After spending too much time applying makeup, there’s nothing worse than your foundation fading or requiring constant touch-ups for it to stay in place. Luckily, long-lasting foundations exist as the answer to your makeup prayers, as their formulations are specifically designed to prevent your makeup from transferring and smudging throughout the day.
While setting your foundation helps boost wear, choosing the right foundation formula for your skin type is just as important. For instance, if you have oily skin, a long-wearing foundation that remains matte is a massive score. For those with mature skin, a formula that doesn’t settle into fine lines checks every box. The list goes on.
So, we sought out the expertise of makeup artists and the Shop TODAY team to get the best tips on how to help your foundation last. Plus, we rounded up the best long-lasting foundations, from full coverage to liquid formulas, that won’t fade or dry out — even against heat, sweat and more.
A Shop TODAY bestseller$22.80$38.00
Best for dry skin$undefined$38.00
Best for oily skin$undefined$40.00
What makes a foundation 'long-wearing?'
What labels a foundation as 'long-wearing' ties to its formulation, which specifically consists of high-performing ingredients that prevent your base from fading, separating, creasing or transferring for hours. The benefits of a long-wearing foundation are aplenty, especially when it comes to wear. Below, makeup artist Melissa Hurkman broke down those exact key factors that make a foundation ‘long-lasting.’
- “Film-forming agents that help the foundation adhere to the skin.
- High pigment concentration — ideally in a thin, lightweight formula for flexible, buildable coverage.
- Oil-absorbing or mattifying ingredients that control shine and reduce slipping or movement.
- Water- and transfer-resistant properties so the makeup withstands humidity, sweat, and touch,” she told us.
Thus, you’ll want to look out for these descriptors and details when shopping for a foundation that really does last. “For mature skin, I recommend long-wear formulas that balance staying power with hydration, since matte textures can highlight fine lines and age the look of the skin,” adds makeup artist Caitlyn Dominic.
When to use a long-wearing foundation
Long-wear foundation is something that can be used daily, but is ideal for events where you need your makeup to last all day, like weddings, prom and graduation. Makeup artist Aya Tariq says it all depends on your needs and tolerance for makeup.
New Jersey-based makeup artist Samantha Gencarelli also likes to use long-wear foundations during especially hot and humid weather. Makeup artist Christine Cormier, on the other hand, calls long-wear foundations a “set it and forget it” product, making them perfect for long days where you’re taking a lot of photos because they call for little to no touch-ups. “It’s always good to know in your back pocket, [you] have a little bit of coverage that will last through all of these memorable photo opportunities,” she said.
Best long-wear foundations, according to makeup artists and editors
Most affordable long-lasting foundation:
It’s not every day you come across a $10 coverage that actually lasts. With a fluid, serum-like texture, Hurkman raves that the Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation goes on smoothly and beautifully on all skin types, especially mature skin.
“The coverage is versatile — from sheer to medium as you build — and although it’s long-wearing, it maintains a soft radiance once set,” the makeup artist raves.
For a ‘your skin, but better’ finish:
With a serum-based formula, the award-winning skin tint from Versed contains a multitude of ingredients, from SPF to hydration wonders like hyaluronic acid, for buildable, ‘undetectable’ coverage that melts into your skin.
A Shop TODAY bestseller:
When it comes to sale events, such as Prime Day and holidays, the Laura Geller New York Baked Balance-n-Brighten Foundation often reigns supreme at the top of our readers’ shopping lists. Freelance writer Colleen Sullivan recently reviewed it and boasted that the product doesn’t take away your skin’s natural radiance.
“Instead of sitting on top of my face or settling into fine lines, the powder blended with my skin, evening out my skin tone without masking it,” she notes. “My skin didn’t look matte or flat, just softly polished ... like my skin on a really good day.”
Best long-lasting foundation for dry skin:
Long-wear foundations can sometimes lean more matte to ensure lasting coverage. But for dry skin, these finishes could emphasize dry patches and flakes.
I [San Miguel] tested this foundation with some fellow team members when it first launched. Like the bestselling primer, the Milk Hydro Grip, the foundation promises up to 12 hours of lasting, radiant coverage. Although marketed as a skin tint, each writer found that it lived up to its claims and only got better with wear.
If you prefer a lighter base:
If you prefer a lighter base but want the long wear, Dominic recommends Merit’s The Uniform Tinted Mineral SPF, which also happens to be editor-loved.
“It offers sheer, buildable coverage with a natural finish that smooths and blurs without looking heavy, which is especially flattering on mature skin,” the Dominic raves. "The breathable formula layers beautifully with concealer where more coverage is needed and wears comfortably throughout the day. Although it’s not a true ‘foundation,’ I still find it to be long-lasting through the day.”
