These Skincare-First Foundations Deliver Results Now – And Later

February 2 | 3 minute read

Words by The MECCA Memo

Welcome to the era of hybrid beauty. Where lipsticks act like lip balms, mascaras act like lash treatments and foundations act like serums.

Think of this new generation of complexion perfectors as the beauty version of your parents' hiding vegetables in pasta sauce because you simply refused to eat your greens.

As our Customer Education Lead, Jeremy Agnew, explains: “Skincare-infused foundations go the extra mile beyond just providing coverage. They’re full of potent ingredients that improve the way skin looks and feels over time.”

Everyone can benefit from skincare-infused formulations, Jeremy says, but they can be extra helpful for those whose skin needs some extra T.L.C. or those who don’t have time for skin prep on busy mornings.

“The right skin-loving formula can help foundation apply smoothly over dry skin or can provide a dewy glow, no illuminator required. It's all about your lifestyle and how you want to harness the power of skincare in each step of your routine.”

For luminous skin long after you’ve washed off your makeup, here are our favourite skincare-foundation hybrids, ranked from fullest to lightest coverage.

Polite Society More Than A Pretty Face Skin-Caring Medium to Full Coverage Foundation

When making this viral foundation Polite Society’s co-founder, Jerrod Blandino, says he reverse engineered his favourite serums to create a next generation formula. Comfortable all-day wear and a skin-like finish, it gives you all the coverage you want, but also works over time to leave skin brighter and more even thanks to niacinamide, willow bark and hyaluronic acid.

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Shiseido Revitalessence Skin Glow Foundation

What happens when you take over 150 years of skincare science and turn it into a foundation? You get Revitalessence. Powered by prebiotics like fermented kefir and niacinamide, this medium-coverage foundation supports your skin's microbiome for smoother, brighter, healthier looking skin. Plus, it's long lasting, lightweight and leaves a glowy finish that doesn’t emphasise texture or the appearance of pores.

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NARS Light Reflecting Foundation

Formulated with 70% skincare ingredients and made by the master of skin that looks like skin, Mr. Nars, this buildable foundation is a crowd favourite. Its thin, water-like texture feels weightless on the skin and gives your complexion a radiant, yet blurred, finish. Best applied like your favourite serums, with fingers, Light Reflecting Foundation contains hydrating humectants and redness reducing skin soothers. Wear it daily for skin that looks great with or without foundation.

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Ilia Beauty Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

According to ILIA founder Sasha Plavsic, it took three years to perfect this foundation-meets-serum-meets-SPF, but we’re glad she did. Just like your favourite hydrating serum this tint contains niacinamide, squalane and hyaluronic acid, to plump and smooth skin. It also contains zinc oxide for added sun protection, though we always recommend layering with a primary SPF underneath. This sheer wash of colour has a dewy finish, is best applied with fingers and is the perfect one-and-done complexion step for busy mornings.

This is a secondary sunscreen, designed to complement your primary SPF as top-up protection.

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Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops

Recreate the ‘I’ve just had a facial’ glow everyday with this skincare infused tint, created by the pioneer of no-makeup makeup, Gucci Westman. These easy-going drops are designed to work with your skincare, not over it. Packed with serum-strength actives and the brands antioxidant-rich Skin Vitality Complex™ they instantly hydrate and soothe while working to brighten and improve skin texture over time. The cushiony serum texture starts off as a lightweight oil that sinks into the skin for buildable coverage and a luminous finish.

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Tower 28 SunnyDays SPF 30 Tinted Sunscreen Foundation

These days, it feels as though we’re missing out if our complexion products aren't spiked with skincare, and Tower 28 seems to agree. With prickly pear extract (reparative, blue-light blocking) and white sage (an antioxidant that helps protect against free radicals and even out redness), SunnyDays glides on like skincare, looks like your real skin (but better), has additional broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection and won’t freak out sensitive skin. Does it get any better? Yes! The sheer, satin-y formula is incredibly easy to build and even easier to apply – we like to use our fingers just like moisturiser.

This is a secondary sunscreen, designed to complement your primary SPF as top-up protection.

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Kosas Dreambeam Comfy Smooth Tinted Base With SPF40

If your daily base can’t hydrate, protect and improve your skin with every wear, does it really deserve a place in your routine? What does belong there is this number from Kosas. The featherlight formula serves two purposes – it can be worn alone or as the base layer underneath your foundation product. Either way, it melts in so effortlessly you forget it’s even there. And while it instantly evens out your complexion, like all great skin tints should, the addition of peptides, ceramides, hyaluronic acid and allantoin act like a high-performance face serum, visibly brightening, hydrating and improving visible signs of ageing. And how could we forget the bonus SPF40?!

This is a secondary sunscreen, designed to complement your primary SPF as top-up protection.

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Need help finding your perfect match? We’ve got your bases covered, with complimentary shade matching in-store at your local MECCA. Book your consultation here.