with light, buildable pigment and a water-silicone base that ensures it applies smoothly. The texture is slippy, soft, and happy to be applied with any tool you like, so take your pick from a foundation brush vs sponge. Once it sets down it dries to a lasting, lightly radiant finish. 

We got the best part of a day's wear out of this foundation. It doesn’t settle into lines or melt off at the first sniff of an oily T-zone or perspiration. The shade range has recently been extended to 16, which isn't enormous but the sheer pigment means each shade is highly forgiving, so most will find the right match. The slimline, light tube is brilliant for anyone who loves a makeup declutter, as well as making this portable and perfect for travel, as do the wanderlust-inspired shade names. A justified classic, there is very little not to love here.

See our full NARS Tinted Moisturizer review.

If you have always struggled to find a foundation that is actually the right shade for you, look no further. This DCYPHER foundation is made to order to perfectly fit your skin tone, skin type, and desired finish - and the process takes seconds. All we had to do was take a few quick photos on the website, select our formula preferences, and it was ready to be posted to us.

We were worried that it was too good to be true, but after several days of wear, we can safely say that this foundation really does deliver. Not only is the shade match perfect, but the finish is exactly what we hoped for. We opted for a glowy look with medium coverage, and it does a fantastic job of concealing redness whilst remaining lightweight and soft on the skin for day-long comfortable wear with no clinging to dryness or slipping around on oily patches. The pump applicator also makes for a mess-free experience.

Its one and only downfall for us is that it doesn't include SPF, however, this is by no means a deal breaker, especially if you master how to reapply sunscreen over makeup. But considering the price point and the impressive technology, we couldn't recommend this more as the best lightweight foundation for those who want a flawless shade match. Another bonus is that if you feel you haven't got exactly the right shade the first time, DCYPHER offers tweaks free of charge. There's really no going wrong with this bespoke foundation. 

Pixi H2O Skin Tint is by far one of our favorite foundations of all time, and it is a perfect pick for those who want a truly weightless feeling on the skin. With a water-based formula and light, runny texture, it glides seamlessly onto the skin and blends out with minimal effort. We like to use our hands to apply it to get a your-skin-but-better finish, and you hardly need any product to cover your whole face.

For those with dry skin, this is a base product that won't cling to any dry patches or blemishes, and will instead hydrate and provide a natural glow. Despite its thin texture, we have also found that it provides enough coverage to conceal light redness or small spots without the need for a heavy concealer. It doesn't move around throughout the day, and it also layers beautifully with other complexion products like the best bronzers.

We have used Pixi Skin Tint for over a year and it is still our go-to when we want a featherlight base that will look just as good at the end of the day as it does when freshly applied. Its watery and hydrating feel makes it more similar to a tinted moisturizer than a true foundation, but it looks and behaves the same as heavier base products. A true holy grail in our makeup bag, we recommend this to anyone who wants to feel like they're not wearing foundation. 

Dior's mega-selling Forever franchise spans the original long-wearing Forever Foundation, Matte and Glow versions, and now this - with a formula that comprises 96% natural origin ingredients, floral extracts, and gives a fresh, dewy finish. 

This is a luxury foundation doing what it does best, from the chic glass bottle and ultra-clean pump-action to the silky texture. We thought it felt a little thicker than some of our other picks but blended nicely with a firm brush and then quickly and seamlessly set into a light, flattering veil over the skin. No streaks, no dragging, and definitely no telltale tidemarks. 

We found the finish to be grown up with a light soft focus, but still sheer enough for your complexion to show through. In short, we thought this made our skin look great, while still feeling like skin. Naturally, if a matte, high pigment base is your desire then this probably won't suit you (if that is the case our Dior Forever Matte foundation review might be worth a read). A bonus is that It's long-lasting and didn't transfer onto a white collar on testing, which is always a plus. It is fragranced, which may not suit everyone, but this being Dior, it's a quietly luxurious scent you'll probably love.

You don't need to have flawless skin in order to wear a lightweight foundation - as long as you opt for something that evens out the skin tone, you're all good. When Urban Decay launched Stay Naked Foundation, they were one of a few brands aiming to revolutionize the beauty industry with an extensive shade offering. Not only is this foundation available in a whopping 50 shades, it also comes in nine intensities for all skin tones, so there truly is something for everyone. 

When we tested this foundation, we found that it did a great job of concealing our imperfections. It was also weightless, matte, and pore-minimizing - in fact, at one point during the day, we forgot we were wearing any makeup at all. The Moroccan Lava Clay and glycerin-infused formula gave our skin the gorgeous, natural glow we’ve always wanted from a foundation.

It comes in a lightweight, sleek plastic bottle, making it super easy to travel around with. Something else to note is that it's really light in texture, so we recommend shaking it beforehand to avoid any potential mishaps. Overall, we loved the finish, coverage, and moisture-boosting formula. While it does a great job at evening out the skin tone, you may need one or two touch-ups throughout the day, but it's well worth it for the excellent staying power.

