The 13 Best Dewy Foundations for All Skin Types and Tones

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A foundation with a radiant finish is the easiest way to get a natural, luminous glow. Those of us with oily skin might scream in horror at the thought of this trend, but whether your skin is dry, oily, acne-prone or sensitive, there are plenty of dewy foundations to choose from across a wide range of shades. With the right prep and setting spray, you can glow all summer without worrying about your foundation slipping off.

Key Takeaways

• Match your primer to your skin: hydrating for dry skin, mattifying for oily skin, even when you want a dewy finish.
• Dewy foundations range from sheer and natural (Rare Beauty, Armani) to fuller coverage (NARS, Beauty Bakerie), with Maybelline Fit Me as a budget pick.
• If you’re acne-prone, look for formulas labeled non-comedogenic or oil-free.
• SPF in foundation is a bonus; wear a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen underneath.
• A dewy setting spray locks in the glow without adding glitter.

Prep

Before applying coverage foundations, it is important to prep your skin to ensure your makeup stays intact all day. The type of primer you use depends on the type of skin you have. If you have dry skin, it is best to use a hydrating primer, such as the Glossier Priming Moisturizer.

This primer will plump, hydrate and leave your skin with a soft, dewy finish. Another favorite for dry skin is the Too Faced Hangover Primer, which is packed with coconut water to help hydrate and prime your skin. If you have oily skin, it is best to use a mattifying primer, even if you are going for a dewy look, to prevent it from looking too oily.

The Veil Mineral Primer by Hourglass is a known favorite. Its oil-free formula helps your foundation last all day without feeling heavy or greasy. Last, if you have normal or combination skin, you could use any primer that you feel best fits your skin on that day. If you’re aiming for a dewy look, a hydrating primer is a way to go.

Glossier Priming Moisturizer

Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

Apply

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

This foundation is a part of the iconic Born This Way line from Too Faced. It comes in a wide range of shades, feels hydrating and gives a natural finish.

This foundation has buildable coverage. One pump will give you medium coverage, and then you can build it up as needed without feeling cakey. Although it has a natural finish, it is known for being long-wearing, so you can go the whole day rocking the dewy look without worrying about it sliding off.

Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation

If you are looking for something with a bit more coverage, we recommend the Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation. Not only does this foundation have a radiant, silky finish but it also has a buildable full-coverage formula that helps cover dark circles and blur the look of fine lines while still feeling lightweight on the skin.

Nars’ long-wearing formula claims to provide up to 16 hours of fade-resistant wear, which is perfect for a busy summer’s day!

Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation

This award-winning foundation is a staple in many makeup collections. It comes in a wide shade range for many skin tones and types. Armani’s Oil-free formula provides buildable medium coverage with a natural airbrushed finish. Not only will it have your skin glowing, but it also helps skin look brighter and smoother.

Rare Beauty Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation

Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty offers this foundation in a broad range of shades. It gives buildable medium coverage with a natural finish. The foundation has a serum-like texture that feels weightless while evening out your skin and smoothing the look of pores. It also contains a blend of lotus, gardenia and water lily extracts.

ABH Luminous Foundation

This Luminous Foundation from Anastasia Beverly Hills comes in a wide range of shades. Not only is it hydrating and long-lasting, but it’s also great if your skin looks dull or uneven, since it blurs imperfections.

When applying, expect this to be a medium-coverage foundation that leaves you with a natural, luminous finish. It is also water-resistant, which is perfect if you’re planning on taking some flawless pics by the pool!

Beauty Bakerie InstaBake Aqua Glass Foundation

Want a flawless foundation that has it all? Look no further, Beauty Bakerie has the perfect one for you. Their Aqua Glass weightless foundation provides full coverage while still feeling lightweight.

It helps hydrate your skin and blur pores and texture, leaving your skin looking flawless. On top of all that, it helps even out the look of uneven skin tone. This foundation is also smudge-resistant to ensure that your dewy skin glow stays on all day!

Maybelline Fit me Dewy + Smooth Foundation

If you’re looking for something a bit more affordable, then you’re in the right place. A drugstore pick, Maybelline’s Fit Me line has a Dewy + Smooth foundation that acts as a moisturizing makeup, leaving you looking naturally radiant. This lightweight formula provides a medium coverage that blends out seamlessly and will last all day. It also has SPF 18, which is a nice bonus, but it isn’t enough sun protection on its own. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher underneath, especially on hot summer days.

Set

After applying your makeup, set your look with a setting spray to make sure it stays on all day. Lucky for us, they have setting sprays specifically to give you that dewy, glowy finish.

Morphe’s Continuous Setting Mist is a favorite and a must-have in many makeup collections. It helps prevent your makeup from melting, caking, and fading while giving you a beautiful finish. Another favorite is the award-winning Dewy Set Setting Spray by Anastasia Beverly Hills. This water-based setting spray leaves your skin feeling smooth and refreshed with a dewy radiant finish.

Although the packaging looks sparkly, it will not leave any glitter or sparkle on your face, just glow! If you’re looking for something a bit more affordable, NYX offers a great dewy setting spray as well. Their lightweight, long-lasting dewy formula gives your skin a fresh, dewy glow while keeping your makeup looking flawless all day.

Morphe Continuous Setting Mist

ABH Dewy Set Setting Spray

NYX Dewy Finish Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray Vegan Formula

Conclusion

Dewy, glowing skin is achievable for all skin types as long as you use the correct products! It’s always important to prime your skin when using any foundation and to make sure your skin is prepped, allowing the product to go on smoothly and last all day. All the foundations mentioned give a radiant glow without feeling heavy on your skin, so whether your skin is dry, oily or anywhere in between, there is an option for you.

Don’t forget to set your face with a setting spray to allow your makeup to blend, leaving a glowing finish that will last all day long! We hope you enjoy these, as they are some of our favorite dewy foundations!

Sources

• American Academy of Dermatology – How to select a sunscreen
• Cleveland Clinic – Is the Sunscreen in Your Makeup Enough?
• American Academy of Dermatology – I have acne! Is it okay to wear makeup?

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