Our Favorite Sheer Foundations for Lightweight Coverage

November 11, 2021

By: Caitlyn Martyn | Makeup.com by L'Oréal

The Best Sheer Foundations for a Flawless Second Skin Look

While some prefer to wear full-coverage and matte foundation, for me, it’s all about finding a foundation that’s lightweight, natural-looking and provides a glowy finish. My makeup collection is stocked with complexion products that offer a second-skin look and feel. If you’re on the hunt for a sheer foundation, keep reading, because I’ve rounded up seven of my favorites, ahead.

1 / 7

YSL Nu Bare Look Tint Foundation

Try this multi-tasking skin tint melts into the complexion to improve the appearance of your skin without feeling heavy on your pores. The water-based makeup-meets-moisturizer leaves the skin looking fresh, dewy and radiant.

2 / 7

L’Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluronic Tinted Serum

For the ultimate no-makeup makeup look, try a tinted serum. This one offers sheer to buildable coverage plus 1% hyaluronic acid for a hydrated, dewy finish that makes you forget you’re even wearing makeup.

3 / 7

NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil

Even out your skin tone with this sheer alternative to foundation and BB and CC creams. It goes on cream and dries down to a breathable second skin that never feels cakey.

4 / 7

Giorgio Armani Beauty Neo Nude Foundation

Whether you want to smooth out your complexion before hopping on a work call or the skinimalism makeup vibe is your everyday aesthetic, this light-coverage foundation is a must-have. It’s lightweight yet buildable and is packed with glycerin and hyaluronic acid for plump, healthy-looking skin.

5 / 7

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation and Skincare

This foundation not only gives you a flawless-looking complexion once applied, but it’s also good-for-skin ingredients actually makes your face appear smoother and healthier, too.

6 / 7

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint

This skincare-makeup hybrid gives you a natural-yet-luminous finish. The ingredients contain a blend of hyaluronic acids, plant-based squalane and niacinamide to even out skin tone and soften imperfections, as well as SPF 40 broad-spectrum sun protection.

7 / 7

Saie Slip Tint

As far as I’m concerned, a “tinted moisturizer” is just another name for “sheer-coverage foundation.” This multi-tasking product offers light-to-medium coverage in a hydrating moisturizer with SPF 35 protection. It’s also non-comedogenic and gives a glowy finish.

Photography and Art Direction: Melissa San Vicente-Landestoy