If your face is feeling bumpy, dull, or looks hyperpigmented, you probably have textured skin. There’s no magical solution to achieve flawless skin, but you can improve your condition. When it comes to foundations, you want to look for one that will smoothen out any uneven texture and make your face appear less bumpy.
These are our top 5 best foundations for textured skin on the market right now.
Best Foundations for Textured Skin: Our Top 5 Picks
In a hurry? A foundation can help conceal texture and hyperpigmentation, but also includes ingredients that actually help with this facial condition in the long run. These are our favorite high-performing products at the moment:
1. Best Overall: No products found.
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- Lightweight.
- Full-coverage of blemishes and dark spots.
- Water-resistant.
- Easy to blend.
- Smoothes skin.
This is a lightweight foundation that provides full coverage according to L’Oreal. This means that it won’t feel heavy on your face or cakey, but it’ll still help even out textured skin.
Customers agree that it feels weightless when applied and that it covers blemishes really well. You only need to apply one layer to get full coverage, whether you have dark circles, bumps, acne, or hyperpigmentation.
According to the manufacturer, the Infallible foundation leaves a normal finish that’s not matte nor radiant, but somewhere in between. Buyers tend to agree. The foundation is water-resistant and has a mousse consistency. It’s easy to blend according to reviews.
L’Oreal advertises this product as lasting for up to 24 hours and while some users testify to this, others feel like this is slightly exaggerated.
This foundation comes in 12 different shades. If you have very dark skin, the darkest shade in this line is probably too light for your skin tone. The No products found. has more shades available.
Ingredients include a non-comedogenic silicone compound called dimethicone, which helps make your face smooth. Moisturizing glycerin is also in the product. Another component is salicylic acid which is great at reducing acne.
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2. Best Matte: No products found.
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- Mattifying finish.
- Comes in 37 shades.
- Oil-free.
- Hides pores.
- Long-lasting.
If you have oily skin and are looking for a matte foundation, this is a superb alternative. This product is oil-free so it won’t clog your pores, and the formula contains a mattifying clay to help reduce shine.
The Fit Me is available in a whopping 37 different shades. This makes it great for matching your skin tone, whether it’s light, dark, or a shade that’s in-between.
Maybelline labels the Fit Me as providing medium coverage. Some users think that it doesn’t cover blemishes and redness fully. But the coverage is buildable, meaning that you can apply more layers to conceal rough or uneven patches.
Customers also feel like this foundation doesn’t slide throughout the day and you don’t have to reapply it either. But at the same time, it’s not too heavy and feels rather lightweight.
Buyers report that it hides pores and makes your face appear smoother.
Ingredients include the silicone-based dimethicone which does help smoothen out the skin. Note that Fit Me also contains methylparaben and butylparaben. Some research has linked these to cancer, but it’s still unclear how they actually affect the human body.
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3. Best Budget Choice: No products found.
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- Cheap.
- Matte finish.
- 43 different shades.
- SPF 15.
- Oil-free formula doesn’t clog pores.
This liquid foundation is an affordable alternative to some of the more expensive options available.
It’s specifically designed for oily or combination skin and has a matte finish that suits people with acne problems. Revlon states that it provides medium coverage if applied once and full coverage if you layer it. Users back this up as well.
Customers praise the oil-free formula that doesn’t make them break out and many state that their face keeps a matte appearance throughout the day.
ColorStay comes in 43 different shades ranging from light to dark. There are also specific shades for cool, neutral, and warm undertones.
On the ingredient list, we find titanium dioxide, which gives this product that SPF 15 quality to protect you from sun damage. Other components include dimethicone, to help smooth the skin and alpha bisabolol. The latter functions as an anti inflammatory to help reduce redness and acne.
You should also know that there’s retinyl palmitate, a vitamin A substance, in this product. There’s some research linking this ingredient to skin cancer but the topic needs more research.
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4. Best Powder: No products found.
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- Doesn’t cake.
- Full coverage.
- Doesn’t clog pores.
- Lightweight.
Powder foundations can also offer that full coverage effect that someone with textured skin needs. Laura Geller advertises their product as being breathable and protective at the same time.
Customers agree that the Double Take foundation has a lightweight nature and doesn’t feel cakey on the skin. They also praise the full coverage this product gives. Buyers describe being able to cover their acne scars and hyperpigmentation spots. The foundation also contains the smoothing dimethicone and acne-fighting ingredients such as jojoba oil.
According to Laura Geller, the foundation is matte when applied dry, but when you add water to your sponge you get a more luminous result.
The product has a matte finish due to the moisture-absorbing talc ingredient and users report that it doesn’t clog their pores. But do note that talc can contain asbestos which can cause lung cancer if you’re exposed to it for decades. Not all talc powder contains this chemical, however.
Some users feel like the colors of this foundation are either lighter or darker than they expected when ordering them, so there might be some trial and error to find your right fit.
