I’m not ashamed to admit that my skin gets flaky, crusty, and downright unsightly during fall and winter. Dry skin can make makeup application tricky, since formulas tend to cling onto dry patches and flakes. So, I set out to find the best makeup for dry skin.
After interviewing makeup artists and dermatologists, I ended up with a list of 33 expert-recommended products. We’ve also tested hundreds of beauty products, including countless foundations, concealers, and primers. After analyzing our testers’ feedback, expert recommendations, and each product’s ingredients, I narrowed down our expert-recommended list to the five best makeup products for dry skin.
This is the best makeup for dry skin, including the best foundation for dry skin and the best concealer for dry skin, recommended by experts and tested by us.
Our Top Picks
Best Foundation for Dry Skin:
Best Primer for Dry Skin:
Best Concealer for Dry Skin:
Best Drugstore Concealer for Dry Skin:
NYX Professional Makeup Bare with Me Concealer Serum at Amazon$12
Best Hyaluronic Acid for Dry Skin:
Experts Also Recommend:
Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Liquid Foundation at Nordstrom$49
Experts Also Recommend:
Experts Also Recommend:
Experts Also Recommend:
Best Foundation for Dry Skin
Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Foundation
Star Qualities
Super nourishing thanks to jojoba oil, squalane, and shea butter
Feels lightweight on the skin
Doesn’t crease or settle into fine lines
This is the best foundation we’ve tested for dry, mature skin, and it comes highly recommended by celebrity makeup artist Katie Mellinger. During testing, we found this foundation both lightweight and nourishing, so it hydrates the skin and remains undetectable. We loved the buildable sheer coverage, which covered redness and hyperpigmentation and blurred fine lines.
Makeup Artist Recommended
“According to the brand, this is made of 80 percent moisturizing ingredients, and I believe them. You can see it in the finish. It’s super hydrating and safe for sensitive skin, so I reach for this foundation often.”—Katie Mellinger, celebrity makeup artist
Shades: 10 | Moisturizing Ingredients: Glycerin, squalane, jojoba oil, shea butter | Alcohol-Free: Yes
Ingredient Check
Those long ingredient lists can look intimidating, but board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King offered some sage advice: “Look for moisturizing formulations that include humectants to hydrate the skin, emollients to support the skin barrier, and occlusives to help lock in moisture.”
We took a look at each ingredient list, and made note of any standout humectants, emollients, and occlusives —these ingredients keep the skin moisturized.
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Best Primer for Dry Skin
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer
Star Qualities
Evens out texture and hydrates the skin
Gives a smooth appearance under complexion products
Sticky consistency grips onto makeup for 12-hour wear
Red Flags
We couldn’t find any
When it comes to dry skin, a smooth, hydrating base is key. Mellinger recommends this sticky primer from Milk, and we love it, too. In fact, it was the best face primer of 31 we tested. Not only did it extend our makeup beyond 12 hours of wear, it hydrated our skin and smoothed out any texture.
Makeup Artist Recommended
“[This primer is] my absolute favorite for dry skin. The key to using this primer is to apply the foundation while the primer is still a little damp and sticky. Do not wait for it to dry down before applying your foundation.”—Katie Mellinger
Shades: 1 (translucent) | Moisturizing Ingredients: Aloe, glycerin, diglycerin, niacinamide | Alcohol-Free: No
Best Concealer for Dry Skin
Saie Hydrabeam Under Eye Concealer
Star Qualities
Super hydrating without being greasy
Dries to a skin-like finish and doesn’t require setting powder
Covers imperfections and brightens the under eye area
Red Flags
None for dry skin, but oily skin types won’t love this concealer
Our favorite hydrating concealer is also a makeup artist favorite. When we tested this concealer, it gave a dewy, skin-like finish and never creased or settled on the skin. Celebrity makeup artist Tomy Rivero recommended this concealer for mature skin, since the formula hides imperfections without leaving a cakey finish.
“[This Saie concealer is] an extension of skincare with color, meaning you get a very hydrating eye cream with coverage,” Rivero said in a previous interview with PEOPLE.
Shades: 15 | Moisturizing Ingredients: Glycerin, jojoba oil, squalane, aquaxyl | Alcohol-Free: Yes
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Best Drugstore Concealer for Dry Skin
NYX Professional Makeup Bare with Me Concealer Serum
Star Qualities
Feels hydrating and lightweight and dries to a natural finish
Doesn’t crease under the eye
Red Flags
We wish it had a larger shade range
You don’t have to splurge on luxury makeup to find the best products for dry skin. The best drugstore concealer we tested is great for dry skin, according to makeup artist Michele Probst. When we tried 27 drugstore concealers, this $12 product came out on top: It has a natural finish, doesn’t crease under the eyes, and it lasts all day. The name is fitting, since Probst likens the “water-based liquid formula” to a “serum-concealer hybrid.”
Shades: 17 | Moisturizing Ingredients: Glycerin, green tea, sunflower oil, tremella mushroom, cica | Alcohol-Free: Yes
Best Hyaluronic Acid for Dry Skin
Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum
Star Qualities
Layers well under makeup for a smooth base
Immediately hydrates the skin, which only improves with time
Also comes in a miniature size, so you can try it out for a lower price
Red Flags
It’s an investment, but we think it’s worth it if you struggle with dry skin
Hyaluronic acid isn’t technically a makeup product, but when we chatted with dermatologists and makeup artists, they agreed that applying a serum before makeup is essential. Mellinger recommends layering the Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum under makeup, and we tested it for ourselves, too.
