The Best Foundations at MECCA Right Now

May 7 | 6 minute read

Words by Team MECCA

On the hunt for your holy grail foundation? You’re in luck!

We've rounded up the greatest bases from sheer to full coverage for different occasions and various skin types, so get ready to meet your perfect match.

Finding the right foundation is a little like shopping for the perfect pair of jeans – it requires patience and time, and can sometimes feel disheartening in the unflattering lights of the change room. But when you finally locate that perfect fit, the one that seems like it was made just for you, it’s as though the stars have aligned.

That's exactly the feeling we want you to have after you've applied your foundation. Because, we promise you, it's out there. Whether you're looking for a hydrating skincare-infused formula for your dry skin or a stick foundation you can toss in your work bag for mid-afternoon touch-ups, we've curated this list featuring the best tried, tested and MECCA-approved foundations, starting with the best sheer bases and finishing with our favourite full coverage options.

Best foundation for sheer coverage
MECCA MAX Off Duty Serum Skin Tint

Sheer, dewy coverage with skin-loving ingredients for less than you spend on your weekly iced matcha habit. Sounds too good to be true – it’s not! With niacinamide and squalane, we love how this hydrates, soothes and supports the skin barrier (even once you’ve washed it off) while delivering a fresh, glow to your complexion. The texture is silky, it blends seamlessly, it’s good for all skin types, and it feels significantly more luxe than its price tag suggests. It’s no wonder we can’t restock it fast enough (we know you have good taste!).

https://contenthub-delivery.mecca.com/api/public/content/I-060631-I-060631-M1-MeccaMax-OffDutySerumSkinTint-WDRUpOW4kSbLGKxbPzkw.jpg?v=da21622f

Best everyday foundation
bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Skin Perfecting Tint

This half makeup, half skincare hybrid was way ahead of its time. Long before skin tints went viral (actually, even before TikTok), customers couldn’t get enough of Complexion Rescue, obsessed with the lightweight, dewy coverage that saved multiple steps by including ingredients for hydration and SPF protection. The gel-cream texture and the fact it requires absolutely no skill to achieve a surprisingly natural-looking finish, are what made Complexion Rescue a hit then, and now.

https://contenthub-delivery.mecca.com/api/public/content/I-073992-I-073976-M1-bareMinerals-ComplexionRescueSkinPerfectingTint-gmMcaA8ASPG41vOwZ4TbmA.webp?v=3604e044

Best foundation with SPF protection
ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

Yes this operates like a skincare and makeup product, but then it also has a side gig as a sunscreen, too. The lightweight, serum-y formula combines three good-for-skin ingredients – niacinamide to smooth out skin texture, squalane to balance and enhance elasticity, hyaluronic acid for hydration and plumpness – alongside pigment to impart sheer colour, and zinc oxide for mineral sun protection. It adds up to glowy, nourished and protected skin that looks as good as it feels. Take your pick from 30 easy-to-match shades. [Editor’s note: this is considered a secondary sunscreen because it’s primary purpose is evening your skin tone and not sun protection].

*ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. Sunscreen is only one form of sun protection. Avoid prolonged sun exposure and reapply as directed.

https://contenthub-delivery.mecca.com/api/public/content/I-049602-I-049602-M1-ILIA-SuperSerumSkinTintSPF40-X2214bRhEWz8gO8e4lEw.webp?v=4fac0bac

Best foundation for undetectable coverage
Chantecaille Future Skin

After it was revealed that Chantecaille’s Future Skin was MUA Donni Davy’s base of choice on the set of Euphoria for stars like Zendaya and Hunter Schafer on, it was all over. #BeautyTok went mad for the way this skin tint manages to nail that tricky balance of glowy and greasy, and the bare-skin-but-better finish that looks good onscreen and IRL. Oil-free and incredibly lightweight, this buildable formula applies best with a high-quality foundation brush.

https://contenthub-delivery.mecca.com/api/public/content/i-042050-m1-chantecaille-futureskin-mMm43IZlo0u55UtHUdE4FA.jpg?v=b64ffd6d

Best stick foundation
Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation & Concealer Stick

No mess, no fuss, no tools required. We love a stick foundation – and this one, by visionary celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman is hard to beat. As with every formula from Westman, the formula is packed with high-performance skincare – squalane for radiance and hydration, phytosphingosine to soothe, and berryflux vita for deep moisturisation – to even out your complexion with buildable, medium coverage while helping it look and feel better with every wear. And even though the stick format slips unnoticed into your handbag for on-the-go touch ups, we love that the finish looks more radiant as the day goes on.

https://contenthub-delivery.mecca.com/api/public/content/i-047396-m1-westmanatelier-vitalskinfoundationstick-wVo6Gft00Uy3SWjJWna4kg.jpg?v=9e0d83fc

Best all-rounder foundation
NARS Light Reflecting Foundation

For medium coverage that still lets your skin shine through in an impressive 54 shades, NARS' iconic Light Reflecting Foundation has you covered. This makeup-skincare hybrid offers the most radiant of finishes (no matter how many layers you apply) but also blurs imperfections, smooths textured skin and helps conceal blemishes. And if you continue to wear it daily for six weeks, this wonder formula visibly improves skin’s clarity – even when you're not wearing makeup.