Sets and conceals:
Gencarelli likes this foundation for some additional coverage while simultaneously setting your long-wear foundation. It also boasts long-wear capabilities of up to 12 hours and oil- and shine-control for up to eight hours.
Best long-lasting foundation for oily skin:
Tariq is a fan of this bestselling long-wear foundation from Fenty Beauty. It’s offered in 50 different shades, and touts the impressive ability to diffuse the look of pores, absorb oil and resist against sweat and humidity all-in-one.
Best long-lasting foundation for oily skin:
While best suited for combination and oily skin, according to the brand, this editor-loved pick is even suitable for drier skin types because of its comfortable, serum-based formula. According to the brand, it blurs pores, covers acne and hyperpigmentation and is resistant to sweat and humidity for all day wear these skin types can rely on.
“I do use a thick moisturizer right before I apply my makeup, but this foundation goes on so smoothly, offers full coverage and stays on all day, without any flakes or cracks,” claims associate editor Shannon Garlin. “It contains glycerin, which is also great for hydrating the skin, too!”
Most viral:
This Shop TODAY Beauty Award winner was all over our social feeds in 2025, so we had to test it ourselves. Audience development writer Danielle Murphy was impressed right upon application, stating the product didn’t “emphasize those imperfections” and “just provides the coverage I need to feel confident” all day long.
When it comes to wear, Murphy experienced minimal touch-ups after testing the product. “I’m happy to report that I can go hours with my skin looking rather flawless with this foundation,” the writer said. “By the end of the day, I might see a few cracks near my nose or smile lines, but other than that, it’s pretty impressive everywhere else.”
Best long-lasting foundation for mature skin:
“The Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation is my go-to choice for mature skin,” claims Dominic. “I love this foundation because it delivers long wear without looking heavy. The thin, buildable formula creates a true second-skin finish that moves with the face instead of settling into lines, while still holding up through heat, humidity, and long days (it’s what I use on my wedding-day clients as well).”
A reliable favorite:
One of the leading foundations for long wear is this Tariq-approved foundation from Estēe Lauder, boasting thousands of positive reviews and a near-perfect rating across multiple retailers.
You receive an extensive shade range to choose from, buildable coverage, life-proof wear (weather-, transfer-, gym-proof, for example), among other perks. Plus, it has recently been updated for more breathable and lasting wear for up to 36 hours, per the brand. No wonder why so many people love.
Boosted with skin care:
Cormier raves that foundations from Charlotte Tilbury are “always really beautiful.” Described by the brand as a hybrid skin care foundation, they’re made with key ingredients that claim to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, hydrate the skin and ‘provide an immediate fresh feel.’
Recommend for beating summer heat:
A summer pick from Gencarelli, she likes the fact that this foundation boasts 16 hours of wear, especially when working on brides who need their makeup to last through long days of endless photo ops.
“It feels really lightweight but it’s long-wear so it’s perfect. It’s buildable coverage. It kind of looks like skin with a natural finish,” she said.
Worth the splurge:
Don’t let the price tag intimidate you — we’d argue that the famous Georgio Armani foundation is worth the hype. From being a Shop TODAY award-winner to MUA-approved, the foundation delivers strong, flexible coverage that feels light on the skin. “It’s smooth, luminous, minimizes the look of texture and still delivers excellent longevity,” Hurkman raves.
Plus, the mom of trends editor Vivien Moon, Julia Moon, reviewed the foundation for our Beauty Awards, and raved that the product had a “very nice texture” that “lays pretty nice on the skin.”
An important note: The foundation has recently been updated from when we first tested, but it still remains a popular favorite by experts and customers alike.
How to help your foundation last all-day
Start with a good skin care routine
Before applying any makeup, Cormier stressed the importance of establishing a good skin care routine beyond just using the right products. “People think makeup is the end all, be all fix of everything — the magic — and it’s not. It is skin care,” she said.
If you’re wearing foundation often, she recommends regular dermaplaning because it removes the vellus hair and dry skin, which will then leave your makeup sitting on your actual skin instead of on top of a layer of hair. While there are tools available to complete the process at home, she says the best results come from seeing a professional esthetician.
“I try to get my brides to one facial a month — hydrofacial with dermaplaning — for at least six months before your wedding and you are going to have the most beautiful, beautiful skin,” she said. “I think in the longevity of everything, you can then wear less makeup, feel more like yourself, but feel like you.”
