Finding the right foundation match for combination skin can seem as complicated as advanced algebra. This mercurial skin type has a knack for shape-shifting throughout the day from dry patches to oil slicks faster than you can blend your base makeup.
But fret not! With so many advanced foundation formulations in the market these days catering to the unique needs of combination skin, you are sure to find your perfect match.
The key is to use products that provide oil control without emphasizing dry areas. Hydrating lightweight serum textures, powder finishes and hybrid formulas that deliver skincare benefits while evening out skin tone work best.
In this round-up, we review 15 foundations specially created for combination skin types. We break down the pros, cons and suitability of each formula for this skin type. Read on and get ready to clear that complexion algebra once and for all!
Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation offers a natural matte finish that lasts up to 24 hours. The oil-free, lightweight formula blends smoothly and provides medium to full buildable coverage with a soft matte finish.
This foundation glides evenly onto skin and keeps oiliness at bay all day without drying out the drier areas. The warm golden shade works well for medium to tan Indian skin tones. A little goes a long way, so one bottle should last a while. For combination skin, Revlon Colorstay is a solid drugstore choice.
This 2-in-1 foundation from Lakme hydrates while providing a smooth, poreless matte finish. The built-in primer preps skin while the full coverage pigments last for up to 9 hours. The cool ivory shade suits fair to medium Indian complexions.
This Lakme foundation truly does double duty. The primer smooths while the foundation evens out skin tone with a seamless matte finish. It covers imperfections beautifully without accentuating dryness or getting shiny. For fair to medium combination skin, it deserves a spot in the makeup bag.
Staze 9to9 foundation blurs pores while allowing skin’s natural glow to shine through. The sweatproof HD formula provides buildable medium coverage with a poreless matte finish. Vitamin E and sunflower seed oil nourish without causing greasiness.
This foundation lets combination skin have the best of both worlds – matte yet slightly luminous. The poreless finish keeps oil at bay while dry spots retain hydration. True to its claims, it lasts all day without fading, caking or transferring, making it a great choice for combination skin beauties.
The Colors Queen Oil Control Base Foundation serves as a hardworking 3-in-1 primer, concealer and foundation. The oil controlling formula gives sheer to medium buildable coverage with a soft dewy finish. Natural almond shade suits medium Indian skin tones.
This is an affordable drugstore option perfect for low maintenance days. It evens, brightens and smooths skin with a fresh, subtle radiance while keeping excess oil away. The water resistant formula also makes it ideal for humid Indian weather.
The Just Herbs Serum Foundation offers the glow of a serum with the coverage of a foundation. Enriched with skin loving botanical oils and extracts, this formula hydrates while providing full opaque coverage that lasts up to 8 hours.
If your combination skin veers more dry, this serum foundation nourishes beautifully. It keeps the T-zone shine-free while loading up the cheeks with lush hydration and dewiness. The botanical ingredients also have anti-inflammatory benefits to soothe and balance combination skin.
This creamy matte foundation from Daily Life Forever52 delivers medium to full coverage that smoothes the appearance of pores, fine lines and imperfections. The transfer-resistant formula contains shea butter for comfortable all day wear. Honey beige shade flatters light to medium warm skin tones.
This foundation cream feels lush and hydrating despite the matte finish. A little product goes a long way in evening skin tone while minimizing shine and pores. The stick formulation is great for targeted touch-ups throughout the day. Overall an excellent drugstore option for combination skin.
Biotique Bio Magicare foundation contains the nourishing goodness of seaweed, honey and aloe vera. This natural formula provides sheer to medium buildable coverage and an enviable natural radiant finish that mimics healthy skin. Seashell shade suits very fair complexions.
For those looking to embrace their combination skin with a fuss-free approach, this foundation lets your natural beauty shine through. It evens skin subtly while adding a dose of nourishing botanicals. Dry areas appear dewy and plump while oiliness remains under control.
This lightweight foundation from Faces Canada claims to provide 16 hours of comfortable matte coverage. Enriched with nourishing botanical oils and antioxidants, the formula glides smoothly onto skin providing natural looking, buildable coverage that lasts sans touch-ups.
While many matte foundations can cling to dry patches, this formula plays well with combination skin. It keeps oil and acne causing impurities away without emphasizing flaky areas. The skin-loving botanical ingredients also work to improve skin over time.
Another winning drugstore option, this Revlon Colorstay foundation is specially made for combination and oily skin types. The lightweight oil-free formula delivers buildable medium coverage with a soft matte finish that holds up beautifully throughout heat and humidity without getting overly shiny.
