When you’ve got the best matte foundation, having flawless makeup that lasts all day couldn’t be easier. Not only will it smooth out any imperfections on your skin and even your skin tone, but a matte foundation is great for keeping oily skin at bay. It’s also more versatile than any other type of foundation — by applying foundation with a matte finish, you can add blush and highlighter exactly where you want it, rather than having an all-over glow that risks looking too shiny.

However, finding matte foundations can be a tricky task — often they are matte when applied, but a few hours in they’ll either start to go oily if you’ve got oily skin, or they’ll dry down and stick to any blemish, dry skin or hair, making it look worse than when you started. Luckily for you, we’ve tested a whole range of matte foundations; below you can find a guide on how to find the best one for you and a list of our favourites for every kind of coverage.

No foundation is one-size fits all, and finding the right coverage can make or break your look. Here’s a quick guide to how each coverage works:

Light coverage - If you’re looking for a natural finish where your skin tone is evened out but you’ll still be able to see things like freckles underneath the foundation, then a light coverage foundation is best for you. It’s perfect for those ‘no-makeup’ makeup days because it covers mild redness and unevenness without looking like you’re wearing any foundation at all.

Medium coverage - This coverage is a great middle ground for those who want a foundation that can suit every occasion. The coverage won’t be too high for everyday wear and it will still cover blemishes and even out your skin tone for when you want to wear a heavier makeup look. Medium coverage foundations also tend to be pretty buildable which means that you can spot-tackle problem areas and build up to a higher coverage without it looking cakey.

Full coverage - There are no prizes for guessing what a full coverage foundation looks like. This kind is king if you’re hoping to cover up larger blemishes and have a completely flawless finish on your foundation. Try opting for a silicone-based full coverage foundation if you want a filter-like look that will effortlessly blur out your skin texture.

Buildable coverage - When a foundation is buildable, you can use layers to build up the coverage from light to medium to full. That means it’s the most versatile kind of foundation to have so it’s best for those who want an all-singing-all-dancing foundation in their kit. Buildable foundations can be light, medium or full coverage, so be sure to choose one that suits your needs and be careful because layering too much buildable foundation can make your face look ‘cakey’, which is never a good look.

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In any foundation, getting the shade right is really important. Granted, for low coverage foundations the match doesn’t need to be spot on but for high coverage foundations, it’s best to get the shade right so you don’t need to overcompensate with bronzer later on. That’s why finding a foundation that has a wide range of shades available is the best way to get a good match for every skin tone.

Luckily, some brands have a virtual skin-tone quiz that will help you find your perfect shade, like this one from Fenty Beauty that uses diagnostic questions, or the shade finder on Morphe that uses your existing makeup products to estimate your perfect shade. Remember, many women need to swap out their foundation shades in the summer and winter so keep this in mind when shopping around.

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When looking at foundations, it’s always a good idea to check the ingredients list. Some are formulated with skincare such as niacinamide, others have SPF built in — though not usually enough to effectively protect your skin from the sun, so it’s best to use a separate SPF before you apply your makeup. All, however, will have a base of either water, oil or silicone — this is a key thing to pay attention to because it affects the way the foundation applies.

Oil-based foundations are great for those with dry skin and tend to give a dewy look; for that reason, there won’t be many of them on the matte foundation market. Silicone molecules are larger than water molecules, so silicone-based foundations create a barrier on the skin that effectively blurs large pores and fine lines, whilst locking moisture into your skin to prevent dryness. Water-based foundations contain little to no oil or silicone in their formulas, making them ideal for those with acne-prone or sensitive skin. They always come in a liquid form and tend to be lighter coverage than other foundations, but the water base provides much-needed hydration to stave away dry skin.

You can tell which base a product uses easily because it will be one of the first listed ingredients on the primer and foundation. However, if the formula is a liquid the first ingredient could be water but if the second ingredient is a silicone (i.e. an ingredient ending in ‘-cone’ or ‘-methicone’) that indicates that the foundation is silicone based.

