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ELLE Edit: The Best Full-Coverage Foundations For A Picture Perfect Finish

Flawless, honey.

By and Araminta Plumptre
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There's always space in our make-up bags for lightweight skin tints, but on those occasions where we're looking for that extra bit of coverage and a long-lasting finish (say, our best friend's wedding or a night out with plenty of pictures involved), nothing beats a great full coverage foundation.

We know what you're thinking: full coverage = heavy, clogging formulas that make it look like you're wearing a ton of makeup. But, as the new-gen formulas in this list will attest, full coverage foundations now contain skin-caring ingredients, such as niacinamide and vitamin C. They're weightless and hydrating, with light-diffusing particles to even out fatigued complexions are ideal for that airbrushed finish without suffocating the skin or clogging pores.

If you're looking for that airbrushed finish, then along with a great foundation, you'll also need to master the technique. When applying a full coverage formula, employ a light hand and start with very thin layers to ensure a natural-looking effect. Then, build up as necessary where you need it most.

Using the right tool is also key. 'Don't rely on your fingers for longwear,' explains Bobbi Brown Senior Pro Artist, Amy Conway. 'When applying foundation, use a brush for the most flawless finish – and brush down the face, because that's the way the hair lies. Then, layer a sheer powder on top for that natural yet flawless coverage finish that will last from the wedding ceremony to dance off.'

If you're prone to dry patches, massage in a moisturising face cream beforehand, and finish with a spritz of glow-boosting setting spray to bring back the dewiness.

Read on for the best full coverage foundations

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

£30 at sephora.co.uk

Whether you're performing the half-time show at the Superbowl or just need something to last throughout a long day, Fenty's foundation will have you covered. The 50-strong shade range is guaranteed to suit every complexion under the sun because when it comes to make-up (and songs you play on loop), Rihanna's got your back.

Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Foundation

Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Foundation

Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Foundation

Flawless, fussless and fresh: this foundation creates a uniform, skin-like finish that lasts all day. It even contains vitamin C extract for added luminosity. The formula is especially effective for those looking to reduce oil and shine.

Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Foundation

Seamless Skin Foundation

Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Foundation

Can't get A-list make-up artist Lisa Eldridge on your speed dial? Her foundation is the next best thing. It bills itself as a medium coverage formula but given how quickly this can be built up and how easily it covers everything from redness to pigmentation, it deserves a rightful place in this list. It has a soft matte, your-skin-but-better finish that doesn't look flat. A brilliant option for both weddings and daily wear.

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IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Original SPF50+

CC+ Cream Original SPF50+

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream Original SPF50+

If acne or rosacea is your bugbear, this CC cream will do the job beautifully. The colour-correcting properties help take down any redness while the skin-soothing formula, which contains tea extracts, niacinamide and oat, will calm inflammation. It has the consistency of a moisturising cream which makes blending a breeze.

Beauty Pie Everyday Great Skin Foundation

Everyday Great Skin Foundation

Beauty Pie Everyday Great Skin Foundation

Beauty Pie uses micro pearls to provide a flawless, natural, matte finish which doesn’t sink into fine lines, resulting in an enviable everyday glow. The formula is fragrance and oil-free, ideal for all skin types. This foundation really does what it says on the tin “everyday great skin.”

Jouer Essential High Coverage Crème Foundation

Essential High Coverage Crème Foundation

Jouer Essential High Coverage Crème Foundation

Now 20% Off

Blemishes, beware: this high-coverage foundation is a hero for special occasions, when a little extra cover is needed. Plus, it’s available in 50 fabulous shades.

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Lancôme Teint Idôle Ultra Wear Foundation

Teint Idôle Ultra Wear Foundation

Lancôme Teint Idôle Ultra Wear Foundation

This is a foundation you can apply, then happily leave at home – it requiring zero retouching throughout the day. It also contains SPF35, is suited to all skin types, glides on easily and it stays put.

Guerlain Parure Gold Skin 24h No-Transfer High Perfection Foundation

Parure Gold Skin 24h No-Transfer High Perfection Foundation

Guerlain Parure Gold Skin 24h No-Transfer High Perfection Foundation

With both 24-hour coverage and 24 karat gold extract, Guerlain’s foundation is the ultimate long-lasting luxury. And thanks to the 85% skincare-based formula, your skin will be rejuvenated with every wear – a win-win in our books.

