10 Best Foundations For Melasma, According To A Makeup Expert (2024)

If brown or discolored areas on your skin are making you feel conscious, you probably have not tried the best foundation for melasma yet. Foundations for melasma are designed to conceal patches on the skin and give you the right coverage. You will be amazed at how liberating a great foundation can feel as it makes all the patches disappear, giving you a flawless look with enhanced beauty. We’ve got you a list of the best foundations to choose from as well as a little insight into melasma. So read on.

What Is Melasma?

Melasma is a type of hyperpigmentation that develops brown or dark-grayish patches/spots on the skin. These discolored patches are harmless and are also known as pregnancy patches as they are a common common skin condition amongst pregnant women. Other reasons that cause melasma are constant exposure to UV light, sun rays, or it can also occur due to genetic predisposition or hormonal changes too.

But don’t let those dark spots get to you! Get ready to conceal them as we’ve rounded up some top and well-loved choices on the market for you. Check out our list of 10 best foundations for melasma below. They have been selected after carefully analyzing the formulations and positive reviews from users online.

10 Best Foundations For Melasma That Even Out The Skin Tone – 2024

1. Best Sweat-Resistant:L’Oreal Paris Infallible Up To 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation – 511 Maple

4.4

Image: L'oreal Paris

BUY ON AMAZON | $11.12

With medium-to-full buildable coverage, here’s a light, natural, and breathable foundation that’ll stay put for up to 24 hours! The texture is ultra-thin and blends seamlessly to impart a second-skin-like matte finish. So, if you are going for a healthy-looking complexion, this one is an ideal makeup product that covers dark spots or melasma and enhances your skin radiance. Several online reviewers have stated that they enjoy wearing it on special occasions. Besides this, its broad-spectrum SPF 25 will protect your skin from harmful UV and sun rays too. Not to mention, the product does not settle into fine lines or open pores as well, thereby bestowing flawless-looking skin. The foundation is from the house of L’Oreal, a celebrity-endorsed brand with a large fan base. Check out this review for a detailed understanding about the product through a tester’s experience of using it.

Trivia

L’Oreal Paris had scientific roots and was a pioneer in many makeup and skincare products – Oreol (cold perm, 1945), Obao (foam bath, 1963), and Dulcia (protective formula for permed hair, 1980).

2. Best Non-Comedogenic:Neutrogena Healthy Skin Compact Makeup Foundation – 40/Nude

4.1

Image: Neutrogena

BUY ON AMAZON | $46.99

Light as a powder and smooth as a cream, this compact makeup for melasma is ideal for quick touch-ups and coverage for a few hours. Non-greasy and easy to blend, the foundation offers skin-nourishing and antioxidant protection with ingredients such as vitamin A, B5, C, and E. However, what makes this compact a must-try if you step outdoors often is the powerful UVA/UVB protection it guarantees! Formulated with Neutrogena Helioplex technology, the dermatologist-tested foundation protects with broad-spectrum SPF 55, the strongest ever in a compact. Give it a try! This video review will help you understand more about the product along with the reviewer’s experience with it.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

It has received 670 reviews on Amazon and is a popular choice among shoppers.

3. Best Transfer-Proof:Smashbox Studio Skin 24hr Hydra Foundation – 2.15

4.5

Image: Smashbox

BUY ON AMAZON | $32.69

Apply once, and forget about touch-ups for the rest of the day! Smashbox Studio’s hydrating and oil-free foundation is all you need for a spotless and radiant look. It lasts for up to 24 hours and helps control oil and shine. This extra-long wear foundation does not oxidize as well. It has a smooth and velvety texture that turns matte upon drying and helps even out skin tone without settling into fine lines or open pores. Infused with hyaluronic acid, it keeps the skin hydrated and fights signs of aging. With medium-to-full buildable coverage, it is ideal for covering melasma, dark spots, acne scars, and more. It provides a dewy finish to the skin. If you are still unsure, check out this honest review and a tester’s experience with the product.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

More than 1,358 Amazon users have vouched for this amazing product.

	L'Oreal Paris Infallible Up To 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation - 511 Maple Best Sweat-Resistant	Neutrogena Healthy Skin Compact Makeup Foundation - 40/Nude Best Non-Comedogenic	Smashbox Studio Skin 24hr Hydra Foundation - 2.15 Best Transfer-Proof
	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Skin Type	AllColor	AllColor	NormalColor
Dimensions	1.18 x 1.18 x 4.61 inches	0.97 x 2.75 x 2.75 inches	1.5 x 1.5 x 4.6 inches
Weight	3.82 Ounces.	0.11 Ounces	1 Ounces
Rating
Reviews	13,799	670	1,358
Price	$11.12	$46.99	$32.69

4. Best Vegan:Kat Von D Lock-It Foundation – 48 Light

4.4

Image: Kat Von D

BUY ON AMAZON | $31.42

Infused with optimized-coated pigments, this foundation is known for its legendary full coverage and flawless skin. An ideal foundation to cover melasma, dark circles, birthmarks, and even tattoos, watch it conceal it all in just one droplet! Its lock-in feature and super-concealing effects will keep the foundation intact all day without touch-ups. So, if you are dealing with skin hyperpigmentation, this high-pigment foundation is all you need to go back to your glam makeup days.

