Since foundation is the base for your entire makeup look, this is one area of your makeup routine that you want to get right. High-end luxury foundations may perform well but can get quite expensive. Luckily, the drugstore offers some fantastic alternatives, or foundation dupes, to high-end foundation favorites.
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The following list of foundation dupes may not be exact replacements for high-end foundations, and some of their formulas might even be quite different.
But the end look and wear of the drugstore makeup products will give you a strikingly similar appearance to these luxury foundation stand-outs.
One thing for sure is there is a noticeable price difference, as some of the dupes cost less than 1/4 of the high-end prestige foundations.
This makes testing and even mixing shades much more affordable and easier on your wallet.
Let’s take a look at some of the best drugstore foundation dupes of 2023:
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1. Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup vs Revlon ColorStay Full Cover Makeup:
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup is a cult favorite for a reason.
This foundation is the US’s #1 prestige brand foundation, thanks to its full-coverage matte finish that DOES NOT BUDGE all day.
It sets quickly, so it should be applied with a damp makeup sponge if you want to blend it well.
Double Wear, a long-wear foundation, is waterproof and heat-proof. It comes in a whopping 55 shades to work with various cool, neutral, and warm skin tones.
Revlon ColorStay Full Cover Makeup
Even though Revlon ColorStay Full Cover Makeup has a thick whipped texture and is not liquid like Estee Lauder Double Wear, this foundation really COVERS and does it with a long-wearing matte finish.
A little goes a long way with this foundation. Unlike Double Wear, its whipped texture blends easily.
What makes it a drugstore foundation dupe for Estee Lauder Double Wear is its excellent lasting coverage that easily hides flaws, discoloration, and uneven skin texture.
It also works well to keep oil at bay. The only drawback is the 16 available shades, which is much less than Double Wear.
I love this Revlon foundation, and it’s one of my go-to full coverage drugstore foundations. This is the ideal full coverage drugstore foundation for oily skin.
Great coverage, a good color match, and an affordable drugstore price!
2. Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation vs L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation:
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation is a buildable full-coverage foundation that provides a natural matte finish.
This foundation is formulated with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, moringa seed extracts and prebiotics to create a nourishing and breathable transfer-resistant formula.
The fragrance-free foundation provides up to 24-hour wear and comes in 42 shades.
L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation
L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation will provide a demi-matte finish and up to 24 hours of wear with its lightweight liquid formula.
This foundation will smooth the skin and easily hide uneven skin tone, blemishes, and other imperfections.
This weightless Lancome foundation dupe is medium coverage. It comes in 28 shades. Like Lancome, it will provide up to 24 hours of shine control, and is transfer resistant.
This is an excellent dupe for Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear. Keep in mind that L’Oreal owns Lancome, so it’s not surprising that this foundation is similar in formula and finish.
3. It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ vs Maybelline Dream Urban Cover Flawless Coverage Foundation Makeup, SPF 50:
It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ is the #1 CC cream in the US. This CC cream provides full coverage, hydration, and the benefits of an anti-aging serum.
Potent active ingredients include hydrolyzed collagen, peptides, niacin, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and vitamins.
The CC+ cream improves the look of dark circles, redness, acne scarring, fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone.
Plus, it contains physical sunscreen of SPF 50+ that will work for even sensitive skin. The finish is natural and flawless.
What Is A CC Cream?
What is a CC cream, you ask? CC stands for color correcting cream/color corrector cream/complexion corrector cream, so a CC cream will provide multiple benefits to your skin.
These benefits include higher coverage than a BB “beauty balm” or “blemish balm” cream, but usually less than a full coverage foundation. CC creams often come with anti-aging benefits and sunscreen protection.
Maybelline Dream Urban Cover Flawless Coverage Foundation Makeup, SPF 50
Maybelline Dream Urban Cover Flawless Coverage Foundation Makeup SPF 50 is a lightweight full coverage foundation that contains a broad-spectrum SPF 50 (chemical sunscreen) and antioxidants to protect from damage caused by UV rays, pollution, and other environmental stressors.
