The best serum foundations prove that flawless skin doesn’t require a heavy hand; these skin-care-infused formulas blur, perfect, and hydrate while delivering lightweight coverage that looks effortlessly natural. While the premise sounds simple enough, as a beauty writer, I’m frequently expounding their benefits: A serum foundation can do what a skin tint and tinted moisturizer can—and more.
“A formula is only truly a serum foundation if it is doing more than just feeling lightweight. It has to be built like skin care too,” Hourglass Cosmetics and Outside—In founder Carisa Janes details. “That means it should have that fluid, weightless, serum-like texture, but it also needs to include skin care ingredients at functional levels, not just a ‘marketing sprinkle.’ If the skin-care ingredients are not used in amounts that actually make a difference, it’s not truly efficacious—it’s just a foundation with a nice story.”
Vogue’s Favorite Serum Foundations
L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum Foundation
Read more
Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops
Read more
Victoria Beckham Beauty The Foundation Drops
Read more
Ciele Tint & Protect Serum foundation with SPF 50+
Jump to review
Saie Glowy Super Skin
Read more
Chanel Sublimage L’essence de Teint
Read more
Ilia True Skin Serum Foundation
Read more
Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Serum Foundation
Jump to review
This thinking was the inspiration behind one of Janes’s latest debuts—a featherweight complexion savior that suspends weightless spherical powders within a liquid serum base, while sinking almost instantly into skin. These two characteristics, pro makeup artist Lauren D’Amelio Ventre adds, are central to the serum foundation equation. “It spreads like a serum and dries down for a skin-like finish rather than sitting on top like traditional foundation,” D’Amelio Ventre says.
By delivering a lightweight finish and natural radiance, celebrity makeup artist and Chanel ambassador Tasha Reiko Brown notes that serum-based foundations align perfectly with today’s skin-first beauty trend because they are “an easy way to achieve hyper-real skin while the serum part of the foundation helps support long-term skin-care benefits.” When applied correctly, these formulas deliver an exceptionally realistic complexion. “When you achieve a flawless base, the other aspects of your makeup take center stage and are free to draw focus,” she explains.
With that in mind, our 10 favorite serum foundations—from heritage labels like Chanel to clean beauty cult-favorites and indie newcomers like Outside—In—for that your skin-but-better look, backed by the pros and Vogue beauty editors.
In This Story
Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum Foundation
- Why We Love It: A drugstore take on a skin-care-makeup hybrid, this tinted serum is formulated with 1% hyaluronic acid to deeply moisturize the skin. Meanwhile, mineral pigments reflect light, blurring imperfections and providing semi-sheer coverage. “This provides a beautiful glowy finish with buildable to light coverage,” pro makeup artist Kelly Howard previously told Vogue, describing L’Oréal’s tinted serum as both a win and a steal. “It’s a triple threat, providing serum-like benefits, sun protection for the face, and complexion coverage in one price.”
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, isododecane dimethicone, magnesium sulfate, tocopherol, moroccan lava clay, glycerin
- Shades: 14
- Finish: Natural
- Coverage: Light to medium
- Fragrance Free: Yes
- Size: 1 fl oz.