With its pocket money price, Gen-Z pink packaging, and easy 'smudge it on in seconds' texture, we think L'Oreal had a young and peachy demographic in mind when they created this. But, overlook this excellent, budget-friendly base at your peril - we found it to be a seriously good product, candyfloss-hued tube or not. 

When testing, we found that the texture is slippery and quenching, with solid skincare ingredients like aloe vera, glycerin, and SPF, plus the finish is a light soft-focus glow that would perk up mature, dull, or dehydrated skin a treat.  The juicy finish is the right side of off-puttingly shiny for those with oily skin, and we found it just radiant enough on our combination complexion.

The downside is that the shade range is pretty poor, but due to the sheer pigment, each shade can span a good few skin tones. It is also lightly fragranced, so if you have very easily irritated skin you might want to go carefully. But all in all, we thought this foundation was a very good base full stop, but an absolutely outstanding one as far as the price is concerned. We all know not to judge a book by its cover. In beauty, it's also a good move not to judge a product by its target market. 

See our full L'Oréal Paris Skin Paradise review.

Warning: If you try Pat McGrath Skin Fetish you'll probably wish you didn't like it as much as you do. Obviously getting hooked on a $69 / £62 foundation isn't ideal for anyone on a budget. If that's you, move along now - nothing to see here. 

That said, it wouldn't feel right not to include this, because it really is excellent. Naturally, the packaging is beautiful and the shade range is extensive, particularly so in its offering for deeper skin tones which is as nuanced as the lighter options (not always a given, sadly). But where this foundation, the first from iconic makeup artist McGrath, really stands out is its texture and finish. This is a true make-up artist's formula, much loved by pros and it's easy to see why. 

We found the texture surprisingly thin, like a light milky fluid that offers bags of spreadability, slip, and time to buff it in for a polished, seamless finish. It is infinitely buildable, meaning one pump gives the sheerest wash of pigment, two pumps can give a light-to-medium look then you can keep on building from there without appearing caked or overdone. The finish is a classy semi-sheeny satin, while powerhouse skincare ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides plump and hydrate for a natural, lasting glow. If you want to splurge on a lightweight foundation you know won't fail you, this is the one.

Although Fresh Nude foundation isn't new, it has undergone an eco-makeover and is now fully recyclable - but that's not the only selling point of this affordable foundation. Its formula is the real winner here. Weightless and moisturizing, with buildable, medium coverage, it truly has something to offer most complexions. 

Its former un-recyclable pump has been replaced with a new spatula design, so we had to scoop the product out, which we thought was a little bit less convenient and hygienic. On a positive note, we liked having greater control over how much product we were using and for those looking for more sustainable beauty products, this is a great factor. For the perfect finish, we recommend buffing it in with one of the best foundation brushes you have for flawless, healthy-looking skin. 

If you've never tried this foundation before, now is the time. The huge shade range (40 with 3 undertones to pick from, to be precise) means it's now possible to find the one that suits your skin perfectly. It's not often a foundation with this price tag offers such a vast shade range so for that, The Body Shop, we commend you!

If you've ever worked with a makeup artist, had your face professionally applied for a big day, or even watched very closely when a makeup pro is on TV, you can almost guarantee this would be in their kit. Why? Because this sheer, buildable, long-wearing yet light and fresh-looking base is unbelievably versatile. 

When testing, we found that it worked just as beautifully as a drop or two rubbed into a bare face as it did buffed into the skin in careful layers to form the base of a polished face of makeup. It's just as at home on limbs as it is cheeks, never transfers, and resists a rain shower with ease, making it one of the best waterproof foundations. The light, squeezy bottle is as convenient as they come, with a slim dropper-like top that makes light work of applying anywhere - with or without brushes.

Another reason this is one of the best lightweight foundation buys around is the shade range, which pays close attention to undertones for a true spot-on match. We think there's very few people that won't love this foundation, thanks to its versatility. Once you've found your shade and got a bottle of this in your kit, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. 

See our full MAC Studio Face and Body Radiant Sheer Foundation review.

Can a pressed powder ever rival the best lightweight foundation in liquid form? Yes, with a few caveats. Obviously, even the best powder foundation is not, and will never will be, the right choice for anyone with dry or dehydrated skin. It's also unlikely to last as long as your typical liquid, but with that in mind, there is a lot to like about L’Oreal Paris Infallible Freshwear Powder. 

Unlike your classic pancake-y powder, which is generally used to create an invisible mattifying layer over foundation, this finely milled, pigment-packed powder is designed as a one-stop-shop base. In many ways, it succeeds. We found the texture to be very fine and it blends with an ease rarely seen in dry formulas. The inclusion of skincare ingredients such as antioxidant-rich algae brings this in line with what we expect of liquid foundation, and, for oily and combination types the finish is impressively skin-like while being long-lasting and just the right side of totally matte. 

