Yes, You Want Hyaluronic Acid in Your Foundation — Here’s Why

Makeup and skin care tend to live on very different spectrums, and although they go hand in hand, it’s rare to find products and spaces where they’re one in the same. Things are changing, however, and we’re seeing popular skin-care ingredients pop up in products like foundation, concealer and even lipsticks. 

Balanda Atis, Director of Face Development and Multicultural Beauty for L’Oréal USA, says, “Consumers have increased their attention to skin-improving benefits and are purchasing more skin-care products,” which has inspired lots of makeup products that are good for your skin, too. We’re fans of the new shift, and more formulas are offering skin benefits that enhance your present skin-care routine. One ingredient that’s already making its way into formulas is hyaluronic acid, a substance we already have in our bodies that prevents the loss of moisture in the skin. It’s likely you’ve already heard the name and if its well-known status isn’t reason enough to add it into your routine, consider this the icing on the skin-care cake: It helps retain over 1,000 times its weight in water within your skin cells and helps skin to look more plump and hydrated.

It’s also lauded for its ability to work for virtually any skin type (including sensitive) and when added to foundation formulas, it helps to hydrate skin throughout the day. Brands have recently begun infusing foundation formulas with hyaluronic acid to bridge the gap between skin care and makeup, prioritizing hydrating ingredients and serums for added skin-care benefits. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up our favorite hyaluronic-acid infused foundations, all of which will even your complexion while also nourishing your skin.

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Oil-Free Matte Full Coverage Moisturizer

IT Cosmetics just dropped a new version of its Bye Bye Foundation that’s oil-free, and not only does it boast all the same qualities as the OG in a matte texture, it also contains hyaluronic acid. The formula helps the skin retain moisture, appear plump and smooth. 

Lancôme Skin Feels Good Tinted Moisturizer

Skin Feels Good is a soothing, lightweight tinted moisturizer that feels just as good as any moisturizer you apply pre-makeup. It evens out skin tone and texture and absorbs into the skin immediately. 

Maybelline New York Dream Satin Liquid Hydrating Foundation

Formulated with water-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid offers complete coverage and up to 12 hours of wear while still hydrating your skin. Maybelline was inspired to create the foundation as a “hybrid foundation that fuses makeup and skin care,” says Atis. It works well for all skin types and on a wide range of skin concerns, concealing fine lines and covering pores without feeling heavy on the skin.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation

This Magic foundation formula isn’t playing around — it instantly brightens, plumps and hydrates the face with hyaluronic acid. The best part? It has a medium, matte coverage that suits every skin type.

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