Always Put Your Best Face Forward With The 10 Best Foundations For Photos
Achieve picture-perfect skin with full coverage, waterproof, and non-comedogenic foundations.
Lorrie Pearson is a professional makeup artist who has been creating her signature natural makeup looks for 20+ years. She began her career working behind the cosmetics counter that helped her strengthen her skills in application. Ms. Pearson received her esthetics license from the Catherine Hinds Institute of Esthetics where she taught skincare and makeup.
Read full bio of Lorrie Pearson
Experience: 2 yearsSrijita 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.
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Experience: 3 yearsRajeshwari is a dedicated fitness and lifestyle enthusiast, deeply committed to enhancing our readers’ well-being and vitality. She has a master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from the University of Calcutta.
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Experience: 3 yearsSrijani 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
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If you are someone who clicks the most likable selfies for social media, you need to own the best foundation for photos. While many filters make up for the pimples and uneven skin tone, people who opt for DSLR cameras have to be careful about maintaining their skin all the time. Foundations can be the best way to fight skin problems and keep them hidden for photos. No one needs to see the pimple that left a big mark on your left cheek! And not all foundations conceal your skin correctly. If you are not careful about getting yourself the proper foundation, it might look artificial or even make you look like a textured cake! Not to mention the trickle marks when they melt away in the heat or the remains of the makeup that the foundation on clothes. Thanks to the good brands, these foundations keep such embarrassment away while helping you maintain flawless skin in your pictures. Go through these 10 foundations that will keep you sorted for the photoshoots and help you flaunt radiant natural-looking skin in all your Instagram-worthy photos!
In This Article
10 Best Foundation For Photos For A No-Filter Makeup Look In 2023
1. Best Matte Finish: Wet N Wild PhotoFocus Foundation
If you’ve got pimples or scars bothering you, there’s no need to worry! With Wet N Wild’s PhotoFocus Foundation, you can correct and conceal imperfections effortlessly. The formula offers a matte finish that glides on like a second skin, giving you a natural and youthful look. Formulated with a light-adjusting complex, it prevents a white-cast in photos in over 7 different light conditions, so you look your best regardless of where you go. Cruelty-free and affordable, you must add this photo foundation used by celebrity makeup artists worldwide to your makeup collection right away! Get ready for any party or occasion with this amazing product! This video documenting the reviewer’s experience will help you learn more about the product and make an informed decision.
- Matte-finish
- Full coverage
- Formulated with a light-adjusting complex
- Cruelty-free
- Affordable
- It is recommended you pair this with a moisturizer or hydrating primer as the formula may be drying.
Pro Tip
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has received 24,887 reviews on Amazon and is a popular choice among shoppers.
2. Best For Sensitive Skin: Dermablend Professional Leg And Body Makeup
Headed to the beach and want to look like a glowing goddess in all your photos? Take a chance with Dermablend’s leg and body makeup with SPF 25 and flaunt your photogenic skin without inhibitions. The formula comes with buildable coverage and conceals stretch marks, scars, dry patches, and veins while evening your skin tone. Its SPF protection keeps you shielded from the sun and offers your skin much-needed hydration. If this was not all, you could also use this photo-friendly foundation to cover tattoos as well! Be it graduation events or a glorious wedding, this product will have your back on all occasions and give exceptional results. When used with Dermablend’s setting powder, the foundation provides a smudge-proof and transfer-proof finish that lasts all day long. Suitable for sensitive skin, the non-comedogenic formula is cruelty-free and is without SLS and phthalates. Switch to professional makeup for photos that look classy and attract attention!