Kevyn Aucoin The Etherealist Skin Illuminating Foundation

The Etherealist Skin Illuminating Foundation

Kevyn Aucoin The Etherealist Skin Illuminating Foundation

The ethereal, luminous glow this foundation offers will really have people thinking your makeup is Heaven sent. The satin finish is achieved through high-definition pearlescent pigments, ideal for minimising shadows and dark spots.

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Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation

Airbrush Flawless Foundation

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation

After years of working with some of the world's most famous faces, Charlotte Tilbury knows exactly how to create a radiant, smooth finish that last for hours on end. This formula blurs out pores and blemishes without highlighting uneven skin texture.

Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation

Ambient Soft Glow Foundation

Hourglass Ambient Soft Glow Foundation

Cheat a candlelit glow with Hourglass' new medium to full coverage foundation. The refined formula wears like second skin thanks to its 'blurring spheres', leaving skin looking plush, smooth and oh-so-luminous. It's vegan, too.

KVD Vegan Beauty Good Apple Full Coverage Liquid Foundation

Good Apple Full Coverage Liquid Foundation

KVD Vegan Beauty Good Apple Full Coverage Liquid Foundation

Following the success of its Good Apple balm foundation comes this liquid version which promises to have a serum-like feel; perfect if you find balm textures a tad too heavy. It makes light work of covering acne scars, hyperpigmentation and redness without melting in sunnier climes. One to throw in your bag once the weather starts warming up...

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Uoma Say What?! Weightless Soft Matte Hydrating Foundation

Say What?! Weightless Soft Matte Hydrating Foundation

Uoma Say What?! Weightless Soft Matte Hydrating Foundation

Uoma's foundation range (there's a whopping 51 hues) goes one step further by customising its formula to suit the different needs of various skin tone groups. Oily complexions will love the velvety matte finish.

Sculpted by Aimee Satin Silk Longwear Foundation

Satin Silk Longwear Foundation

Sculpted by Aimee Satin Silk Longwear Foundation

Full coverage foundations have a reputation for sitting in fine lines, but this sophisticated formula does anything but. Instead, it leaves the complexion looking extra polished yet oh-so-fresh, an impressive feat given how pigmented it is.

Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Foundation

Traceless Soft Matte Foundation

Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Foundation

Full coverage foundation doesn't have to mean drying, matte textures that get caught in your face hair. Tom Ford's 'traceless' formula is made up of blurring microsphere powders to give you a decent whack of coverage with a seamless finish.

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Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation

Sublime Perfection Foundation

Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Foundation

When the Mother of make-up Pat McGrath drops a foundation, you know it's going to be major. infused with the brand's Diamond Core Powder Technology and soft-focus pigments, this genius foundation is the secret to model-worthy skin in an instant.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation

Luminous Foundation

Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation

Outdoing herself once again, founder Anastasia Soare has developed a full coverage foundation that gives serious glow in a whopping 50 shades. Non-sticky and non-cakey, the skin-blurring formula gives a water-resistant luminous finish that lasts all day without needing to be set with powder.

Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation SPF15

Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation SPF15

Bobbi Brown Skin Long-Wear Weightless Foundation SPF15

This foundation is so smooth, it glides on like a dream and leaves skin with a hint of a dewy glow; making it a great option for those wanting a full-coverage base without the usual matte finish.

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YSL Touche Éclat Le Teint Foundation

Touche Éclat Le Teint Foundation

YSL Touche Éclat Le Teint Foundation

Now 20% Off

They say: 'eight hours of beauty sleep in a foundation.' We say, a smoothing base that's in it for the long haul, and doesn't falter when the going gets tough. Impressive stuff.

Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation

#FauxFilter Foundation

Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Foundation

If there's a make-up artist that knows a thing or two about looking flawless it's Huda Kattan. Water-resistant and totally budge-proof, this foundation can outlast a host of other foundations while remaining perfectly matte seamlessly blended.

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