5 Moisturizer and Foundation Combinations That Will Save Your Skin This Winter

November 29, 2021

By: Ariel Wodarcyk | Makeup.com by L'Oréal

Prepping your skin with a moisturizer before foundation is key to achieving a smooth, even application. It can give your foundation a more natural, skin-like finish, smooth flakes on dry skin and, if you choose the right formula, help balance out oily and combination skin types. Below, find our favorite foundation and moisturizer combinations to keep your skin looking its best all day.

1 / 5

Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation + Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream

You can never go wrong with two cult-favorite beauty products. The foundation offers radiant, medium-buildable coverage that practically melts into the skin for an airbrushed finish. Pair it with this squalane-enhanced cream for up to 24 hours of hydration.

2 / 5

YSL Beauty Nu Bare Look Tint + Garnier Green Labs Hyalu-Aloe Hydrating Serum Gel

If skin tints are more your speed, try this new formula from YSL Beauty. The light-to-medium coverage liquid contains glycerin and hyaluronic acid to help with moisture retention on its own, meaning you can get away with pairing it with a lightweight moisturizer. We love this gel from Garnier because it can stand in for your moisturizer, serum and eye cream in just one step.

3 / 5

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Oil-Free Matte with SPF 40 + Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Acne Control Daily Moisturizer

Too-dry conditions can actually increase sebum production, which is why oily skin types need to use moisturizer just as much as their dry-skinned counterparts. We love this salicylic acid-infused option for its gentle exfoliating and acne-fighting properties. Combined with a full-coverage, longwear CC cream, your base will stay on through the entire day.

4 / 5

Valentino Beauty Very Valentino 24 Hour Wear Liquid Foundation + La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

This foundation has a velvety, semi-matte finish that lasts for up to 24 hours. It’s also transfer-resistant, which is key for a long-lasting base. We like to wear it with a slightly thicker moisturizer to keep skin soft and hydrated underneath.

5 / 5

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Fresh Wear 24HR Foundation + Then I Met You Calming Tide Gel Cream

There is such a thing as a breathable, luminous foundation that stays put all day. This drugstore gem contains three oil absorbers to resist sweat, transfer and water, all while protecting the skin with SPF 25. Try it with this lightweight gel-cream that helps calm and repair the skin’s moisture barrier with ceramides and niacinamide.

Photographer: Chaunte Vaughn