Are you tired of spending a fortune on high-end foundations that promise miracles but fail to deliver? Are you constantly on the hunt for affordable options that actually work for your skin? I understand the struggle, so I’ve curated a list of the top 5 drugstore foundations under $20. These budget-friendly options will not only save you money but also leave you feeling and looking fabulous from the inside out. They are specifically chosen for those interested in enhancing their natural beauty without breaking the bank. Say goodbye to overspending and hello to flawless skin at an affordable price with my must-have recommendations. Keep reading to discover your new go-to foundation!
#1 Maybelline FitMe Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation: Miss Budget Friendly Beauty (The OG of drugstore Foundation)
What is there not to like about the foundation? It is an understatement when I say that Maybelline hit it out of the park with this foundation and continues to do so. It’s not just me who’s impressed; I’ve been frequently complimented on my foundation, and people are shocked to hear that it’s a $10.99 foundation readily available at any drugstore worldwide. This foundation is not just affordable; it’s effective, making it a winner.
Not only is it available in 40 shades with cool, neutral, and warm tones, but this drugstore foundation is super lightweight, dries down to a comfortable matte finish, and stays put, making it ideal for all-day wear. Whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin, this foundation is designed to work for you, giving you the confidence to wear it all day without worrying about touch-ups.
Maybelline also boasts that the foundation is pore-minimizing and controls shine due to micro-powders in the formula, making it great for both regular and oily skin. There’s also a Dewy + Smooth version of this foundation for those who need a little extra boost of hydration or prefer a more dewy glowy glam versus a matte finish. However, the dewy version only comes in 23 shades.
One of the things I love most about the Maybelline FitMe Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation is it’s buildable. I apply it in layers using a damp beauty blender, allowing each layer to dry before applying the next one. This method gives me the perfect coverage. If you’re a fan of MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid Foundation, I highly recommend trying this one.
#2 L’Oreal Infallible Fresh Wear 24 Hour Foundation: Miss Versatility
Coming in hot at $16.99 and in 40 beautiful shades, L’Oreal Infallible Fresh Wear has buildable coverage suitable for all skin types. There’s more coverage here than with the FitMe, but it doesn’t wear heavy, dries down beautifully, and lasts until you’re ready to take it off.
This one has SPF 25 in the formula and is sweat-resistant, transfer-proof, and waterproof, making it the perfect choice for the summer months. Also, with some lower-quality foundations, the color will fade or oxidize throughout the day; not with this one! It looks just as amazing as it did at 8 a.m. as it will at 8 p.m. It dries down matte and has a natural finish.
This is a great drugstore foundation choice for beginner makeup artists building their kits because it is friendly to many skin types.
And just a little secret: this is a very close dupe for Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation ($52) and Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation ($57).
I apply this one with a stipple brush and then blend it out using a damp beauty blender.
#3 L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Foundation: Miss Congeniality
This foundation is another one that makes it onto almost every must-have drugstore foundation list, and it’s for good reason. I recommend it to those who have difficulty finding your exact color match. This formula has six different color pigments mixed to the perfect range of warm, cool, and neutral tones to get anyone as close as possible to their skin tone.
I also like how well this foundation plays with other products. I never have problems concealing, highlighting, or contouring using this foundation. There’s something about this formula that just wants to get along with whatever concealer, powder, primer, and finishing spray you introduce it to. For someone who layers products like myself, it’s a godsend!
This foundation comes in 47 different shades and sells for $13.99. I wear shade W7, which is warm medium deep. The dry down is a soft, natural matte finish with fantastic staying power. And can we all say “Hallelujah!” that it now comes with a pump, so you’re not wasting so much product by pouring it onto your hand or palette? You hear that Maybelline FitMe?
It’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for an affordable option with the blendability, coverage, and natural finish qualities often found in higher-end formulas. I apply this with a stipple brush and then go over my face with a damp beauty blender to smooth out the application and pick up any excess product.
#4 L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte: Miss Oil-Control
Yes, I know, I know. L’Oreal is dominating this list because it currently dominates the drugstore foundation space. If you love a good medium—to full-coverage matte dry-down moment, this one is for you.
This one sells for only $14.99; however, a significant drawback is that it only comes in twenty-two shades, making it the most limited shade range. However, if you’re lucky enough to find your perfect match in this foundation, you’re in for a treat.
This drugstore foundation has a 24-hour wear time—yes, you read that right—and it is creamy and smooth. L’Oreal calls this a demi-matte, but there’s nothing “demi” matte about it. The dry-down is comfortable and friendly to oily-skin beauties.
I apply this with a dense brush, like a MAC 170 brush or a No 77 Airbrush Full-Coverage Complexion by It Cosmetics. Then, I go over my face with a slightly damp beauty blender to pick up any excess product.
Now, here comes a conn…….
This foundation needs to play better with others. If you are layering products like cream and then powder blush or underpainting with a contour stick, this foundation will not hold up to that. This one is best for when you want a flawless matte smooth coverage finish and you don’t have plans to layer many products on top of it. Once you add powder products or manipulate the product too much, this one can break down on you, and it definitely will not last 24 hours.
#5 Maybelline SuperStay Active Wear: Miss Longwear
With 24 shades, Maybelline’s SuperStay Longwear Active Wear 30-hour Foundation is another choice with limited shade ranges, particularly for richer skin tones. Again, if you’re fortunate enough to find a color match, it’s a good one to try.
This is definitely the most matte and full-coverage product on the list. The new 30-hour formula is polarizing, with some loving the longevity and coverage and some in the online reviews begging the brand to bring back the much-loved 24-hour formula that was replaced a while ago by this new 30-hour version.
I admit I wasn’t too happy with the reformulation, but I realized I could get the same dry down I loved by not using a damp beauty blender like I would with the earlier formula. With the 30-hour Active Wear, adding water to the formula just makes it separate and do weird things. So, for this reason, I would apply with a dense foundation brush, and if you need to smooth things out, use a dry beauty blender (this is the only time I would advise using a dry blender) to smooth out any lines, or a velour puff would also do the trick.
Once you get this one to dry down the way you like, it stays put, stays true to color, stays matte, doesn’t transfer, and is water and sweat-resistant. It sells for $13.99 and is great for active lifestyles or oily skin. The coverage makes it an excellent drugstore foundation option for people with severe redness, uneven skin tone, and blemishes.
You don’t necessarily have to say goodbye forever to expensive high-end foundations but you can definitely try out these affordable options that work just as well. The search for the perfect foundation is never easy, but with my carefully curated list of drugstore foundations under $20, you can rest assured that your skin will not only look amazing, but you’ll also save some extra cash in the process. These top 5 budget-friendly foundations are perfect for those who are looking to enhance their natural beauty without compromising on quality or breaking the bank. From lightweight and buildable coverage to long-lasting formulas, these foundations cater to a variety of skin types and concerns.
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P.S.- Take a look at this post if you want to find out how to create my go-to soft glam look that’s perfect for every day.
-Tiffany Nickole