Make sure your primer and foundation base match
A common mistake that people make is mixing silicone- and water-based primers and foundations, Tariq noted. Using a water-based primer with a silicone-based foundation or vice versa can cause your foundation to flake and separate.
“Silicone and water don’t like each other,” she laughed.
Apply a little bit at a time
Gencarelli and Tariq both suggest starting with a small amount of foundation and adding more only if you feel you need it.
“In general, less is more,” Gencarelli advised. “Start with a little bit on the cheek, work it around and if you need to add more, add it. Starting off with little bits and then adding and building from there is probably the best case.”
Once you’ve applied your initial amount, Tariq recommends walking around the house and letting it sit on your skin to see if you really need to add more coverage. For any foundation you’re using for the first time, she says to try it on a day you can spend at home to see how it wears over time.
Use the right tools
The right tools can make all the difference in the final product. “I’m still shocked at how many people still use their hands to apply makeup. It’s fine, but personally I think you’re wasting a lot of product because it’s all over your hands and it’s just dirty/messy,” Cormier said.
If you’re looking to achieve fuller coverage, Gencarelli likes to use a buffer foundation brush. For softer application and a more skin-like application, she suggests using a damp Beautyblender.
Proceed with caution with this technique if you’re using a silicone-based foundation, Cormier warned, before emphasizing the importance of knowing what’s in your products the way Tariq did. “Putting water into a product that doesn’t work well with water [is] going to immediately [cause it to] start breaking up and separating,” she said.
If your foundation has a brush that’s paired with it, it’s probably worth investing in that brush. “Some people think that’s a kitschy way to get more money, but some products are developed alongside using a specific tool,” Cormier said.
Don’t forget to set
“Lastly, using a good setting powder to set under the eyes and the T-zone area (such as the center of the forehead, the nose, smile lines and chin) can really extend the wear of makeup,” Dominic emphasizes. That includes using the right powder brush. “Most people use a powder brush that is WAY too big for actually locking makeup in place,” she notes, and suggests using a small, ‘highlight’ brush for this step instead.
Hurkman also suggests using “Setting spray to melt product into the skin and reduce powdery buildup,” after setting with powder.
Frequently asked questions
Before buying any products, take some time to find the right shade for your skin tone. Tariq and Cormier recommend swatching colors on your face, neck and chest to help you decide which shade works best.
Instead of testing a color on just one of those areas, Tariq swatches the same color on several parts of the body to make sure it works everywhere and is an accurate match.
“If it matches my chest, I match it to my forehead. If it matches my forehead, I match it to my cheek…Then I would match a shade to the middle of my cheek all the way to my chin,” she explained. “If it disappears in the middle of my cheek, then that’s great. Sometimes a foundation would match but then people have discoloration, so then you need to color correct.”
She says she never does makeup with less than three foundations to make sure each area of the face is being properly matched instead of using just one color and trying to make it work everywhere. This is a technique that can also help give your face dimension, she noted.
Cormier added a few other reasons why you should be testing colors on more than one area.
“Sometimes your chin will actually cast a shadow onto your neck, making it significantly lighter than both your face and your chest,” she said. “If you’re someone who wears sunscreen (which you should be, especially today), your face is also lighter than your chest.”
She also recommends being in natural light — preferably by a window — when swatching to make sure the color you see isn’t being influenced by yellow or tinted lighting fixtures.
For mature skin, Hurkan prioritizes specific formulas, while avoiding matte and thick foundations that might cling to fine lines and wrinkles.
- "Hydrating liquid or serum foundations — luminous, skin-friendly, and less likely to settle into fine lines
- Light-to-medium, buildable coverage (heavy formulas can cake and accentuate wrinkles)
- Silicone-enhanced formulas that glide over texture and blur imperfections
- Dewy or satin finishes that add radiance and avoid a flat, dry look," she lists.
Dominic also suggested these formulas for this skin type, as they "move with the skin, provide flexible coverage and help maintain a smooth, natural-looking complexion instead of emphasizing texture," the makeup artist told us.
How we chose the best long-wearing foundations
The Shop TODAY team rounded up the best long-lasting foundations for all skin types by enlisting the recommendations of makeup artists. We also included beloved editor picks and top-rated products that suit every budget.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on a given topic. We also ensure that all expert guidance and recommendations are provided independently and without any undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Caitlyn Dominic is a Charlotte-based makeup artist who focuses on bridal, event, celebrity and private lessons.
- Melissa Hurkman is a Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist who does red carpet and bridal makeup.
- Aya Tariq is an NYC-based makeup artist.
- Christine Cormier is a bridal makeup artist based in New York.
- Samantha Gencarelli is a New Jersey-based makeup artist.