Maybelline Dream Urban Cover is not available in as many shades as the best-selling It Cosmetics CC Cream. It is not as full-coverage as It Cosmetics, but it is buildable to medium coverage.
The consistency is a little thicker, and the coverage is slightly more matte, but the result is very similar: medium coverage and long wear with sunscreen protection.
It Cosmetics has many more skincare actives, so some of those ingredients may contribute to its expensive price tag.
I don’t mind keeping my skincare actives in my skincare routine anyway, so Maybelline Dream Urban Cover may be worth a try if you feel the same.
Related Post: These 7 IT Cosmetics CC Cream Dupes Will Save You Money
4. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation vs L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Foundation:
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
Inspired by charmeuse silk, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation is luxury makeup at its finest. Luminous Silk is a weightless, buildable, medium-coverage foundation.
It uses Armani’s Micro–fil technology to provide a gorgeous glow and skin-like finish. This foundation has won countless awards, and the price tag is steep!
This is the most expensive foundation I’ve ever purchased. It’s hard to rationalize spending so much for an ounce of foundation, but it is unlike any other foundation I’ve tried.
(If you want to give it a try without spending full price, you can purchase the mini size of 0.6 oz. Still expensive, but less than the full price.)
It leaves such a beautiful airbrush finish and wears extremely well.
L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Foundation
L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Foundation is a medium coverage foundation that provides a skin-like finish, just like Armani Luminous Silk.
The foundation is formulated with up to 6 pigments to adapt to any skin tone and texture. The hydrating formula is blendable and buildable and looks super natural on your skin.
L’Oreal True Match comes in 47 shades vs Luminous Silk’s 40 shades. Plus, it’s suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
5. Dermablend Flawless Creator Liquid Foundation vs NYX Total Control Pro Drop Foundation:
Dermablend Flawless Creator Liquid Foundation
Dermablend Flawless Creator Liquid Foundation Drops is a highly pigmented foundation that is water-free and oil-free. It provides full coverage and a natural finish with minimal ingredients.
It’s a favorite for its lightweight feel and is buildable without getting cakey.
The formula’s 33% concentrated pigments provide customizable coverage for all skin types. Plus, it’s non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores and cause breakouts or worsen acne.
NYX Total Control Pro Drop Foundation
NYX Total Control Pro Drop Foundation, a best-selling vegan foundation, is a velvet matte dropper foundation.
Like Dermablend, this liquid foundation allows you to customize coverage by choosing how many drops you apply to your skin. It is super lightweight, provides a skin-like finish, and lasts up to 12 hours without transferring.
Also, like Dermablend, it’s lightweight, and a little goes a long way. (That’s probably why the bottle is so small).
At less than half the price of Dermablend, this liquid dropper foundation is worth checking out.
Related Post: Full Coverage Drugstore Foundations for Oily Skin
6. Fenty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation vs CoverGirl TruBlend Matte Made Liquid Foundation:
Fenty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
Fenty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation is a medium-to-full coverage long-wear foundation that leaves a soft matte finish on your skin.
This buildable liquid foundation is oil-free and formulated with climate-adaptive technology which makes it resistant to sweat and humidity.
The lightweight formula melts into your skin for a natural-looking finish. It isn’t too matte or too dewy, which makes it look like real skin. Plus, it won’t clog your pores and cause breakouts or worsen acne.
The foundation is available in a HUGE range of 50 shades to work with a variety of skin tones and shades.
CoverGirl TruBlend Matte Made Liquid Foundation
CoverGirl TruBlend Matte Made Liquid Foundation is formulated with flexi-hold technology to create a flexible film on the skin while providing, like Fenty, a soft matte finish that never looks cakey or heavy on the skin.
The foundation offers buildable coverage, absorbs excess oil, and helps to reduce the look of pores courtesy of mattifying powders.
The coverage lasts for up to 12 hours and is transfer-resistant, so you have full coverage that won’t budge all day.
This Fenty dupe comes in a wide range of 40 shades to work with Light, Medium, Tan, and Deep skin tones.
7. Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint vs Milani Glow Hydrating Skin Tint:
Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint
Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint provides a wash of color from its ultra-thin and breathable formulation. Diamond powder provides a brightening, soft-focus effect and reduces the look of pores.
