The Best Hydrating Foundation
We looked at the top 8 Hydrating Foundations and dug through the reviews from 24 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Hydrating Foundations.
Our Review Process
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Our Picks For The Top Hydrating Foundations
- 1. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Oil-Free Hydrating Foundation
- 2. COVERGIRL Clean Fresh Vegan Hydrating Foundation
- 3. bareMinerals Complexion Rescue SPF 25 Hydrating Foundation
- 4. Smashbox Buildable 24-Hour Hydrating Foundation
- 5. AGE 20’s Color Corrector SPF 50 Hydrating Foundation
- 6. LAURA GELLER Lightweight Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Foundation
- 7. Maybelline Dream Radiant Liquid Collagen Hydrating Foundation
- 8. Catrice True Skin Paraben & Gluten Free Hydrating Foundation
Even out your complexion with this hydrating tint that goes beyond tinted moisturizers to disguise blemishes for a natural but smooth look. It packs in hyaluronic acid and a lightweight water gel formula to both plump and hydrate your skin. It features an oil-free formula that’s non-comedogenic to prevent clumping and clogging your pores.
Lightweight but EffectiveThe lightweight formula gives this foundation the power to cover fine lines while still giving you that natural look.
Coconut milk and aloe extract help hydrate your skin, giving you a dewy glow while also delivering nutrients. The foundation is lightweight and blends well with a variety of skin types. The formula is free of formaldehyde, sulfates and talc and also eliminates animal testing for a more natural alternative to traditional cosmetics.
Extra AbsorbentThis foundation features all-natural ingredients that provide a dewy glow while also hydrating your skin.
In addition to a water-based formula, this foundation also packs in SPF 25 protection without the use of chemicals. The size is only 2.6cm L x 3.1cm W x 15.2cm H, making it easy to store with your other makeup products or take on the go with you. The formula is more than 30 percent enhanced mineral water to deliver hydration to your skin while also...
Great for PortabilityThe compact build of this hydrating foundation makes it great for packing in your luggage or keeping in your purse for touchups throughout the day.
Get the look you prefer with this hydrating foundation, which allows you to apply the amount you need to get the coverage you prefer. It resists settling into pores and lines and doesn’t transfer or dissipate with sweat and humidity. The formula is built to help control oil and shine while also hydrating your skin.
Extra DurableWith this hydrating foundation, you get a formula that withstands sweat and humidity and doesn't rub off on your clothes.
Buying Guide
Moisturizer is an important part of maintaining skin health. From a young age, applying hydrating products to your skin can help preserve the skin’s natural oils and provide the nutrients you need. But you also likely use products that disguise blemishes and provide a smooth, balanced look as you head out for the day. That’s where hydrating foundation can help.
There are varying degrees of hydrating foundation, though. You can easily find a wide range of products that apply a light tint to the face to help with blemishes while also boosting hydration. But the other end of the spectrum is full foundation that builds in moisturizing power. In between those two extremes are moisturizers with stronger tint and foundations that focus more heavily on hydration than layering makeup onto the skin.
Whichever route you choose, it’s important to look at the ingredients in the hydrating foundation you choose. Hyaluronic acid seems to be the must-have ingredient in moisturizing products today, and there’s a reason for that. Only a ¼ teaspoon serving of hyaluronic acid can hold 1½ gallons of water. The interesting thing about hyaluronic acid, though, is that your body produces it naturally. As you age, that production slows down, so buying products with hyaluronic acid built in can help make up for your body’s natural loss.
You’ll see some moisturizing foundations marketing their formulas as “buildable.” This means that the more you layer the cream onto your skin, the more coverage you’ll get. If you opt for this type of formula, you can customize your foundation to exactly what you need. If you want a light tint, simply spread a little on, while heavier coverage that disguises blemishes calls for a heavier application.
Why we recommend these hydrating foundations?
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Our experts reviewed the top 8 Hydrating Foundations and also dug through the reviews from 24 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Hydrating Foundations.
DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.
The Best Bang For Your Buck
COVERGIRL Clean Fresh Vegan Hydrating Foundation
Key Takeawy
Coconut milk and aloe extract help hydrate your skin, giving you a dewy glow while also delivering nutrients. The foundation is lightweight and blends well with a variety of skin types. The formula is free of formaldehyde, sulfates and talc and also eliminates animal testing for a more natural alternative to traditional cosmetics.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
What to Look For
- Instead of hydrating foundation, some choose to go for tinted moisturizer. Depending on the level of coverage you’re looking for, tinted moisturizer could be sufficient. Tinted moisturizer focuses on hydrating your skin, but it has the added benefit of helping to add a little color to your skin. However, for covering blemishes, a foundation on top of your hydrating products might be necessary.
- It’s important to consider how you’ll apply your foundation. Some come with an applicator brush that lets you scoop out the exact amount you need.
- For best results, look for a hydrating foundation that uses water gel or hydrating natural oils for your skin. Chemicals can dry out your skin and even potentially cause long-term damage.
- Some products can clog pores and lead to blemishes. Those are known as “comedogenic” products. That’s why you’ll see the term “non-comedogenic” on cosmetics that are formulated specifically to avoid clogging pores.
- If you’re going for a more natural look, search for a hydrating foundation that is designed to keep things lightweight. You’ll want one that’s lightly tinted to conceal blemishes as needed but that focuses on hydrating the skin.
- Different skin tones need different foundation colors. Some hydrating foundations are marked as working with a wide range of skin types and tones, but that might not be the case for your skin. Take a close look at the color you’ll get with your foundation to ensure you’re getting the coverage you need.
- When trying out a new skincare product, it’s typically best to try it out on a small patch of skin, particularly if you have sensitivities or allergies. After your patch test, you can expand to your full face with confidence.
- Some cosmetics are tested on animals. If this is important to you, look for products that are marked free from animal testing.
More to Explore
Long before the moisturizers of today, humans were trying to retain their skin’s natural moisture barrier. The use of moisturizing products has been traced all the way back to 3000 B.C., when Ancient Sumerians and Ancient Egyptians used animal fats, oils and honey to keep their skin soft and smooth.
But moisturizer in the form of bottled products didn’t come along until the 1400s B.C. Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt reportedly kept bottled lotions made from nutmeg oil, palm oil, fats and benzopyrene. The queen, who is believed to have suffered from a skin condition that might have been either eczema or psoriasis, needed the extra relief. Unfortunately, benzopyrene is a known carcinogen that has been found to cause tumors in animals, so it’s possible that contributed to her death, although the cause is still unknown.