Our 10 Favorite Moisturizers to Wear Under Makeup
July 28, 2022
Foundations, powders, highlighters and blushes can all help achieve flawless-looking skin, but without a good base underneath your makeup, even the best products won’t look perfect. The real secret to getting makeup to go on smoothly and look seamless is to properly moisturize your skin beforehand. A lightweight moisturizer can help refine skin’s texture, hydrate and even mattify, depending on the formula you choose. Here, we’re rounding up our favorite pre-makeup moisturizers that fit the bill.
Lancôme Hydra Zen Anti-Stress Moisturizing Face Cream
Perfect for dry skin, this hydrating formula works for 24 hours to make your complexion softer, smoother and glowier. It will leave your skin plumped, fresh and bright — aka, ready for makeup.
Vichy Aqualia Thermal Mineral Water Gel
With mineralizing thermal water, the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Mineral Gel locks in moisture. The ultra-light moisturizer, with its unique hydration technology, feels refreshing and doesn’t leave behind a greasy or sticky residue.
SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Repair Moisturizer
Formulated with ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids for the ultimate anti-aging benefits, this moisturizer is perfect for those who need extra hydration before applying makeup. It also transforms dry, dull skin and improves rough texture, radiance and the appearance of large pores.
Garnier SkinActive Water Rose 24H Moisture Cream
You’ll become addicted to this moisturizer’s silky, lightweight finish. It’s perfect for all skin types and will leave your skin feeling soft, supple and ready for foundation, concealer and more.
IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Gel Moisturizer
This oil-free gel moisturizer delivers up to 72 hours of hydration with its water-like liquid formula. Infused with skin-loving ingredients like ceramides, glycerin and cactus flower extract, it helps smooth your complexion for easy makeup application.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat
Oily skin and makeup don’t always play well together, so layering a mattifying moisturizer under your foundation can make a major difference. Formulated with exfoliating lipo-hydroxy acid, absorbing powders and antioxidant-rich vitamins C and E, Effaclar Mat targets excess oil to help control excess sebum production and refine the appearance of large pores.
L’Oréal Age Perfect Rosy Tone Moisturizer with SPF
For a color-correcting finish, apply the Rosy Tone Age Perfect SPF 30 Moisturizer by L’Oréal Paris. Not only does this moisturizer even out your skin tone, but it also contains sunscreen for protection against UV rays.
Glowoasis Glowburst Intense Hydration Boosting Cream
For a lightweight cream that keeps your skin hydrated all day under your makeup, reach for this jar by Glowburst. Formulated with nutrient-rich, vegan ingredients, this cream leaves behind a dewy, glowy complexion that feels revitalized through the day.
SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment
While your makeup is doing the work on the surface of your skin, the SkinCeuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment does the deeper work underneath. This ultra lightweight, oil-free moisturizer works to clear blemishes, hydrate the skin and improve balanced tones and pigmentation.
INNBeauty Project Next Level No BS Moisturizer
Before applying foundation, add a layer of this glowy moisturizer for a little extra hydration and a dewy finish. It has a gel-cream texture that absorbs into the skin like lightning and serves as the perfect base for makeup.
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