Glycerin moisturizes and provides a smooth, dewy finish.
This foundation comes in 12 shades. It won’t cake on your skin and hide freckles, so it is the epitome of a light coverage foundation.
Milani Glow Hydrating Skin Tint
Milani Glow Hydrating Skin Tint creates a sheer-to-light coverage with a dewy finish, just like Glossier Skin Tint. It is formulated to blur imperfections and leave your skin with a radiant glow.
This hydrating skin tint comes in 8 shades and contains a 29% concentration of squalane.
Milani Skin Tint is also boosted by an electrolyte and coconut water blend that replenishes and hydrates your skin.
Please see my post on Glossier Skin Tint Dupes for more dupes!
Related Post: The Ordinary Anti-Aging Skincare Review
8. Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation vs Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation:
Tarte Amazonian 16-Hour Clay Full Coverage Foundation
Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation is a lightweight mousse foundation that provides a natural matte finish and controls oil without drying out your skin.
It is formulated with Amazonian clay for longer wear and vitamin E, an emollient and anti-inflammatory ingredient. Mineral pigments soften the skin.
This foundation is beloved for its flawless finish and its ability to keep oil at bay, all while smoothing the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores.
It easily camouflages dark spots, redness, and other imperfections for an even-looking complexion without creasing or caking.
It comes in 46 shades and lasts up to 16 hours.
Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation
Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Mousse Foundation is also a mousse foundation with a lightweight texture formulated to control shine while leaving a matte finish on the skin.
This full-coverage foundation also softens your skin while magnifying your complexion.
The Rimmel foundation comes in 24 shades as opposed to Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation’s 40 shades.
This Rimmel foundation offers a nice selection of shades for cool, neutral, and warm skin tones. Also, there is no sunscreen protection in this Rimmel formula.
But the coverage and oil control give Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation a run for its money. The Rimmel foundation is so cheap, so for just a few dollars, you can give it a try without it breaking the bank.
9. MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation SPF 15 vs Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation:
MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation SPF 15
MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation SPF 15 is a lightweight matte foundation formulated for shine control and up to 24 hours of wear.
Since it is so lightweight, it is easily buildable from medium to full coverage. It comes in a fantastic range of 63 shades, from Light to Deep Dark.
This formula helps to reduce the look of pores for a smoother complexion yet won’t cause acne. This foundation comes with broad-spectrum SPF 15 protection and is ideal for all skin types, especially oily skin.
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation
Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation is also lightweight and works to magnify and refine pores.
It is buildable and leaves a natural finish. It contains micro-powders to control shine and create a blurred seamless complexion.
This foundation dupe is non-comedogenic and contains clays to help absorb oil and keep your skin matte. Ideal for all-day wear, Fit Me Matte + Poreless is an oil-free formula that comes in 40 shades.
Per a Maybelline consumer study, it works for a large range of skin tones and fits 97% of women.
While it doesn’t come in as many shades as MAC Studio Fix Fluid, its lightweight blurring coverage and affordable price give MAC a run for its money.
Related Post: These Creme de la Mer Dupes Will Save You Money
10. Tarte Face Tape Foundation vs Milani Conceal + Perfect 2 in 1 Foundation:
Tarte Face Tape Foundation
Tarte Face Tape Foundation is a full coverage foundation that provides a natural matte finish.
Tarte’s Tape Technology smoothes skin texture while blurring the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores. It also covers blemishes/breakouts, redness, discoloration, and age spots.
Face Tape Foundation is formulated with antioxidant-rich apple extract, snow mushroom for hydration and brightening, and hyaluronic acid for plumping.
The vegan formula comes in 50 shades and is transfer-proof, waterproof, and sweat-proof, and works best when used in conjunction with Tarte’s best-selling Shape Tape Concealer.
Milani Conceal + Perfect 2 in 1 Foundation
Milani Conceal + Perfect 2 in 1 Foundation does double duty as it performs like both a concealer and a foundation in one product. This multitasker targets under-eye circles, unwanted redness, and other imperfections.
The water-resistant formula is long-lasting and provides a flawless natural finish.
