Foundation 101: Top Picks For The Oily and The Dry

No matter whether you have oily or dry skin, you can have big problems finding that perfect foundation. The oily skinned are afraid of the foundation sliding off their face, or making their skin oilier than it already is. The dry skinned are worried that they will look flaky, or that the foundation they choose will end of making them even drier than they already are. No need to worry any longer, however, because we've done all of the necessary research for you and come up with our top picks for the oily and the dry...skinned, that is.

Oily Skin 

If you have oily skin, we recommend using one of the following three foundations, all of which are oil free so that they won't add excess oils to your already oily skin.

1. Stilla Natural Finish Oil-Free Make Up - This product costs around $30, so it falls in the middling price range. It keeps the skin shine-free, and has a natural finish. The ultra-light formula easily glides onto the skin with ease and produces a long lasting, full coverage that has been designed to last all day, no matter how oily your skin is.

2. Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Makeup - This foundation offers a much brighter look, and is packed full of light-diffusing properties. You can build on this coverage, from light to medium, while always retaining a very natural looking finish. This is touted as one of the best foundations for oily skin, and will leave you looking radiant and shine free. The price is in the middling range, but is well worth every penny you spend.

3. Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation - If you are a person who suffers from both oily skin and a limited budget, this is certainly your best choice. One tube costs under ten dollars at most stores. The formula allows your skin to stay shine free and provides a fantastic amount of coverage. It can be used with or without a powder finish (although if your skin is oily, we obviously recommend using a powder also, as this helps to absorb excess oils.)

Dry Skin

If you have dry skin, we recommend using one of the following three foundations since they have been proven to work well on dried out skin without drying it out further.

1. Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick - This is a rich hydration formula that just so happens to also be perfect for touching yourself up while on the go. It offers flawless coverage, and costs roughly $35 a tube. When you combine the fact that a little goes a long way with the awesome way this foundation stick works, you can see that it is well worth the money paid and then some.

2. Estee Lauder Resilience Life Extreme Foundation - If your dry skin is a product of maturing, then this is perfect. It is specifically designed for mature, dried out skin, and works to hydrate and smooth while soothing and perking up parched skin. It can be used for buildable coverage, and leaves a natural, radiant looking finish. This foundation costs around $35-$40 per bottle, but is well worth the splurge.

3. L'Oreal Paris Lumi Magique Foundation - Here is our money friendly pick. This foundation by L'Oreal costs under $15, so it's perfect for those who suffer from dry skin and have a limited beauty budget. This silky foundation helps to prevent patches, and evens out your skin tone. It works best when used with a lightweight primer underneath for extra staying power.

Those are our top picks for the oily and the dry. What did you think? Have you tried one of our top picks out before and want to tell us how it worked for you? Or do you think we missed a miracle foundation you believe should have been included? Let us know in the comments below!

Author Bio: Amanda is the skincare fanatic author of SkincareHQ.org which recently featured an article on the Best Foundation For Acne Prone Skin. Aside from writing about skincare, Amanda loves to travel and dreams of one day visiting Italy. If you have any questions or comments for Amanda, feel free to connect with her @Skincare_HQ on Twitter!