Think about it: You select your skin care products based on your skin concerns so shouldn’t it be the same for your foundation? At Clinique, we consider foundation the last step in your skin care routine. That’s why everything we know about skin care goes into our makeup formulas. Whether your skin is acne-prone, oily or has dark spots, there’s a dermatologist-approved foundation for you. Each one is created to instantly even out and enhance your skin and improve it in the long-term. Sounds like skin care, doesn’t it?

We polled a group of women about their skin, then matched them with the best foundation formula for their main concerns. Check out these foundation matches and discover which one can help your skin.

Name: Adda
Skin concern: Dull, tired-looking skin
Match: Even Better Glow Light Reflecting Makeup SPF 15
Immediate benefits:  This lightweight, sheer-to-moderate coverage foundation gives skin a luminous finish and protects it against sun damage with broad spectrum sunscreen.
Overtime benefits: Vitamin C, salicylic acid, and white birch extract boost skin’s natural radiance, improve clarity and refine skin’s texture.
Why she loves it: “It instantly makes my skin look glowy and lively,” says Adda. “I love that it doesn’t hide my freckles and keeps my skin looking fresh and feeling quenched.”

Name: Baillie
Skin concern: Acne
Match: Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup
Immediate benefits: This natural matte finish foundation camouflages blemishes, neutralises redness, and minimises the appearance of pores. Anti-irritant ingredients like caffeine help soothe irritation.
Overtime benefits: Salicylic acid helps clear up clogged pores, reduce acne, and target breakouts.
Why she loves it: “This foundation covers all my acne, redness, and blackheads, but it doesn’t feel like I have a full face of makeup on. I can’t believe it’s actually treating my breakouts, too.”

Name: Bruna
Skin concern: Combination skin with an oily T-zone and dry patches
Match: Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer
Immediate benefits: This lightweight and moisturising formula covers blemishes without clogging pores. It delivers full-coverage and a matte finish.
Overtime benefits: Helps keep skin balanced for overall healthier skin.
Why she loves it: “It’s not greasy and feels really light. At the end of the day, my skin still looks fresh and matte—it’s crazy.”

Name: Iesha
Skin concern: Hyperpigmentation
Match: Even Better Makeup SPF 15
Immediate benefits: This natural finish foundation conceals discolourations with optical diffusers that brighten and even skin tone without a heavy or cakey look.
Overtime benefit: With daily wear, it visibly reduces dark spots in 12 weeks.
Why she loves it: “Being a woman of colour, it’s very hard to target hyperpigmentation. This really gives me great coverage, an even glow, and a confidence boost. I also love that the SPF doesn’t look ashy on my skin.”

Name: Lyric
Skin concern: Oily skin
Match: Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup
Immediate benefits: This lightweight foundation delivers an all-day natural matte finish.
Overtime benefits: It absorbs excess oil with willow bark extract and controls oil with laminaria saccharina extract.
Why she loves it: “It definitely takes away the oiliness and doesn’t look cakey or glossy. It’s great not having to worry about unwanted shiny spots throughout the day.”

Name: Walda
Skin concern: Dry skin  
Match: Even Better Refresh Hydrating & Repairing Makeup
Immediate benefits: This full-coverage foundation won’t settle into fine lines. It delivers 24 hours of skin-plumping hydration for a more youthful look.
Overtime benefits: After four weeks of daily use, it helps smooth skin’s surface using powerhouse peptides and salicylic acid.  
Why she loves it: “My skin feels soft, supple, and moisturized, and I don’t feel like I have any makeup on. My skin is super hydrated.”

Words: Mari Tzikas Suarez