Naturally, being a compact, it's both portable and handbag friendly, so if you're someone who likes to top up their makeup on the go, this could be a great option. As ever with powders, the little sponge included is no great shakes, and a firm kabuki-style brush would be better for buffing. More shades on the deeper end of the spectrum wouldn't go amiss too. However, for the budget price, this is a great lightweight powder pick.

This foundation from Laura Mercier promises lots of radiance, as well as weightless medium-to-full coverage and 15 hours of hydration. There are over 30 shades available and the formula contains Vitamin C, which works to brighten your complexion and even out skin tone. It’s also fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, which is an added bonus for those with acne-prone skin because it won’t clog pores.

When testing, what we loved about this foundation is that it gave our skin a flawless and natural look. As with our other picks, it was easy to blend out with a brush or a sponge, making it a joy to apply. Considering the slightly higher price point, we were pleased to find that a little bit goes a long way, especially if you are going for a light finish. But depending on your skin type, you may need to apply a bit of powder to finish off the look as we did on our combination skin. 

It certainly delivers on radiance and the finish is truly glow-enhancing, and we found that this lasted long into the evening. After a long day spent running errands, it stayed in place and our skin still had the same gorgeous glow as when the foundation first set. If you're looking for the best lightweight foundation to give you a truly healthy glow, this is the one for you.

Filter-like foundations have created a lot of buzz in the beauty space and with all the fabulous skin-enhancing benefits they offer, it’s clear to see why they are so popular. In addition to a smooth filter-like finish, Charlotte Tilbury’s award-winning Airbrush Flawless Foundation formula includes 2% replexium, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles, as well as hydration-boosting Magic MossCellTec and a peptide called C.T. Defence. 

This foundation does exactly what it says on the bottle - it's long lasting, weightless, and offers a great matte finish. When testing this base, we noticed that it was thicker than our other picks, and it also dries very quickly, so do keep this in mind if it takes you a while to apply foundation. We also found it to be more full-coverage than some of our other picks, but it does give the skin a healthy and radiant glow. 

Once blended in, it has that same weightless feel on the face that we could happily wear all day long. The huge plus is that it effortlessly covers blemishes and provides a filter-flawless finish, meaning it is one of the only complexion products you'll need, even for problem skin. If you're after a lightweight foundation with a little more coverage than some of the thinner formulas on the market, you're likely to love this. 

See our full Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation review.

How we tested and selected the best lightweight foundation

Finding the best lightweight foundation on the market is no mean feat. This is why we took a number of factors into consideration when testing each of these products, including: 

• Texture - The most important thing to look for in a lightweight foundation is texture, so we were searching for products that felt invisible and comfortable on the skin.
• Finish - The next thing we took into consideration was the finish, from sheer to soft matte, and how they fared through the day.
• Ingredients - Every lightweight foundation in our guide has had its ingredient list thoroughly scrutinized, with skincare actives and base liquids assessed (as this will differ hugely between the best serum foundations vs a traditional foundation vs CC cream, for example).
• Performance - Each was applied to the face and worn for at least a day, or often several, to see how it performed.
• Value for money - Finally, we paid a close eye to packaging and value for money. We know that comparing a $60 / £60 foundation with one that costs $10 / £9.99 isn’t apples for apples, so the cost-to-performance ratio was carefully considered. 

How to choose the best lightweight foundation

When shopping for the best lightweight foundation, there are a few things to consider:

• Your skin type and needs
• The key ingredients in the formula and the results they give
• The texture you prefer
• Price point

"Normal skin types can have their pick of lightweight foundations," says Gallagher. "Those who want glow can look for something with a skincare base, or for something more skin-like opt for an oil-free formula." To find the best foundation for oily skin in a light texture, Gallagher recommends looking for ingredients designed to balance oil like niacinamide, clay, or charcoal. 

Sensitive or dry skin types should “look for formulas that include ceramides, squalane, and hyaluronic acid to ease the dryness," according to Gallagher, who concludes that, "soothing ingredients like Vitamin B5 and E are a bonus as they nourish and protect the skin."

But beyond this, you'll also want to think about the finish of the foundation and what sort of texture you're after. "Some lightweight foundations can be quite sheer, and if you want a bit more coverage than that you might have to use another layer or a little concealer on top - so choosing a foundation that is either buildable or pairs well with other liquid products on top is key. There are also lightweight powder foundations that can work better on oily skin types than a liquid foundation," adds Elanna Pecherle, Makeup Artist and founder of Pearl Beauty.

Pecherle also notes that "lightweight foundations will usually have water at the top of the ingredient list, as well as water-soluble actives like hyaluronic acid, peptides and fermented extracts that are highly compatible with the skin. These formulas absorb easily and enhance the skin-like feel." If you can find a foundation with these factors within your budget, you're onto a winner.