Furthermore, when you use a primer before your foundation to prep the skin (a step you can read more about below), it needs to work in conjunction with the foundation. So if you’re using a water-based primer, then your foundation needs to have a water base too. In essence, the base products need to match, otherwise, the makeup might look patchy and weird.

Matte may be synonymous with dull but this isn’t always the case with foundations. For the best finish, make sure you’re using a good exfoliant and moisturiser in your skincare routine — this will help to minimise blemishes and get rid of any dead skin that foundation likes to cling onto.

Some people choose to add a primer before they apply their foundation. Primer can help to boost the longevity of your makeup and smooth over any visible pores so that the foundation applies onto a flatter surface to further minimise blemishes and skin texture. This is by no means a necessary step, especially if you’ve got a good skincare routine, but if you’re looking for the best primers to use, here are our recommendations for oily skin and dry skin.

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Price: £32 | Buy now from Boots

This matte foundation balm from Kat Von D is full coverage and, thanks to its hydrating formula which combines sodium hyaluronate and apple extract, it’s not drying in the slightest. In fact, it’s a little oily-feeling and settled into fine lines when used without primer or powder. To solve this, Kat Von D suggests using a primer on oily skin to maintain the flawless look all day. We think the lightweight feel of this full coverage foundation is worth the extra effort because when it’s on, it barely feels like you’re wearing foundation at all.

The balm is easy to apply with a brush, your fingers or a beauty blender and totally covers any uneven colouring and rosacea without looking cakey. It’s really buildable and can be used as a spot-concealer on problem areas, which makes it incredibly versatile.

This foundation has also been designed with the planet in mind; because it has no mirror or metal, the packaging is designed to be 100% recyclable without compromising on aesthetics. Its compact packaging makes it really easy to bring out with you for re-application on long hot days.

Key details — Shades: 40; Coverage: full; Base: silicone

Price: £5 | Buy now from Boots

If you’re on the lookout for a matte foundation that won’t break the bank, the 17 Second Skin foundation is better-formulated, longer lasting and much cheaper than other drugstore foundations. It’s advertised as medium coverage, but after a days’ wear it actually falls somewhere between light and medium.

Alongside a smooth application, this water-based foundation doesn’t set into any fine lines, even hours after application. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid to keep your skin’s surface hydrated and vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that’s naturally found in the skin’s oil. Better still, it’s also vegan friendly so you can rest assured that this product is as kind to your skin as it is to the planet.

One thing to note is that some reviewers complained that this foundation settled into their larger pores, so those with this problem might want to try a silicone-based foundation instead.

Key details — Shades: 20; Coverage: light; Base: Water

Price: £30 | Buy now from Boots

Founded in 2017, Rihanna’s beauty brand took the world by storm because of its unmatched, inclusive range of foundation shades. The star of the show was the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r foundation, which originally launched with 40 shades. Since then, 10 new shades have launched so you won’t struggle to find your perfect match, especially considering that Fenty has its own shade-finder quiz to steer you in the right direction.

The quality doesn’t disappoint: it’s formulated with no oil, making it long lasting and gentle on the skin. Its silicone formula applies smoothly to the skin and effortlessly blurs out fine lines, blemishes and unevenness leading to a flawless finish. Better still, it’s buildable, making it suitable for every occasion. It’s well worth the price if you’re on the lookout for an all-singing all-dancing matte foundation with excellent coverage and an even better shade range.

Key details — Shades: 50; Coverage: medium to full, buildable; Base: silicone

Price: £9 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

OPV is a UK-based black-owned beauty brand which brands itself as an “ethical, inclusive beauty movement.” Their stick foundation is available in 13 buildable shades which can be used to create any look, from a light-coverage tinted moisturiser look to a full coverage foundation. Yes, you read that right — it really is that versatile.

Its oil-based formula is super creamy and blendable, allowing it to sit naturally on the skin. However, the oil-based formula creates a softer matte finish; if you’re looking to achieve a fully matte look, this isn’t the foundation for you. We think the soft matte finish of this foundation strikes a good balance between matte and natural finish, staving off the dryness that sometimes comes with super-buildable matte coverage.

Key details — Shades: 13; Coverage: light; Base: oil

Buy now from Cult Beauty

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