Foundation alchemy: the secrets to finding your perfect shade & 2025’s top bestsellers
Your tone is your power
Foundation isn’t just makeup – it’s the base that holds your entire look together. It evens out skin tone, covers imperfections, and gives skin a polished, healthy appearance. In this article, we break down how to determine your undertone, achieve a natural finish, and which foundation products are leading the beauty game this year.
Skin undertone encyclopedia
Your skin's undertone is the subtle hue that shows through your main skin color and plays a key role in choosing the right foundation. Understanding your undertone helps you select the perfect shade that complements your complexion.
There are three main undertones:
- Warm – Skin has a golden or peachy glow, and veins on your wrist appear green
- Cool – Skin has pink or bluish undertones, and veins appear blue
- Neutral – A balanced mix of both warm and cool tones.
photo: instagram \ @diorbeauty
The “natural skin” effect
To get that flawless yet natural look and choose the best foundation, consider:
- Skin type – oily, dry, or combination
- Coverage level – light, medium, or full
- Finish – matte or satin
The secret to success is to moisturize skin about 10 minutes before applying makeup and use a primer to smooth skin texture and increase longevity. Apply foundation with a damp sponge in thin layers – this creates a "second skin" effect.
2025 beauty market favorites:
Estée Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturizing Foundation SPF 45 – a top-tier foundation, especially for dry and sensitive skin. Offers high sun protection, skincare ingredients, and intense hydration without flaking.
photo: instagram \ @esteelauder
Dior Forever Skin Glow / Matte
Glow is ideal for dry/normal skin, Matte is for oily/combination. A premium product beloved by makeup artists. It provides excellent skincare benefits, applies beautifully, wears well throughout the day, and is perfect for both everyday makeup and professional use.
photo: instagram \ @diorbeauty
Erborian BB Cream
A French-Korean hybrid that combines skincare and makeup. Loved for its light coverage, caring ingredients, and natural finish. Creates a smooth, "baby skin" look – perfect for everyday use.
photo: instagram \ @erborian
Maybelline Fit Me
An affordable and versatile foundation available in two formulas: Matte + Poreless for oily and combination skin, and Dewy + Smooth for dry and normal skin. It offers a natural-looking finish, layers well, and comes in a wide range of shades.
photo: instagram \ @maybelline
Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation
Ultra-light with high coverage, applied via dropper. Enriched with niacinamide to smooth texture and improve skin condition. Sets to a matte finish. A great dupe for Estée Lauder Double Wear – waterproof, sweatproof, and long-wearing for all skin types.
photo: instagram \ @catrice.cosmetics
The perfect foundation is the key to a flawless look – it creates the ideal canvas for the rest of your makeup: concealer, bronzer, blush, and highlighter. To ensure your skin not only has an even tone but also looks healthy and hydrated, choosing the right foundation is your most important ally!