https://contenthub-delivery.mecca.com/api/public/content/i-053324-m1-nars-lightreflectingfoundation-kdd20PiWIUePHiyeZYvjuA.jpg?v=e828b14c

Best foundation/skincare hybrid
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation

Charlotte Tilbury has MECCA customers in love (and glowing) with her lineup of bestsellers, which includes this foundation: a creamy complexion perfector. Featuring hyaluronic acid and a rose complex to give your skin a hydrating boost, it’s available in 30 shades, with a medium coverage that leaves skin looking like actual skin – just glowier.

https://contenthub-delivery.mecca.com/api/public/content/i-053164-m1-charlottetilbury-charlottesbeautifulskinfoundation-5ApJgFBdsECmpJ2ZyNOoZw.jpg?v=e9261bc8

Best hydrating foundation
Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation

Shiseido has over 150 years of skincare science behind it – and you can really feel that expertise in the brand’s Radiant Lifting Foundation. The exclusive light-adjusting technology catches the light perfectly to give skin a lifted, luminous finish that looks like it was applied by a pro. But what really sets it apart is the addition of cutting-edge skincare ingredients that smooth, hydrate and support skin over time. It’s ideal for all skin types looking for a long-wear formula, but with zero fragrance and a feeling of instant hydration once applied, it’s also an excellent option for sensitive or dry skin.

https://contenthub-delivery.mecca.com/api/public/content/i-049440-m1-shiseido-synchroskinradiantliftingfoundation-s1G0Tg83L0S77o5EuaDgrw.jpg?v=ea09a507

Best your-skin-but-better foundation
Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Foundation

Laura Mercier is a living makeup legend who knows good skin, so it’s only fitting that she made an excellent foundation that took TikTok by storm when it launched. Available in 30 shades, this medium-buildable coverage formula is loved for its ability to make your skin look like the best version of itself. Formulated with the latest in skin tech, this foundation helps control shine and maintain your skin's hydration while you wear it, making it perfect for combination skin types in particular. And, did we mention this foundation is also fragrance-free and waterproof? Tick and tick!

https://contenthub-delivery.mecca.com/api/public/content/I-060018-I-060018-m1-LauraMercier-RealFlawlessWeightlessPerfectingFoundation-0W1-Satin-C60SRy6JgUS8P2xpZx80Sw.jpg?v=2e7f7960

Best foundation for mature skin
Ellis Faas Skin Veil Foundation

Ask any MECCA makeup artist what their secret weapon is for dewy, healthy-looking skin, and this foundation will be it. Ellis Faas was one of the most influential makeup artists in the business with years of experience under her brush belt, so it’s no surprise this foundation is a winner. This suits-all-skin-types, vegan-friendly formula diffuses light to impart a seamless, soft-focus finish that becomes one with your skin. It’s buildable and won’t settle into fine lines, meaning you can add a light tint or layer up for medium coverage.

https://contenthub-delivery.mecca.com/api/public/content/I-011079-I-011079-M1-EllisFaas-SkinVeilFoundation-LVcLcbLZ0qI7mUIBf4GDQ.jpg?v=bd716e2f

Best oil-free foundation
Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

This Too Faced icon is oil-free and hydrating (thank you, coconut water and skin-plumping hyaluronic acid), as well as brightening, which makes it ideal for balancing combination or oily complexions. The formula is medium to full coverage with a semi-matte finish that delivers the blurring and soft-focus effect you’ve always desired, but perhaps never discovered.

https://contenthub-delivery.mecca.com/api/public/content/i-022127-m1-toofaced-bornthiswayfoundation-p57Z1ymvxEG3SpTmOqPZww.jpg?v=b9a8a123

Best full-coverage foundation
M·A·C Studio Fix Fluid Foundation SPF15

Makeup artists, beauty editors and makeup aficionados have sworn by M·A·C Studio Fix since the ‘90s, making it one of the most iconic foundations of all time. The original matte formula was recently upgraded to meet demands of this decade, now with 87% skincare ingredients including sugar kelp extract to control oil along with red algae extract and hyaluronic acid for hydration. It smooths, controls shine, stays put all day, and somehow manages to deliver full coverage while still letting your skin look like skin, a rare kind of wizardry. One more thing: it’s available in a staggering 71 shades.

https://contenthub-delivery.mecca.com/api/public/content/I-065454-I-065454-M1-MACCosmetics-StudioFixFluidFoundation-W7IeEhiSSQ20hukFGa8Hg.jpg?v=b3129f0f

Best long-wear foundation
Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup

A true classic! If you want a matte (but not flat) finish – one that’s non-creasing, won’t budge and is both lightweight and comfortable – this foundation is it. Available in 61 shades, this oil-free formula has been dermatologist-tested and is non-comedogenic, making it a worthy choice for blemish-prone skin. And, it will leave your complexion looking fresh and flawless for up to 24 hours thanks to its sweat, humidity and heat-resistant promise.