- Provides buildable coverage for entire body
- Contains SPF 25
- Hydrating formula
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Phthalate, SLS, and cruelty-free
- Non-comedogenic
- Conceals tattoos and stretch marks
- May take some time to dry
Quick tip3. Best Buildable Coverage: Cover FX Power Play Foundation
Get a buildable, medium to full coverage with the Cover FX Power Play Foundation. It provides an all-day matte finish that does not weigh down on the skin and acts as a pollution-defense coating. Set in a proper makeup base and glide on this foundation for perfect coverage. The foundation is waterproof, sweat-proof, and transfer-proof, ensuring a long-lasting, polished makeup look. The fermented algal extract imparts antioxidant properties and protects the skin from pollutants and environmental stress. The rice hull powder shields the skin’s moisture barrier and absorbs excess oil and sweat. It also contains rice bran wax which imparts a creamy and smooth texture. The statement-making formula alleviates the pores and controls the shine. It is ideal for normal to oily skin types.
- Oil-free formula
- Waterproof
- Sweat-proof
- Transfer-resistant
- Long-lasting coverage
- Creamy texture
- Talc-free
- Paraben-free
- Fragrance-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Gluten-free
- Sulfate-free
- Phthalate-free
None
Pro Tip Wet N Wild PhotoFocus Foundation Best Matte Finish | Dermablend Professional Leg And Body Makeup Best For Sensitive Skin | Cover FX Power Play Foundation Best Buildable Coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 3.97 x 1.53 x 3.97 inches | 1.56 x 2.19 x 6 inches | 1.25 x 1.25 x 4 inches |
| Weight | 0.29 Ounces | 4.8 Ounces | 0.63 Ounces. |
| Skin Type | - | Combination, Oily Sensitive, Normal | OilyColor |
| Color | - | 40N Medium Natural | - |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 24,887 | 9,479 | - |
| Price | $4.99 | $37 | $25 |
4. Best Waterproof: Dermacol Make-up Cover Foundation
If you’re on the hunt for the best foundation for photos and flash photography, get camera-ready with Dermacol’s foundation that comes with an added benefit of SPF 30. Ideal for normal, dry, and combination skin, this photo foundation is waterproof, hypoallergenic, and preservative-free. Not only made for the face, but you can also apply this to your body for a luxurious, fresh glow. With over 50% color pigments included in this formula, this high-definition foundation for photos ensures that any acne, pigmentation, blemishes, and under-eye circles will vanish within seconds of application, leaving you with a gorgeous-looking finish. If you have sensitive skin, a patch test is recommended before using the product.
- Waterproof
- Contains SPF 30
- Preservative-free
- Hypoallergenic
- Full coverage
- Suited for normal, dry, and combination skin
- Can be applied on body as well
- Slightly expensive
5. Best Long-Lasting Wear: True + Luscious Camera Stick Foundation
Evening your skin tone for photoshoots won’t be so time-consuming if you’ve got this camera stick foundation by True + Luscious. With a suitable formula for all skin types, this creamy makeup foundation for photos provides full coverage and can cover anything from scars to tattoos. The long-lasting wear product conceals and corrects any blemishes. This natural-looking dermatologist-tested foundation is formulated with flex technology that moves with your skin and helps you achieve an airbrushed look. As one of the best foundations for photoshoots, it is easy to blend, offers full coverage, and is vegan.
- Full coverage
- Suitable for all skin types
- Long-lasting wear
- Conceals and corrects
- Natural looking finish
- Non-comedogenic
- Vegan
- Paraben and cruelty-free
- Dermatologist-tested
- Creamy, easy to blend formula
- May look cakey after a while
6. Best Oil-Free Formula: Smashbox Photo Filter Powder Foundation
If you prefer powder-based foundations, this Smashbox photo-friendly foundation may be the perfect fit for you! This velvety-soft foundation will give you up to 8 hours of wear and uses light filter technology to soften blemishes. Suitable for normal skin, the powder foundation is oil-free and provides you with buildable medium coverage. Smashbox has also made sure the formula is non-drying, so it doesn’t cake or settle into your pores, leaving your skin with a flawless, dewy finish. Watch this video to get a detailed review of the product with the reviewer’s experience.