5. Best Natural Finish:Estee Lauder Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup – 1n3 Creamy Vanilla

4.4

Image: Estee Lauder

BUY ON AMAZON | $40.62

Estee Lauder’s camouflage makeup foundation may be slightly heavy on the pockets, but its imperfection-hiding coverage totally makes up for it. With 30% pigment, the liquid-crème texture of this foundation shade will conceal hyperpigmentation, sun spots, scars, veins, and even tattoos flawlessly like they were never there! Reviewers love the fact that it gives full coverage but feels weightless. Enriched with natural ingredients like soybean oil and aloe leaf extract, the foundation keeps the skin moisturized throughout the day and protects it from environmental damage to give you a youthful appearance. It also protects the skin with broad-spectrum SPF 15 and will stay intact without touch-ups for up to 24 hours. A great full-coverage, dermatologist-tested foundation for people with melasma, give it a try to enjoy a flawless matte look all day.

Trivia

Estee Lauder sold skincare in her initial days by demonstrating it on women sitting under hair dryers.

6. Best Matte Finish:BareMinerals BarePro 24HR Performance Wear Liquid Foundation – Natural

4.4

BUY ON AMAZON | $4431

Here’s a foundation that’ll cover up skin imperfections and care for your skin, all at the same time. Formulated with mineral lock long-wear technology, it keeps the foundation intact for 24 hours. The creamy liquid contains bamboo stem extracts and papaya enzymes to improve the skin’s texture. High on performance, breathable, and delivering a flawless full coverage, it blurs out imperfections such as melasma and sunspots, and reduces the visibility of scars more effortlessly. It provides adequate protection with SPF 20 and is also heat, humidity, and sweat-resistant. And that’s not all; the formula is safe for your skin and free from harsh chemicals such as talc, gluten, parabens, synthetic fragrances, tree nuts, and SLS. Still, want to skip it?

7. Best Creamy Formula:Clinique Even Better Makeu SPF 15 Foundation – CN 74 Beige

4.5

Image: Clinique

BUY ON AMAZON | $27.99

One of the best dermatologist-tested brands, this foundation by Clinique will cover up and reduce stubborn age spots, sun spots, and scars in 12 weeks. Now, that’s something worth trying, right! Loaded with natural ingredients like birch bark extract, grapefruit peel extract, murumuru seed butter, and yeast extract, the foundation will stay true-to-color on the skin, brighten and enhance your overall complexion, hydrate intensely, and protect with SPF 15. Safe and healthy for your skin, it’s also free from harsh chemicals such as denatured alcohol, gluten, talc, SLS, and synthetic colors.

8. Best For All Skin Types:MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation -Y245 Soft Sand

4.4

Image: Makeupforever

BUY ON AMAZON | $49.99

Why should you try this Ultra HD invisible Cover Foundation? Because its finish is undetectable, imperfection-hiding, and intensely hydrating! The foundation blurs blemishes, melasma, and other imperfections to leave a skin-like natural-looking glow for exceptional results. Its medium coverage is buildable to suit your concealing needs, and its weightless formula contains adaptive pigments that fuse with your complexion to leave a flawless finish. Besides this, it contains hyaluronic acid that promotes skin hydration and improves texture while you flaunt your selfie-worthy look all day.

Quick Tip

Avoid waxing the melasma-affected part of the body, as it can worsen the condition by irritating the area.

9. Best Luminous Finish:Revlon PhotoReady Airbrush Effect Foundation – Golden Beige

4.1

Now 5% Off

BUY ON AMAZON | $16.99

Are you still using a filter to erase blemishes in every selfie you take? Conceal them on your skin with this full-coverage foundation instead. Revlon’s stunning airbrushed effect will leave your skin poreless, blemish-free, and photo-ready with its undetectable finish. The texture has soft-focus pigments that use revolutionary light-filtering technology to erase the imperfections under the light and give your natural skin tone a radiant glow. Don’t believe us? Give it a try, and get ready for close-ups with this one!

10. Best Lightweight:La Bella Donna Compressed Mineral Foundation – Marta

4.6

Image: La Bella

BUY ON AMAZON | $60

If you are dealing with acne or redness, this mineral foundation will be a blessing in disguise owing to its skin-loving and coverage benefits. It contains mineral components that counter stubborn acne and reduce swelling, redness, melasma, allergies, and rosacea. Reviewers online are truly impressed with its versatile shade range which makes it easy for anyone to find their ideal match. And in addition to that, the compact foundation has jojoba ester and kaolin clay to deliver the stunning matte look that hydrates internally. Suitable for sensitive skin along with oily and dry skin types, it is also free from harmful chemicals such as alcohol, fragrance, oil, talc, and synthetic dyes.

Now, are you ready to cover up and glow, gorgeous? There you go, those were the 10 best foundations for melasma that you must try for a spotless and radiant look. And if you are still wondering how to pick the best foundation or apply it, we have some tips and tricks for you in our buying guide below.

