The best foundations, according to celebrities (2024)

When it comes to red carpet glam, celebs know it’s all about that base.

And when it comes to foundation, a handful of favorite formulas have managed to snag multiple stars’ stamps of approval, from full-coverage bestsellers to makeup sticks that can stash perfectly in a cute carryall.

The products below have been tried and tested by A-listers aplenty — and continue to pop up on their glowing faces (and in glowing reviews).

Below, discover and shop eight of the best foundations on the market, according to celebrities like Meghan Markle, Hailey Bieber and Rihanna. (And don’t forget to check out our guides to must-have mascaras, lipsticks and skincare staples to complete your beauty bag.)

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Foundation ($69)

When it comes to celebrity-loved foundations, it’s hard to beat this bestseller from Giorgio Armani. The oil-free formula promises a “silky, lightweight texture” and claims to help “sculpt and brighten skin, improve skin texture and blur imperfections.”

Makeup artist Lydia Sellers, who worked with Meghan Markle on “Suits,” once told Refinery29 it’s also “really easy to sheer out” with a Beautyblender ($20), as the star would ask her, “Can we just make sure my freckles are peeking through?”

And while Rihanna and Kylie Jenner also name-dropped the formula before launching their own beauty brands, it’s just as much of a hit today. Sydney Sweeney recently called it “the best,” while Maude Apatow dubbed it her “favorite ever” in a joint Elle interview.

Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Stick ($60)

Stars don’t just stick with classic liquid formulas. Celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman counts everyone from Jennifer Aniston to Kate Hudson as a client, so it’s no surprise her brand’s award-winning foundation stick is also a Hollywood favorite.

“Put a dab where you need it, you can put it all over. It’s buildable so you can make it, you know, thicker if you need it,” Gwyneth Paltrow said in a Vogue video, calling all of Westman Atelier’s products a “10 out of 10.”

Jennifer Garner’s similarly name-dropped the stick over the years, while “RHOSLC” star Meredith Marks once told Page Six Style she was “dying over” the product.

Chanel Ultra Le Teint Foundation ($65)

Chanel’s no-longer-sold Vitalumière foundation (now available in a lighter, SPF-packed version) was a longtime favorite among stars— and now, the Ultra Le Teint Foundation seems primed to follow in its footsteps. Hailey Bieber kicked off 2023 with a dewy look featuring the formula, which Kim Kardashian’s also worn.

($40)

Looking for another crown jewel of the beauty aisle? Dior is a longtime favorite of Meghan Markle’s makeup artist, Daniel Martin, who used it for the star’s wedding.

“I don’t use foundation all over her face, so it’s really important for me to get her skin to a good place so that any redness and unevenness I can correct with just a bit of foundation — that’s usually more full coverage — that I can sheer out,” he told Allure.

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation ($40)

Rihanna is often her beauty brand’s own best advertisem*nt, having worn this long-lasting foundation everywhere from her Super Bowl halftime show performance to the 2023 Golden Globes.

She’s clearly not the only star who thinks the foundation can really “Work,” however, as Ziwe and Daniel Kaluuya are also fans. Shoppers are equally obsessed with the product — which comes in a range of 50 shades— as it’s racked up over 13,000 largely glowing reviews at Ulta alone.

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter ($49)

It’s fitting that this Charlotte Tilbury favorite has Hollywood in its name, considering how many stars love the stuff. Halle Berry sported it in shade 5.5 at the 2023 Oscars, while Doja Cat rocked the matte, full-coverage formula at the Grammys the same year.

Tilbury’s more dewy, hyaluronic acid-packed Beautiful Skin Foundation ($49) is similarly a red carpet favorite, having been worn by stars including Lizzo and Aubrey Plaza.

La Mer Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation ($140)

Celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips — who’s worked with the likes of Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner — is a longtime fan of this splurge-worthy base, which she once told W is the “the most skin-like foundation” she’d ever used.

Kim Kardashian has also raved over the product, saying in a 2018 Vogue “Beauty Secrets” video, “I love La Mer foundation.”

Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation ($68)

This celeb-favorite foundation is advertised as both long-wearing and buildable — two things that are likely music to the ears of musicians like Cardi B and Taylor Swift. The “WAP” hitmaker rocked the formula at the 2023 Grammys, while Taylor Swift sported it for her “Bejeweled” music video (which featured a cameo from none other than Pat McGrath herself).