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Hate Paying Full Price for Foundation? These Luxury Picks Are Finally on Major Sale for Black Friday
It's a rare chance to score Sabrina Carpenter's favorite foundation for less than $50.
My colleagues and I have been testing so many foundations recently (I'm enthralled by the return of matte skin, and it's also literally our jobs to stipple our faces with new products). Scrolling through all the Black Friday beauty deals, I noticed that a ton of our absolute favorites are on major sale. Like, up to 40 percent off. It's a huge win for me, because I absolutely despise splurging on foundation without a discount. Look, I get why foundation is so expensive. It takes forever to produce (many brands have told me their hardest product to formulate was a foundation), is often filled with pricey skincare ingredients these days, and is usually in a weighty glass bottle that adds to the cost. But considering it's one of the few products I actually consistently use up, I freakin' hate splurging on it. It's like I'm literally spreading my money all over my face every time I use my $$$ high-end foundation. But if I got it on sale? Using it up doesn't feel so sad.
There are a lot of big beauty deals happening right now, and the decision fatigue is real. But I'm pro picking up things you'd already normally buy, just at a steep discount. And I, for one, so rarely see any of these foundations go on sale at all, let alone at prices this low. Brands like Armani Beauty, Benefit, Patrick Ta, and more—they're not exactly for the budget-conscious, you know? But with sales like this, you can inject a little luxury into your everyday makeup routine without dropping too much cash.
Keep scrolling for all of our picks on sale, plus a quick review of who it's best for and why from a range of editors with different tastes, concerns, and skin tones. Many of these are also loved by celebrity makeup artists and celebs themselves, if you're into looking like the perfect angel that is Sabrina Carpenter on the daily (hi, Armani Luminous Silk). Be on the lookout for brands that require adding to cart or a promo code to see the discount (lookin' @ you, Benefit).
Best Deal
One Cosmo editor says: "The O.G.! There's nothing better than Armani's Luminous Silk for full coverage that's both lightweight and natural-looking. It's my go-to foundation for big events (I wore it on my wedding day) or when my skin's really breaking out and I need more coverage than usual."—LAUREN BALSAMO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR
✨BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: 30% off when you add to cart!
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 40 |
| Coverage | Medium, buildable to full |
| Finish | Natural |
One Cosmo editor says: "I am staunchly over the whole clean girl thing. Sometimes, it's not so bad to look like you have makeup on, so long as the formulas don't feel like you're coated in a thick gloop of product. My go-to for the days I want full coverage without the heaviness on my skin is this new pick from Benefit. Inspired by and created to work in tandem with the famed Benefit Porefessional Primer, this foundation offers full coverage with a soft-matte finish that's lightweight and nourishing for skin."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
✨BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: 30% off and free shipping with code FRIYAY
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 40 |
| Coverage | Full |
| Finish | Matte |
One Cosmo editor says: "As someone who doesn’t go for full coverage makeup, this is one of the only foundations I actually use. I love that it’s buildable while also being full coverage. I tend to use just a tiny bit for a light layer of coverage, but there have been times when I need a full beat, and it works wonders for that too. I even go concealer-free when I wear it because it’s just that good."—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
✨BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: 20% off applied automatically
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 51 |
| Coverage | Full |
| Finish | Natural |
One Cosmo editor says: "When I think of makeup artist-founded brands, my mind immediately goes to heavy-coverage products for a full beat. So I was a little hesitant to try this foundation from Patrick Ta, but its promises of hydration persuaded me to give it a go. To my surprise, this was one of the dewiest and most breathable foundations I’ve ever tried, while still being full coverage. My skin still looked like my skin, just with an added glowy veil. I didn’t even need to wear concealer with it (and that says a lot because my under-eyes are basically purple). The hydrating formula blended out so easily and didn’t irritate my sensitive skin. No notes Patrick!" —JH
✨BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: 20% off applied automatically
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 30 |
| Coverage | Medium |
| Finish | Dewy |
One Cosmo editor says: "A little goes a long way with this—just a small amount gives me beautiful full coverage. It feels light on my skin, and while I usually have to reapply setting powder on my entire face throughout the day, I only had to touch up my T-Zone once. This stuff stays put! I’m a full-face makeup girlie, so this foundation gives me all the benefits of coverage without any of the cakiness. I will 100 percent repurchase. This is definitely my new go-to."—SARAH NG, VIDEO EDITOR
✨BLACK FRIDAY DEAL: 20% off applied automatically
Features at a Glance
| Shades | 40 |
| Coverage | Light to medium |
| Finish | Natural |
Why trust ‘Cosmopolitan’?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
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