How To Choose The Best Foundation For Melasma?

Look out for the following features before buying the product:

• Skin tone

Pick one shade lighter than the dark spots or discolored areas for good and effective coverage. Never choose a shade similar to the melasma or dark patches, or else your overall makeup will end up looking darker rather than natural. And if you’ve never bought a foundation online, choose a shade closest to your undertones (warm, cool, or neutral) for the best experience. You can also check reviews online from users with similar skin tone as yours to find your exact match.

• Skin type

It’s a given that the foundation should be suitable for your skin type. Besides this, you must scrutinize the ingredients list to know what you are applying to your skin. Active ingredients such as vitamin E and hyaluronic acid are great for hydration, whereas mineral-based foundations are ideal for acne-prone skin. However, we highly recommend a patch test before you use the product if you’re allergic to any ingredients. Besides this, look for ingredients that should not be in your foundation, such as paraben, sulfates, talc, gluten, synthetic fragrances, and more that can be harmful to your skin.

• Texture

For flawless coverage, you must pick the right texture. Powder foundations have a light texture that is buildable and may provide sheer-to-moderate coverage. They are great for touch-ups and offer super concealing effects for a few hours. Liquid foundations provide moderate-to-full coverage, are buildable, and are ideal for all skin types. Cream foundations are highly pigmented and deliver a stunning full-coverage look, but they are suitable for dry to normal skin types.

How To Conceal Melasma With Makeup?

When it comes to melasma and hyperpigmentation, good coverage is imperative. Here are some makeup steps that you can follow:

• Start with your daily skincare routine — washing, toning, moisturizing, and sunscreen.
• You can skip the sunscreen if your foundation is SPF-based.
• Prep your skin with a primer to create a smooth base for the foundation.
• Use an applicator of your choice depending on the finish you want (for example, a sponge blender for a natural finish or a stifling foundation brush for optimal coverage and precise application)
• Begin with a small amount of foundation and dab on the areas that need coverage. To avoid a heavy or cakey feeling, start with a thin layer, then build it up later if you need more coverage.
• Blend the foundation outwards, especially the edges, for an even and smooth look
• Lastly, finish the makeup look by dusting some loose or translucent powder for a long-lasting stay.

Infographic: Ingredients To Look For And Avoid In Foundations For Melasma

Melasma can be a challenging skin concern to address. While there are various treatment options available, choosing the right foundation can play a crucial role in evening out the skin tone and providing confidence. Check out the infographic below to discover the key ingredients to look for and avoid in such foundations.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Why Trust Stylecraze?

The author of this article, Srijani Roy Chowdhury, is an avid makeup enthusiast. She understands that skin conditions like melasma require much more effective makeup products. In this article, she lists the best foundations to use on your skin if you have melasma. She spent many hours checking out each of these products and vetting their reviews to bring you the best and most effective foundations. These products offer good coverage, smooth texture, SPF protection, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes melasma?

Melasma is a common type of hyperpigmentation common amongst pregnant women. However, it can occur due to hormonal changes, genetic disposition, or extreme exposure to harmful sun rays or ultraviolet lights.

How do you get rid of melasma?

There is no medical treatment as such to get rid of melasma. However, you may see a difference if you follow a good skincare routine and use a powerful sunscreen to keep the melasma from worsening. There are topical skin creams and laser treatments that help in the reduction of the appearance of melasma, but the results may vary. Hence, many women turn to a good and full-coverage foundation for temporary relief.

What color makeup can cover melasma?

Peach color concealer is highly effective in canceling and hiding brown melasma patches.

How can I cover melasma without foundation?

• Apply a peach-colored concealer to the melasma spots.
• Use a high-coverage pressed powder to set the concealer and cover the spots.

Does vitamin C help with melasma?

Yes, vitamin C is an excellent antioxidant that effectively treats melasma naturally. It inhibits tyrosinase, which produces melanin in the skin.

Will melasma ever go away?

Yes. Although no definite treatment exists to remove and control melasma, it can fade away naturally with time if you protect the skin from the sun and other light sources.

Was this article helpful?

Reviewer Author Editor

Cha Cha WoskaCertified Makeup Artist

 

Cha Cha is a certified professional makeup artist, airbrush makeup artist, and beauty educator with over 20 years in the beauty industry. She is also the owner of Cha Cha Beauty Bar and has done extensive work in the bridal and special event categories.

Read full bio of Cha Cha Woska

Srijani Roy Chowdhury Associate Commerce Editor

 

Srijani is an associate commerce editor with a master's degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal. She is certified in makeup techniques and is also a certified style and image consultant.

Read full bio of Srijani Roy Chowdhury

Srijita DeCommerce Writer

Srijita De is a makeup and fashion enthusiast with a passion for empowering readers through practical tips and tricks to present their best selves with confidence. Armed with a postgraduate degree in English and Literature from the University of Calcutta, she has honed her writing skills and developed an in-depth understanding of the beauty and fashion world.

Read full bio of Srijita De