- Powder-based foundation
- Up to 8 hours of wear
- Light filter technology to blur imperfections
- Buildable, medium coverage
- Suitable for normal skin
- Non-drying, oil-free formula
- Doesn’t cake or settle into pores
- May not be ideal for dry skin
7. Best Hydrating: Mirabella Skin Tint Medium Coverage Foundation
Ditch the heavy, cakey foundations and trade it with this photo foundation with a weightless texture and a luminous breathable finish. This creme skin tint from Mirabella provides medium coverage with an easy-to-apply mineral base for a natural skin feel that is always photo-ready. Infused with hyaluronic acid for all-day hydration, the water-gel formula is oil-free and keeps your skin from caking and drying. The formula is gluten, talc, and paraben-free, making it truly suitable for sensitive skin. With a silky-soft velvet finish, you can be sure your pictures are always fabulous! What’s more, it instantly reduces redness with its anti-inflammatory properties and evens out skin tone as well.
- Medium coverage
- Mineral-based formula
- Infused with hyaluronic acid
- Water-gel formula
- Gluten and talc-free
- Paraben and oil-free
- Has anti-inflammatory properties
- Does not cake, crease, or fade
- Slightly expensive
8. Best Full Coverage: Farmasi VFX Pro Camera Ready Foundation
Airbrushed skin is something we all crave, and Farmasi’s VFX Pro foundation helps get us one step closer to that skin goal! Not only is its formula non-reflective to avoid a white overcast, but it also instantly increases luminosity, so your skin glows from within in pictures. This luminous silk foundation for photos also provides a natural and unblemished finish that looks like it’s been retouched with photoshop! Its photo filter technology is the magic behind the formula that diffuses light for fabulous pictures. The matte-finish formula is long-lasting and delivers high coverage leaving you with smooth, radiant skin even in close-up shots!
- Matte-finish formula
- Diffuses light for great photos
- Long-lasting wear
- Full coverage
- Ideal for close-up shots
- May transfer onto clothes
9. Best For Dry Skin: Laura Mercier Silk Creme Moisturizing Photo Edition Foundation
Lights, camera, foundation! Always be one step ahead and be prepared for all photo ops with this foundation for photoshoots from Laura Mercier. Infused with moisturizing ingredients, its hydrating formula ensures your skin does not dry out and doesn’t look like a flakey mess by the end of your photoshoot. With color-true high-pigments that virtually disappear on the skin, you can be assured that your skin looks gorgeous and perfect while looking naturally flawless. This skin-perfecting product also has a long-lasting texture that stays up to a whopping 12 hours, and you can transition comfortably from morning meeting to a night out in the city without frequent touch-ups. Ideal for dry and normal skin, grab this easy-to-blend foundation before it’s too late!
- Moisturizing ingredients
- Stays up to 12 hours
- Full coverage
- Evens skin tone and texture
- Ideal for dry and normal skin
- May not be suitable for oily skin
10. Best Anti-Aging: CoverGirl + Olay Simply Ageless Foundation
Get the best of both worlds using this photography foundation with anti-aging benefits that offers a natural, airbrushed finish. Formulated to brush over fine lines and wrinkles smoothly, this creamy foundation also comes with the goodness of SPF 28 to protect your skin from the sun. Enriched with hyaluronic complex and vitamin C for hydration and healthy-looking skin, the foundation gives you a youthful look while providing a wide shade range to suit different complexions. Trust us when we say this light coverage foundation is just what you need to highlight your flawless complexion in photos!
- Anti-aging benefits
- Contains SPF 28
- Infused with hyaluronic complex and vitamin C
- Smooths over fine lines and wrinkles
- Cream-based foundation
- Cruelty-free
- Affordable
- Formula may be cakey if not blended well with a damp beauty sponge
And that was all for our list on the best foundation for photos of 2023. If you’re still confused about which of one these foundations is the perfect fit, here are a few things you need to keep in mind when choosing the best one for your skin.
How To Choose A Foundation For Photography?