It’s an investment, but certainly worth every penny. We noticed immediate hydration, and over time it brightened and plumped the skin. It layers well with other formulas (so don’t worry about pilling or flaking), which makes it a great base under primer and foundation.
Shades: n/a | Moisturizing Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, purslane extract | Alcohol-Free: Yes
Dermatologist Tip
“Apply hydrating serums and moisturizers that contain humectants, emollients and occlusives before applying makeup.”—Dr. Hadley King, board-certified dermatologist
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Experts Also Recommend
We spoke to dermatologists and makeup artists — here are more of their favorite makeup products for dry skin.
What to Know About Makeup for Dry Skin
Formula Type
If you have dry skin, you know that powder can accentuate any signs of dryness. “Cream or liquid formulations will be less drying than powders and gels,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King says. “Avoid matte or mattifying formulations that contain ingredients, like clays, that absorb oil.”
Probst agrees that creamy formulations are best: “Makeup for dry skin should be three things: Creamy, lightweight, and hydrating,” she says.
Mellinger also avoids full-coverage complexion products, since they tend to accentuate fine lines, wrinkles, and dry patches. The Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Foundation is the best foundation for dry skin, since its sheer formulation stays lightweight on the skin.
Ingredients
Ingredient lists are confusing, but our experts agree on the best ingredients. All of the experts we spoke to recommend hyaluronic acid and glycerin, and most of them note that squalane and ceramides are hydrating, too. Glycerin can be found in every makeup product we recommended in this list, and squalane is also present in most of the products.
Board-certified physician Dr. Azza Halim and Mellinger also recommend shea butter, which can be found in the Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Foundation.
Of course, there are ingredients to avoid, too. Our experts recommend you avoid formulas with alcohol, fragrances, and salicylic acid. When in doubt, there are many online tools that break down the ingredient lists of beauty products, such as INCIDecoder.
Application Technique
How you apply makeup can be just as important as what you’re applying. Dr. King and Dr. Halim recommend you apply hydrating serums and moisturizers before you apply makeup, and Mellinger recommends you use a hyaluronic acid serum prior to makeup. These serums will hydrate the skin, smooth any texture, and create a barrier between your dry skin and your makeup. Mellinger uses the Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum that we love, too.
Applying foundation can be tricky when you have dry skin, but Mellinger uses a specific technique to keep things looking dewy. Rather than applying foundation directly to her skin, she applies the product to the back of her hand, and then presses a damp sponge into the product. Then, she presses the makeup into her skin with the sponge. “You can build coverage this way, and you apply way less product to your face which is key, especially for dry skin,” Mellinger says.
If you want to set or refresh your makeup, Dr. King recommends you use a setting spray or facial mist rather than a translucent powder, which can be drying. Mellinger agrees, but says that when she uses setting powder on dry skin, she uses a light hand —only where needed.
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Behind the Scenes
We interviewed two dermatologists and two celebrity makeup artists to compile a list of 33 expert-recommended products. We compared these expert recommendations to our own favorites, scouring the results from our tests of hundreds of beauty products. All the products we included on this list performed well during our at-home and in-lab testing. We evaluated each product on the following criteria:
- Hydration: All the products on this list left our skin feeling hydrated. Products that left our skin feeling stripped or dry didn’t make this list. In fact, most of these products left our skin feeling even better than before.
- Ingredients: We cross-referenced the ingredient list of each product with expert-recommended ingredients to ensure each product has ingredients that are proven to work on dry skin. We also looked out for any ingredients that are known to be drying, based on expert recommendations.
- Appearance: We hate when makeup looks flaky, cakey, or patchy on our dry skin. So, we made sure each product left our skin looking dewy and healthy. The best products were long-lasting, too, offering all-day hydration and longwear.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Genevieve Cepeda is a shopping writer who frequently writes about the best beauty products, such as the best mascaras for older women and the best dermaplaning tools. She has seasonally dry skin, so she sometimes struggles with flakey and cakey makeup during fall and winter. After testing countless makeup products, she has found a routine to keep her skin hydrated, even in the driest months. She interviewed two dermatologists and two makeup artists to learn even more about the best makeup for dry skin, compiling a list of products and application methods that are PEOPLE Tested and expert-approved.
Our Expert Panel
- Dr. Hadley King is a board-certified dermatologist and a clinical instructor of dermatology at Cornell University’s Weill Medical College. She specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology.
- Katie Mellinger is a celebrity makeup artist who has worked with stars like Emma Watson, Chloë Sevigny, and Sofia Coppola.
- Michele Probst is a celebrity makeup artist who has worked with stars like Katie Couric, Drew Barrymore, and Barack Obama. She is also the founder of WorthBeautyCompany.
- Dr. Azza Halim is a board-certified physician who specializes in aesthetic medicine, anti-aging treatments, and regenerative medicine.
- Tomy Rivero is a celebrity makeup artist and owner of the Tomy Rivero Beauty Lab in New York City.
What Is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.