The 12 Best Light Coverage Foundations of 2024

This award-winning lightweight foundation is an industry favorite. Its oil-free formulation works with all skin types and offers buildable light to medium coverage that blurs the skin’s imperfections. Though it’s billed as having a luminous finish, it doesn’t read as shiny, but if you’re seeking a more radiant glow, you can apply it with a damp sponge for a dewier effect. 

With 40 available shades, it can work well with a large spectrum of skin tones, making this one of the easiest foundations to match on this list. And though you get more value with the standard 1-ounce size, there’s a 0.6-ounce option that’s perfect for travel or if you don’t tend to go through a full-size bottle quickly enough.

Finish: Natural | Shade Range: 40 shades | SPF: None | Size: 1 ounce

This wallet-friendly foundation by L’Oreal is a surprisingly great find that works across all skin types. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, it provides hydration where it’s needed while also smoothing the complexion. It comes in 14 shades that blend easily to match various skin tones and contains mineral pigments for subtle radiance. While we wish this came in a pump instead of a dropper, it is still easy to apply, even with just the fingertips, leaving you with a “your-skin-but-better” finish.

Finish: Radiant | Shade Range: 14 shades | SPF: None | Size: 1 ounce

If you love high-end skincare, the Phyto Teint Nude foundation from French luxury beauty brand Sisley should be on your radar. This oil-free formulation includes a cocktail of hydrating ingredients (hyaluronic acid, konjac, aquatic mint extract) plus radiance-boosting kiwi and acerola to improve skin texture and tone. The lightweight formula blurs skin and leaves the complexion looking natural while feeling like you don’t have anything on your face at all. 

While the shade range could use some expansion, the existing 16 shades cover a variety of hues with cool, neutral, and warm undertones and the foundation is sheer enough to get away with a slightly less-than-exact match.    

Finish: Satin | Shade Range: 16 shades | SPF: None | Size: 1 ounce

Though this foundation is labeled for all skin types, dry skin can benefit the most from this lightweight tint from YSL—it contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help with moisture and hydration for up to 24 hours. When applied with the fingertips or a damp sponge, it offers a sheer veil of cover that while ever so gently blurring uneven texture and tone. You can also build coverage as desired by using a brush and adding more product. Super easy to apply and comfortable to wear, it leaves you with a healthy glow that lasts for hours.  

Finish: Radiant | Shade Range: 18 shades | SPF: None | Size: 1 ounce

This clean beauty favorite from Ilia offers a touch more coverage than a skin tint but still has a lightweight texture that is very friendly to oily skin. Its formulation includes niacinamide, which can help balance oil production and improve uneven skin tone. Though it goes on light, it can be built up to a more medium coverage by using a brush or BeautyBlender sponge. For best results, be sure to prep the skin well before applying—it will leave you with a natural, skin-like finish that nails the no-makeup makeup look.

Finish: Natural | Shade Range: 30 shades | SPF: None | Size: 1 ounce

The gel formulation of this tinted cream from Kosas gives it a smooth texture, though it may take a little extra blending with the fingers for an even application (don’t panic if it comes out of the pump a little splotchy). This foundation incorporates serum-like skincare technology to help smooth, hydrate, and support the skin barrier, zinc to ease redness and soothe skin, and copper peptides to support collagen—great for targeting signs of aging. Available in 24 easy-to-match shades, it leaves a natural finish and is said to improve the appearance of bare skin over time.

Finish: Natural | Shade Range: 24 shades | SPF: None | Size: 1 ounce

There aren’t many foundations that can compete with the diversity of the 50 available shades in Haus Labs’ Triclone Skin Tech Foundation. While this admittedly leans on the heavier end of what we consider a light coverage foundation, it still offers a weightless finish that can look more sheer depending on how it’s applied. A blend of over 20 skincare ingredients makes this part foundation, part serum; most notably, the inclusion of fermented arnica helps with redness and irritation. The skincare element is a double-edged sword, though, as it may not work with all skin types so be sure to test this out first if you have sensitive skin.

Finish: Natural | Shade Range: 50 shades | SPF: None | Size: 1 ounce

For a radiant complexion, we can’t get enough of this luxurious Chanel foundation, which gives a naturally dewy—not shiny—finish that lasts all day. “Maybe you can’t afford a Chanel bag, but the glow the liquid in this bottle exudes will make you feel almost as rich,” says Real Simple beauty director Heather Muir Maffei. “One to two pumps buffed all over the skin instantly cover redness, dark spots, and zits while still letting your skin show through so it doesn’t look like you’re wearing a mask or trying too hard.” 

With an impressive 42-shade range, there’s almost certainly a color match for everyone. The formulation is hydrating and also offers antioxidant protection against pollution, free radicals, and blue light. While Maffei calls this a summer staple, you can use this any time of year to achieve a healthy glow.

Finish: Radiant | Shade Range: 42 shades | SPF: None | Size: 1 ounce

While many light coverage foundations capitalize on the desire for a radiant and dewy finish, this formula from Guerlain goes from liquid to a velvety matte finish as it dries down. With 30 available shades, it’s easy to match; the formula’s self-adapting shimmer also helps the foundation blend seamlessly with all skin tones. The inclusion of argan oil aids in maintaining the skin’s moisture barrier throughout the day, though if you have a nut allergy, you may want to skip this one. That said, if you prefer a matte finish where foundation is concerned, this is a solid choice.

Finish: Matte | Shade Range: 30 shades | SPF: None | Size: 1.2 ounces

This foundation from NARS is infused with skincare ingredients that work well with acne-prone skin. Turmeric extract helps improve skin radiance and even skin tone, vitamin C aids in brightening, glycerine encourages hydration, and powerful antioxidants work to protect skin against damaging free radicals. Lightweight and easy to apply, this sheer formula leaves the complexion with a natural glow, though you can also build to a heavier coverage if needed. Available in 40 shades, it works with a very wide range of skin tones and types. 

Finish: Natural | Shade Range: 40 shades | SPF: None | Size: 1 ounce

It’s not your typical powder foundation, but this creamy beauty balm from Danessa Myricks sets to a velvety, mattified finish that feels like a powder. The secret ingredient here is Upsalite, a Swedish technology that helps absorb sweat and balance oil throughout the day. It’s easily applied with the fingertips and can be retouched on the go, making it a great choice for your gym or weekender bag. 

Though we wish there were a few more shades, there are currently 14 color options, including a colorless version that can be used on its own or as a primer. As with many matte finish foundations, this tends to be on the drying side, but if you have normal, oily, or combination skin, this might be an excellent option for you.  

Finish: Matte | Shade Range: 14 shades | SPF: None | Size: 0.63 ounce

If you tend to forget about layering sunscreen under your makeup, this foundation by Estee Lauder includes SPF 20 (though you technically should also still wear a face sunscreen). This formula contains skincare ingredients that help to smooth, even, and moisturize skin for up to eight hours of wear. The thin texture of this foundation feels more like a serum, but it provides a natural, radiant finish to the skin and is resistant to sweat and humidity. Available in 29 shades, it’s said to improve skin tone and texture over time while also effortlessly providing a layer of protection from harmful UV rays.  

Finish: Radiant | Shade Range: 29 shades | SPF: 20 | Size: 1 ounce