- Formula
When you’re directly under the glare of heavy lights or flash photography, your skin tends to dry out much faster. And if you’re subject to these kinds of photoshoots often, you may want to go for a more hydrating foundation that keeps your skin looking fresh all day long. Foundations also tend to flake and dry in cold winter months, so keep that in mind when picking one out and try to go for a dermatologist-tested foundation. However, if your skin is already oily, you may not need a foundation that is non-comedogenic and oil-free. So, consider these points before making your purchase.
- Coverage
When it comes to dressing up for the camera, we certainly need coverage — but do we want light, medium, or full coverage is the question we need to contemplate. You may want to go for a full coverage foundation if you have tattoos, dark scars, marks, or even heavy acne. If you’re just looking to even out your skin tone and give it an airbrushed look, then medium or sheer will work just as well for you. Also, check reviews online to get a better idea of a product.
- Ingredients
As always, stay clear of harmful ingredients like parabens, sulfates, and talc, and look for ingredients tested dermatologically. These ingredients can do more harm than good and will eventually strip your skin of the natural oils, leaving it dry and lifeless.
“When you choose a foundation for photos, you want one that is light-reflecting and blurring so that the skin looks amazing under the lights.”, adds Makeup Artist, Lorrie Pearson.
Infographic: How To Apply A Foundation To Avoid Flashbacks
Whether it is a special occasion, a night out, or a fun photo session with friends, we all want our foundation to look flawless in every snap. Unfortunately, many times, we end up with unflattering white casts or flashbacks. But fear not! Check out the comprehensive infographic below that will guide you to apply foundation the right way to avoid those pesky flash-induced mishaps.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
If you want Instagram-worthy pictures, you cannot ignore these best foundations for photos on the market. Foundations can be the best way to conceal skin problems and keep them hidden for photos. So, whether you are getting ready for a special occasion, headed for a vacation, or just in the mood for a photo shoot, these photo foundations will come to your rescue. You get to choose from a range of cream, powder, and hydrating formulas, as our list covers them all. Try the Wet N Wild PhotoFocus Foundation that helps you prevent a white cast while giving you a matte finish, or opt for the Dermablend Professional Leg And Body Makeup to cover imperfections while hydrating and protecting the skin. Try the Laura Mercier Silk Creme Moisturizing Photo Edition Foundation for a long-lasting formula that maintains a smooth and radiant finish for up to 12 hours. You should consider the formula that suits your skin type, go through the ingredients list, and take a swatch test to ensure the product offers the right coverage.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Srijita De, is a makeup and beauty enthusiast. She understands how to achieve a perfect photogenic look using the right foundation. She has compiled the above list of the best foundations for photoshoots based on extensive research in various brand formulations and reviews from trusted online forums. These products help you get a natural-looking radiant look without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a matte or dewy foundation better for photos?
A semi-matte finish foundation is the best if you are going to take a lot of photos. It does not make your skin look too dry or oily in the pictures.
How should I do my makeup for a photoshoot?
Here are some tips to nail your photoshoot makeup looks.
• Invest in good-quality products.
• Prep your skin with a good cleanser and moisturizer duo. Pay attention to the areas around your eyes and mouth.
• Choose the foundation shade closest to your natural skin complexion.
• Avoid HD powders.
• Use matte finish contour. And blend out well.
• Highlight your cheekbones and cupid’s bow.
• Pluck out eyebrows a few days before the shoot to have defined brows but non-irritated skin.
• Use a good setting spray that lasts long without getting oily.
What kind of foundations don’t cause flashbacks?
Powder foundations or foundations with matte finish do not cause flashbacks.
Should I use a dewy skin tint or full coverage foundation for mature skin while clicking pictures?
Use a semi-matte or satin finish full coverage foundation for mature skin while clicking pictures.
How do you prevent foundation flashbacks?
Avoid ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium oxide (found in SPF) and silica, as they may show up as a white cast in photographs. Avoid highlighters and shimmery makeup and opt for matte formulas and looks instead. To top it all, blend makeup products very well to get perfect pictures without flashback.
Read full bio of Lorrie Pearson
Read full bio of Srijita De
Read full bio of Rajeshwari Das
Read full bio of Srijani Roy Chowdhury
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