Available in 35 shades, Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation provides excellent coverage with a natural finish and does an excellent job of hiding imperfections, including fine lines, scars, hyperpigmentation, and discoloration.
Tarte Face Tape is almost 4x the price, so this drugstore foundation dupe is worth considering.
Related Post: Milk Hydro Grip Primer Dupes
11. Too Faced Born This Way Foundation vs Sephora 10 Hour Wear Perfection Foundation:
Too Faced Born This Way Foundation
The coverage of this foundation is meant to be so natural looking that everyone will think that you were Born This Way. Hence the name Too Faced Born This Way Foundation.
It is an oil-free foundation formulated to provide medium to full coverage that is undetectable on the skin.
The foundation contains coconut water to replenish moisture, alpine rose to support skin resilience, and hyaluronic acid for hydration and plumping.
It comes in 35 shades and provides a natural finish that lasts all day.
Sephora 10 Hour Wear Perfection Foundation
Sephora 10 Hour Wear Perfection Foundation is formulated to act as a second skin, adjusting to the movements of your face without settling into fine lines and wrinkles.
It’s fragrance-free, non-comedogenic, and designed to last up to 10 hours.
This Sephora foundation dupe contains vitamin E for protection from external stressors and hyaluronic acid for hydration and plumping.
It helps to improve texture, skin tone, and the look of pores, with a beautiful natural finish.
It comes in a huge range of 57 shades compared to Born This Way’s 35 shades.
At nearly half the price, this medium coverage buildable foundation blurs, conceals, creates a second skin, and is very natural-looking, just like Born This Way Foundation.
12. Nars Sheer Glow Foundation vs Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup
Nars Sheer Glow Foundation
Nars Sheer Glow Foundation is a sheer foundation with buildable coverage that offers a natural finish
It’s formulated with NARS Complexion Brightening Formula and skincare benefits such as turmeric, Vitamin C, and antioxidants to help improve your skin’s texture and radiance over time.
The lightweight foundation comes in 40 shades for all skin tones.
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup provides medium coverage with a naturally radiant finish.
This Neutrogena foundation is rich in antioxidants just like NARS, to improve skin tone and texture over time.
It also contains SPF 20 mineral sunscreen protection to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
With 14 shades to choose from, this foundation is a great dupe for Nars Sheer Glow at a fraction of the cost.
13. Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation vs NYX Born To Glow Naturally Radiant Foundation
Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation
Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation is a medium coverage foundation that provides a natural-looking, luminous finish.
The formula is designed to blur imperfections such as discoloration and uneven skin tone without caking or or looking too heavy on your skin.
Available in 50 shades, this lightweight foundation is water-resistant and long-wearing, making it perfect for any occasion.
NYX Born To Glow Naturally Radiant Foundation
NYX Born To Glow Naturally Radiant Foundation is a medium coverage foundation that is buildable to give you a radiant, natural glow.
This lightweight drugstore foundation has a seamless application that leaves your skin looking flawless without any flashback or oxidization.
This liquid formula is perfect for achieving a dewy glow without looking too shiny or oily on the skin.
With 45 shades available, this foundation is suitable for all skin tones and types.
The Best Drugstore Foundation Dupes: The Bottom Line
These drugstore foundation dupes have such impressive formulas, and their prices are right. They are priced so that you can test more than one for less than the price of one high-end foundation.
Why pay more for an expensive foundation when you can get very similar results with these drugstore makeup dupes?
I love finding budget-friendly makeup and skincare products that outperform high-end products. What are your favorite drugstore foundation dupes?
My favorite is the Estee Lauder Double Wear dupe: Revlon ColorStay Full Cover Makeup!
Thanks for reading!
Read Next: Best Drugstore Foundations For Dry Skin
Debbie
Saturday 19th of February 2022
VERY helpful article - thanks! Heading off to Walgreens right now.
Sarah
Saturday 19th of February 2022
You're very welcome!! Have fun!!
Sarah
Thursday 31st of December 2020
I am looking for a dermablend liquid camo foundation dupe in the shade 40C but the one recommended above doesnt have a 40 C shade match. Been looking for months for a family member. If anyone can help!! Thanks