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8 best matte foundations that look youthful and feel lightweight on the skin
Matte doesn't have to equal heavy and cakey!
When the makeup tides turned from 'Instagram face' to dewy 'Clean Girl' vibes a few years ago, I was convinced we wouldn't see matte foundations again until I was well into middle age. It was like a full factory reset. Suddenly, setting powder became optional; every single product launched featured the words "radiant," "luminous," or "glowy" in the title, and matte became synonymous with dry and flat, immediately dating your makeup routine back to 2015. But, in fall 2025, my inbox is suddenly filled again with a few words that bring me right back to that time. "Cloud," "velvet," "blurring" – it's all sounding a lot like a matte skin comeback, no?
According to experts, I'm right. "I think a soft, natural-skin finish will start to take over this in the coming months," predicts celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic. "Imagine skin that’s not too shiny or overly matte but cloud-like and softly blurred, like you’re being seen in the most flattering light." Notice how he didn't utter the "M" word? We're not calling it "matte" these days. Instead, it's blurred, hazy, and soft. It's a return to skin that looks like skin – not the dolphin-esque, wet-look of years' past.
"Skin trends are always changing, but this moment is all about the blur," says Dedivanovic. "Dewy foundations and skin tints will always be loved for their healthy glow, but natural finishes can reduce the appearance of texture and fine lines, creating a natural, diffused look." And it's not just foundation that's leading the charge, he adds. We're seeing a push toward blurry coverage in all categories – setting sprays, powders, blushes, and bronzers, for example.
Founder of his namesake brand, Makeup By Mario, Dedivanovic launched his SurrealSkin Natural Finish Foundation in September. It promises shine control and hydration, essentially marrying the two benefits of matte and dewy foundations. That's the biggest difference between what we're seeing right now and what we had back in the early-to-mid 2010s. Today's formulas can help blur your skin and deliver a satin finish while helping fight dryness. And let's just say, as a 28-year-old with acne, this is the perfect makeup moment for me. Ahead, I'm running down my top picks right now to get the look yourself, no matter your skin type.
Now, Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation is not new, nor has it been re-formulated. However, after a personal few years' hiatus from my makeup bag, I rediscovered its magic, and so I'm now sharing the gospel. As an oily-skinned girlie who prefers a full-coverage beat, its features tick every single box. I'm talking medium-to full-coverage, fragrance-free, waterproof, longwearing, non-comedogenic (aka, won't clog pores) and above all, matte!
While the coverage is elite, the wear is this foundation's USP. Over a few weeks of testing, the longest I wore it for (at one time) was 14 hours... 'Twas a long day. And while it showed in my demeanour, it didn't show on my face. My foundation was more or less intact at the end of the day, and above all, shine was controlled throughout.
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Tocopheryl acetate (antioxidant) and titanium dioxide (sunscreen) |
|---|---|
| Shades | 60 |
| Acne friendly? | Yes |
I was already raging against the dewy machine when Dedivanovic unveiled his newest foundation – a soft-focus, natural finish – but his take fully inspired my descent into the matte-skin underworld. Of everything I've tried, it really does live by the "natural finish" name. The formula is packed with glycerin, raspberry extract, and vitamin E, making it suitable for dry skin (and actually even a lil bit hydrating). What I love most is how comfortable it feels on my face. I apply it with the Makeup By Mario F4 Foundation Brush to get even more coverage (which also makes it a bit more matte on my oily skin), but Dedivanovic actually recommends working it on your skin with the brand's F1 Brush for a sheer, more natural finish.
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Glycerin, raspberry extract, vitamin E |
|---|---|
| Shades | 32 |
| Acne friendly? | Yes |
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.
I have naturally oily skin (like, really oily), so I expected some shine after a few hours of wear. My shiny T-Zone did make an appearance, albeit later than expected, which is a bonus. That said, it never looked greasy or separated into a cakey mess. Instead, it gave more of a dewy finish that still looked smooth and fresh.