This Colorstay foundation is a long time favorite for dealing with combination skin woes. It leaves normal to oily parts of the face shine-free while blending seamlessly into drier areas without catching onto flakes or dryness. The golden caramel shade also works well for medium to deeper Indian skin tones.
Mamaearth Glow Serum foundation combines the glow of a serum with the coverage of a mousse-based foundation. Turmeric, onion bulb extract and vitamin C impart a natural radiance while providing hydration. This formula claims to last 12 hours without fading or transferring.
This is an ideal everyday foundation for combination skin that needs both nourishment and longevity in equal measure. It provides enough coverage, glow and staying power to take on a long day with ease. The miniature size is also great for trying out or carrying in your handbag for quick touchups when out and about.
Iba Cosmetics offers a clean, vegan and cruelty free liquid foundation powered by the goodness of aloe vera and vitamin E. This formula claims to provide full coverage that lasts over 8 hours without fading or settling into fine lines. It has an oil-free, serum-like texture that imparts a dewy luminous finish.
For those with ethical beauty standards, this foundation formula ticks all the right boxes. The ingredient list is clean, vegan and skips all the nasty stuff. As an added bonus, it wears beautifully on combination skin. The oil-free serum texture controls shine in oily zones without leaving dry areas parched and flat.
This playful foundation from SUGAR Cosmetics claims to deliver 10 hours of fade and transfer-proof full coverage perkiness! The ultra lightweight formula is enriched with vitamin E and botanical extracts to nourish skin while providing a smooth texture and enviable matte yet photo-ready finish.
This foundation means business when it comes to dealing with combination skin woes in humid weather. It stays locked into place come rain or shine without budging. Bonus – the fun millennial pink packaging looks cute peeking out of your handbag!
Lakme Perfecting Foundation contains pearl dust and optic brighteners that impart a gorgeous luminous finish. This dermatologically tested, non comedogenic formula blends smoothly onto skin providing medium coverage that stays put for up to 9 hours.
While targeted more for normal and dry skin beauties, combination skin gals can also use this in moderation during cooler winter months or on special occasions when you want to fake a enviable lit-from-within glow. Use a matte primer on the T-zone and apply the foundation lightly only on the cheeks and you’re good to dazzle!
This iconic French pharmacy foundation formula uses breakthrough colour match technology to precisely match your skin’s undertones. The ultra blendable medium coverage base blends seamlessly onto skin providing a naturally bright opaque finish that flatters combination skin beautifully.
You can always count on L’oreal Paris to offer reliable makeup formulated specially for combination skin goddesses on a budget. This one keeps it looking like naturally flawless in photographs while feeling weightless and comfortable IRL.
This foundation stick from Faces Canada offers full coverage that feels light as air on skin. The easy glide creamy formula contains primer-like silicone for a flawless smooth base that controls oil and shine. Ideal for combination skin touchups on the go.
When your combination skin throws a tantrum mid-day, this foundation stick swoops in for the quick fix. Easy to blend and apply, it mattifies oily areas without accentuating flakes and dryness on the cheeks. The convenient retractable packaging also makes touch ups fuss-free.
Foundation | Key Features | Finish |
---|---|---|
REVLON Colorstay | – Matte shine-free – Lightweight oil-free – Full coverage | Matte |
Lakme 9 to 5 | – Built-in primer – Full coverage – Hydrating | Matte |
Staze 9to9 | – Pore minimizing – Sweatproof – Nourishing | Matte, glowing |
Colors Queen | – 3-in-1 base – Oil controlling – Water resistant | Dewy |
Just Herbs Serum | – Serum-infused – Full coverage – Dewy finish | Dewy |
Daily Life Forever52 | – Creamy matte – Full coverage – Transfer-resistant | Matte |
Biotique Bio Magicare | – Natural formula – Lightweight – Radiant finish | Natural finish |
Faces Canada | – Ultra lightweight – Smooth matte – Blur pores and lines | Matte |
Revlon Colorstay | – Oil-free – Soft matte – Sweat resistant | Soft matte |
Mamaearth Glow Serum | – Serum meets mousse – Radiant finish – Hydrating | Radiant |
Iba Pure Skin | – Oil-free – Dewy luminous – 8+ hour wear | Dewy |
SUGAR Cosmetics | – Full coverage matte – 10 hours lasting – Smudge proof | Matte |
Lakme Perfecting | – Luminous dewy – Medium coverage – Oil controlling | Dewy |
L’Oreal Paris True Match | – Ultra blendable opaque coverage – Medium buildable coverage – Skin nourishing | Natural bright |
Faces Canada Finity Stick | – Full coverage creamy – Controls excess oil – Blurs pores and lines | Matte |
With combination complexions, striking the right balance between controlling oil and preventing dryness is key. Here are some useful tips for picking the best foundation formulation and finish:
Mind the formula – Gel creams, serum and mousse formulas work better than thick heavy options. Pick oil-free options for oily zones.
