Cream foundations are the secret to smooth, beautiful skin. They are easy to blend in, come in a wide range of coverages from sheer to full, and offer a variety of skincare benefits. The lightweight consistency leaves skin feeling comfortable and looking natural, soft, and radiant. These creamy formulas are available in both compact and stick formats.
COVER FX Total Cover Cream Foundation
This antioxidant-rich, two-in-one cream foundation and concealer delivers medium-to-full coverage, antiaging benefits, and a radiant finish. The buildable, oil-free formula nourishes skin and provides all-day wear. For just under $45, COVER FX Total Cover Cream Foundation is great for all skin types (including sensitive) and comes in 10 pink-toned, 16 neutral, and 14 golden shades. It camouflages an array of skin imperfections including acne, under eye circles, uneven skin tones, vitiligo, and tattoos while protecting from wind, sun, and pollution.
Key Ingredients
- Avobenzone 3%, Octisalate 5%, and Octocrylene 8.5% for optimal sun protection
- Formulated without: parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs, and triclosan
Honest Beauty Everything Cream Foundation
This antioxidant-enriched formula is infused with ultra-nourishing ingredients for hydrated, healthy-looking skin. It improves the look of lines wrinkles while blending in evenly for a lustrous complexion. For around $30, Honest Beauty Everything Cream Foundation comes in eight beautiful shades and is formulated with adjustable coverage to strategically release color during application. Blend it in between your chin and neck to achieve a uniform finish.
Key Ingredients
- Chamomile, calendula, and vitamin E to condition skin
- Jojoba oil to hydrate and visibly improve fine lines and wrinkles
- Mineral pigments for even blending
Estée Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme
For medium coverage, a lifted appearance, more moisture, and a beautiful radiance, this creamy, anti-aging formula is for you. The lightweight, comfortable cream foundation transforms lackluster skin into a glowing, youthful-looking complexion while providing broad-spectrum SPF 15 protection from harmful UVA/UVB rays. For just under $45, Estée Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Crème Compact Makeup comes in four promising shades.
Key Ingredients
- ExtremeLift3 Complex to give skin a more lifted, firmer look
- Formulated without: fragrance
Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Sponge-On Cream Makeup
This innovative cream foundation is created to reflect light so that just the right amount bounces off skin's surface for a flawless look. It also improves the appearance of discolorations and fine lines for a luminous, even complexion. Available for just over $35 with 21 shade options, Elizabeth Arden's Flawless Finish Sponge-On Cream Makeup comes in a shiny, gold compact with a convenient sponge applicator.
Key Ingredients
- Micronized diamond powder to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and skin imperfections
- Soft focus microspheres to perfect the look of your skin
e.l.f. Studio Moisturizing Foundation Stick
This creamy foundation stick contains antioxidants and anti-aging ingredients to nourish skin for a soft, even-toned, and renewed appearance. The e.l.f. Studio Moisturizing Foundation Stick glides on smoothly, delivering natural-looking coverage you can adjust and build upon, and is perfect for on-the-go use. Available in eight skin-matching hues from Ivory to Coffee, you can snag this beauty must-have for under $10.
Key Ingredients
- Shea, vitamin E, cocoa butter, grape, avocado, macadamia, and aloe to nourish and hydrate the skin
Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick
This nude foundation features an innovative, sheer base combined with skin tone correcting pigments, which work their magic to create a natural look. The velvety, lightweight texture of the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick blends into skin easily, masking imperfections, delivering essential hydration, and reducing unwanted shine. For under $45, this portable stick comes in 24 shades to match every skin tone.
Key Ingredients
- Shea butter and olive extracts to nourish and moisturize
- Light diffusing powders and oil-controlling minerals to reduce shine
Who Should Use Cream Foundation
Cream foundations can be found for all skin types, but are especially beneficial for those with normal to dry skin because of the products' intense moisturizing properties. These formulas can often feel heavy and greasy on oily skin. Also great for mature skin types, the emollient-based formulas are perfect for filling in wrinkles and covering hyper-pigmentation. The thicker, more indulgent texture allows it to melt into skin and provide excellent coverage.
Portable stick cream foundations feature a silky, smooth texture that glides onto skin naturally while powder cream formulas have a velvety texture that is easily blended into skin with a sponge or brush. Both work to cover imperfections such as discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles, acne, dark under eye circles and puffiness, and more.
Find Your Perfect Product
It's not always easy to find the perfect foundation, so take advantage of the samples available at your local makeup counter to try a few out before purchasing one. The right shade and formula will disappear into your skin, making it appear as if you are wearing no makeup at all. Keep in mind that foundation is not supposed to mask your natural features, but rather enhance them so you feel like your most beautiful self.