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Niacinamide, rosehip extract, glycerin |
|---|---|
| Shades | 40 |
| Acne friendly? | Yes |
I purchased the original version of this foundation at the height of the glowy-skin craze, and ya know what, I still loved it. But this re-release is so much better. Here's the thing: It doesn't shy away from the "matte" thing at all. In fact, it completely embraces it. The full-coverage, creamy foundation completely erases all of my hyperpigmentation and acne and leaves my face looking actually flawless. Like, there isn't a pore or bump on my face when I'm wearing this. Is it the most practical to wear, idk, every day? Not for me. But for special occasions, it genuinely makes my skin look perfect.
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Saccharomyces ferment, dimethicone |
|---|---|
| Shades | 36 |
| Acne friendly? | Yes |
Naturally, powder foundation went out of style with matte skin. But there's been a surge of formulas over the last year that have popped up in the blurry revival, including this fantastic pick from Kylie Cosmetics. When I swipe or pat this onto my face with the included sponge, it immediately blurs fine lines and texture, as well as covers up uneven skin tone. Best of all, though, it feels light as air. It stays on my skin all day, and the entire time, it feels like I'm not wearing anything. A huge feat for those who want matte skin but hate the thick feeling of foundation.
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Squalane, vegetable oil, soybean oil |
|---|---|
| Shades | 27 |
| Acne friendly? | No (there are some oils in the formula that could clog pores) |
Of everything I've tested, this is the thinnest, most lightweight formula that still offers a matte finish. It's kind of astounding, tbh. The liquid really transforms as I blend it in with a brush, creating a blurred, soft-focus look to my face. MAC claims that it can also help control oil throughout the day (likely thanks to a combo of willow bark extract, a natural form of beta-hydroxy acid, as well as a few different silicones). I still have to powder my nose midday with this one, but I could see this being amazing for a drier skin type who still wants a satin finish.
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Dimethicone, algae extract, willow bark extract |
|---|---|
| Shades | 67 |
| Acne friendly? | No |
Maybelline New York Super Stay Lumi Matte Foundation
So many of my current favourite matte foundations were also my favourite foundations back in the day. Case in point: The O.G. Maybelline Super Stay got me through the first few years of college, covering up all my stress and beer acne. But it was fairly thick and probably a bit drying – two things I didn't really care all that much about then. Now, though, I need foundations that don't feel so much like foundation every day. And this new version is exactly that. It's got a medium coverage this time; although, a dense brush and a few layers could certainly build it up to full.
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Dimethicone, niacinamide |
|---|---|
| Shades | 24 |
| Acne friendly? | Yes |
If you're into a lighter look on your skin, ditch the full face of foundation and just dab this matte concealer wherever you wanna cover up. I'm obsessed with it, and so is Cosmo US's beauty director, Lauren Balsamo. "The applicator is nice and big so you can easily dab and swipe where you want coverage and then quickly blend with your fingers," she explains. "My skin is super oily, but the lightweight formula (the consistency reminds me of a skin tint) wears perfectly on my face without getting patchy or disappearing.”
Features at a Glance
| Key ingredients | Dimethicone |
|---|---|
| Shades | 22 |
| Acne friendly? | Yes |
What if I have dry skin?
For starters, many of the above formulas can work on dry skin, meaning they won't cling to your dry patches or dehydrate your skin throughout the day. Again, they're not the heavy, drying formulas of the past, so long as you opt for the ones that offer a hydrating element (like hyaluronic acid or niacinamide in the ingredients list). Regardless, Dedivanovic recommends prepping with an emollient moisturiser or primer (assistant beauty editor Jasmine Hyman has dry skin and swears by Dior Forever Glow Veil Primer).
Meet the expert
Mario Dedivanovic is a celebrity makeup artist and the founder and CEO of Makeup By Mario, one of the best-selling brands at Sephora. He's extremely well-known for his work with Kim Kardashian (he's been her makeup artist since 2008).
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.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
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