Get the undertone right – Match your foundation’s undertone to your skin to prevent greyness or mask-like appearance.
Try Matte or Demi Matte – These finishes control shine the best on the T-zone while blending seamlessly into drier areas.
Use sparingly – Sheer application allows skin to shine through without settling into lines or dry patches
Prep Properly – Use a hydrating primer on dry areas and mattifying primer on the T-zone.
1. Liquid: Lightweight, buildable coverage, various finishes available
2. Stick: Convenient for targeted touch-ups, can provide high coverage
3. Powder: Controls oil and provides a matte base layer, avoids dryness when used lightly
4. Tinted Moisturizer/BB Cream/CC Cream: Impart sheer coverage with skincare benefits
5. Compact/Pressed: Creamy powder formula, medium coverage, easy for quick touch ups
6. Cushion: Light, dewy coverage dispensed via sponge applicator, great for beginners
Q. How much foundation should you apply?
A. Less is often more with combination skin. Sheer to light application allows natural skin to peek through. Heavy foundation can lead to breakouts, greasiness and settled makeup in dry areas.
Q. How to make foundation last longer?
A. Prep skin properly – exfoliate and moisturize before foundation application. Use targeted primers for oily and dry zones. Set makeup with powder focusing only on the T-zone. Use setting spray all over face.
Q. How to revive foundation touchups?
A. Carry foundation stick, compact or BB cream for midday touchups. Use blotting paper on oily areas before reapplying foundation lightly only where needed. Avoid adding layers all over the face.
A. There are several good foundations specifically made for combination skin type. Some top options include:
These provide a balance of controlling oil while avoiding dryness on combination skin. Lightweight oil-free formulas with buildable coverage in matte or serum textures work very well.
A. The best type of foundation formulations for combination skin are:
Formulas that balance shine control with hydration are ideal for combination skin.
A. Matte and demi-matte finishes work best for combination skin as they control shine in oily zones while blending seamlessly into drier areas when applied lightly and adequately hydrated skin.
A. Use a hydrating primer like silicone-free gel formulas only on the dry areas before makeup. In the T-zone use a mattifying primer containing silicone, charcoal or clay. Apply foundation evenly first then conceal only blemishes to avoid layering products unnecessarily.
A. Liquid foundations even out skin tone lightly without layering on a lot of product. But powder sets makeup nicely to control oil while avoiding cakiness when used sparingly. Use liquid foundation first then dust a sheer layer of powder only on the T-zone as the last step.
A. Yes, it’s crucial to prep and prime skin properly first. Apply a lightweight gel moisturizer all over then lock it in with hydrating primer on dry areas. Let it absorb fully before foundation application otherwise it can slip and slide off oily parts.
Finding the right foundation for combination skin demands a little trial and error to get the balance just right. Still, with so many formulas specially designed with this skin type in mind, rest assured you will find your perfect match.
Remember to prep properly by treating both oily and dry zones with targeted skincare and primers before foundation application. Then apply your base makeup lightly, focusing on evening out skin tone with sheer to medium coverage rather than heavy cakey concealers.
Powder lightly only on the T-zone to set makeup without emphasizing dry cheek patches. And don’t neglect maintenance – exfoliate regularly, use blotting papers for oil control and carry a compact for quick touch ups whenever your skin throws a tantrum.
While a bit high maintenance, combination complexions have the ability to achieve gorgeously clear and balanced skin with the right approach. We hope this roundup of the 15 best foundations for combination skin in India helps you put your best face forward on any given day!
Product prices and availability are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on merchant's site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of these products. HappyCredit is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As part of this program, we may earn commission from qualifying purchases made through the affiliate links provided on this website. We only promote products on Amazon that we genuinely believe are of high quality and value to our audience. The inclusion of affiliate links does not influence our editorial content or product recommendations. Our primary goal is to provide useful information and help you make informed purchasing decisions.
Certain portions of the text in this article might have been created using AI tools and subsequently edited by the author to improve the overall quality and clarity of the content for readers.