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5. Best Acne-Fighting: No products found.
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- Helps prevent and treat acne.
- SPF 25.
- Vegan and cruelty-free.
- Full coverage.
- Reduces redness.
For a rather affordable price, you get this foundation that E.l.f advertises as being lightweight, full coverage, and perfect for fighting blemishes. The formula is 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free.
The texture of this product is thick and cream-like. But some users find that it feels rather heavy on the skin and isn’t the most natural-looking, so it’s not considered a lightweight option.
With ingredients such as salicylic acid, witch hazel, and tea tree oil, the product is great at preventing and treating acne. Users agree with this.
This E.l.f foundation calms redness too. One ingredient that helps here is aloe vera extract, which has renowned hydrating and calming properties. There’s also dimethicone and glycerin, for smoothing over and moisturizing your skin.
When it comes to sunscreen, this product has SPF 25, which is enough to protect you from sun damage. This is due to the titanium dioxide, and research shows it’s safe to use.
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Foundation for Textured Skin: Buyer’s Guide
What Does Textured Skin Look Like?
Textured skin doesn’t have a straightforward definition but some common features include:
- Feels rough and bumpy to the touch.
- Acne.
- Hyperpigmentation or uneven skin tone.
- Face feels dull.
Textured skin is usually caused by a build-up of dead skin cells. Reasons for this include harsh climate, aging, acne, dryness, or an improper skin care routine, such as not cleansing or moisturizing your face regularly.
Pro tip: Before using a foundation, make sure you cleanse your face properly with a non-comedogenic product such as CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser. Then use a serum with a smoothing effect. I’d recommend the No products found.. Finally, apply a lightweight moisturizer to round out your routine.
What To Look for in a Foundation for Textured Skin
If there was a product that instantly evened out skin appearance, we would all use it. This is not the case, unfortunately, but foundations that have the following features, consistency, and ingredients can help you come a long way.
Features
Your main goal with a foundation is to even out texture and your skin tone. Look for features such as smoothing, blemish or imperfection covering, and reducing redness or hyperpigmentation.
A good foundation for your skin type will prevent dryness, help you avoid breakouts, control oil, and give you a glow. Sun damage can also cause textured skin, so look for sunscreen features in your product.
Furthermore, make sure that it matches your skin color. If you’re very light or dark it can sometimes be difficult to find a shade that’s suitable. If this is a problem for you, check out No products found. that offers many different shades.
Consistency
A foundation with full coverage will help make your skin tone and texture more even. You’ll need a thick consistency to maximize this effect.
Look for liquid foundations since you can build several layers with these to conceal impurities. Most products on this review list have this texture. A mousse consistency can also provide a lot of cover, such as the No products found..
Liquid textures can be drying on the face for some people, so if you suffer from dryness, look for powders such as the No products found..
Ingredients
Since people with a textured facial condition usually have a build-up of dead skin, look for ingredients with exfoliating or pore cleansing properties such as:
- Clay: Prevents acne-causing bacteria from growing and absorbs excess oil.
- Salicylic acid: Decreases acne by exfoliating dead skin and cleaning the pores. It’s an ingredient in No products found..
- Witch hazel: Dries out blemishes and is an anti-inflammatory product.
- Jojoba oil: Acne-fighting and makes glands produce less oil.
Also, search for ingredients that make your skin feel and appear smooth including:
- Dimethicone: A silicone product that smooths out bumps. All the foundations on this list include it.
- Aloe vera: Is anti-inflammatory and helps minimize patchiness and redness.
- Tea tree oil: Has soothing and healing properties and combats oily skin. You can find this in the No products found..
- Glycerin: A common moisturizing ingredient.
Products that are capable of working as a sunscreen, like those that use titanium dioxide, are also beneficial. This will help with avoiding further damage to the skin.
What To Avoid
Lightweight formulas such as BB or CC creams won’t be as successful as the foundations we’ve included, as they don’t offer full coverage.
Furthermore, if you struggle with oily or acne-prone skin, avoid oil-based foundations. They tend to clog your pores. No products found. is advertised as being oil-free.
Non-comedogenic oils are okay, however. These include those derived from hemp seed, sunflower seed, and grapeseed, among others.
Parabens are best to avoid no matter your skin type. They’re classified as preservatives used in a variety of cosmetics. Some research shows that they might be a possible cause of breast cancer, however, it’s not conclusive at this time.
Final Verdict
A foundation for textured skin should have a thick consistency, provide a lot of coverage, control oil, and prevent dryness.
The top pick goes to the No products found.. It offers full coverage of blemishes and discoloration, without feeling heavy on the skin. This product includes salicylic acid that prevents clogged pores and acne and it contains moisturizing ingredients as well. It’s also rather affordable.
If you have oily textured skin, I’d recommend the No products found.for its mattifying effect. If you struggle with a dry face, the No products found. is a good alternative.