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The seasons are shifting, so your makeup base should, too. As we (thankfully) leave the sweltering heat behind, a crisp autumn breeze is blowing in — and Jack Frost is right around the corner. That means the air is getting dryer, so it’s important to switch up your complexion products as you would your skin care. Luckily, Walmart has so many affordable, drugstore foundations to choose from, including formulas that hydrate the skin, control oil, blur pores, and even battle breakouts. We tested them all to nail down the best foundations at Walmart — from TikTok-viral products to hidden gems your makeup bag is missing out on.
In recent years, Walmart has become a bonafide beauty destination, offering hundreds of brands beyond tried-and-true drugstore staples like Maybelline and L’Oréal. The retailer’s Beauty Department provides so many opportunities to discover products you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere, like Japan’s mega-popular Tirtir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation. The site makes it easy to shop for new foundation makeup at Walmart, with options to filter products by formula type (like powder, cushion, or cream), browse Viral Beauty Picks, or even snag savvy deals at the Beauty Rollbacks page — which, now through September 30, is offering daily flash deals on bestselling makeup during the Beauty Glow-Up Event.
Plus, Walmart’s beauty department is continuing to grow. Just last month, the retailer expanded its online beauty aisles with a Premium Beauty marketplace, amounting to 1,000 additional products from top-shelf brands. What’s better than grabbing home essentials and a hefty beauty haul in one go?
Speaking of a makeup shopping spree, WWD Shop editors walked the virtual Walmart aisles and tried over 20 foundation formulas to determine the best of the best. We tested the below foundations for over three months, evaluating each based on coverage levels, skin-loving ingredients, flattering finishes, and all-day staying power.
Top Walmart Foundations of 2024
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Editor’s Choice: Top 3 Foundations at Walmart, Tested & Reviewed
If there were a one-size-fits-all foundation, WWD Shop editors certainly would have found it by now. We’ve tested hundreds of formulas and it’s no surprise that popular foundations can flop or fly depending on the skin type of the editor who tests them. For that reason, we’re recommending our top three foundations at Walmart that appeal to different skin types and application preferences. Our all-time favorites exceeded expectations for their comfortable feel, transformative finishes, and skin-nourishing formulas.
- Maybelline Super Stay 24HR Skin Tint Foundation: For one editor, lightweight coverage is a top priority, next to essential hydration and a skin-like finish. Maybelline’s bestselling skin tint ticks every box, as it conceals blemishes and redness without looking cakey, all while feeding the skin with brightening vitamin C. It’s comfortable for everyday wear — and its 24-hour staying power will keep you covered well into the night.
- L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Powder Foundation: Our testers agree this is the best powder foundation at Walmart. Whether you have oily skin or are looking for a powder that packs coverage, this silky-smooth formula offers a velvety, shine-free finish that blurs pores and texture with ease. Plus, it’s available in dozens of shades and undertones, so you’re bound to find your perfect match.
- Tirtir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation: Excellent for all skin types and incredibly buildable, the Tirtir foundation was an unexpected hit for our editors when we set out to test Walmart’s top foundations. The compact has everything you need for on-the-go application, including a powder puff and built-in mirror, but it’s the formula itself that blew us away. It has a skin-mimicking, demi-matte finish that you can build up for full coverage or blend out for a more translucent, barely-there effect.
Maybelline Super Stay 24HR Skin Tint Foundation
Editor testing review rating: 4.8/5 rating
Shade range: 18 shades available
Texture: Liquid
Finish: Natural
Key ingredients: Vitamin C
Our editors caught wind of this foundation’s hype on TikTok — and boy were we impressed. It’s technically a skin tint but its medium-buildable coverage wears more like a foundation. For that reason, it ticks all our boxes: It feels hydrating upon application, quickly melts into the skin, and has a feather-light feel through an entire day of wear. The formula is infused with brightening vitamin C, too, promising in brighter skin with consistent use.
Editor testing and review notes: “This Maybelline foundation at Walmart quenches dry skin. A little goes a long way and it builds well for fuller coverage. Despite its dewy finish, I was surprise that it lasted through a full day of work and a night out with no need for blotting — it wore beautifully on my combination skin and didn’t trigger any oil in my T-zone. It’s lightweight and comfortable for everyday wear.” — WWD Shop Writer & Producer Olivia Cigliano
Longwear: 5/5 rating | Coverage: 4.7/5 rating | Formula: 4.7/5 rating | Finish: 4.9/5
Price upon publish date of this article: $13.98
Editor’s Choice
L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Powder Foundation
Editor testing review rating: 4.9/5 rating
Shade range: 24 shades available
Texture: Powder
Finish: Matte
Powder foundation is a great option for oily skin types or those who’d rather not fuss with liquid and cream formulations. This foundation texture can also be a convenient setting powder to add coverage in choice areas or blot shine throughout the day — but there’s always a risk of a cakey, chalky appearance. This bestseller from L’Oréal is a safe bet.
According to our testers, the True Match Super-Blendable Powder Foundation is the best foundation at Walmart for oily skin. The micro-fine, medium-coverage pressed powder offers a smooth matte finish that mimics the skin’s natural texture. It comes with a handy applicator and mirror within the compact (perfect for touch-ups) and instantly blurs blemishes and discoloration in just one layer. Not only does the True Match line have an extensive shade range that caters to different undertones, but it also matches up to shades in different complexion products by the brand, like concealers and liquid foundation, so it’s easy to build an entire base routine.
Editor testing and review notes: “To the touch, this powder has a luxurious, creamy consistency that almost feels cooling. I was impressed by its substantial pigmentation, too — for me, one layer is plenty, but it’s certainly buildable for those looking for full coverage. I have combination skin, so I enjoy using this powder foundation as a complexion finisher after I’ve addressed problem areas with concealer, or if I want a little more coverage in certain spots after a liquid foundation.” — Cigliano
Longwear: 4.9/5 rating | Coverage: 5/5 rating | Formula: 5/5 rating | Finish: 5/5
Price upon publish date of this article: $9.98
Editor’s Choice
Tirtir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation
Editor testing review rating: 4.9/5 rating
Shade range: 30 shades available
Texture: Liquid
Finish: Semi-matte
Key ingredients: Hibiscus and red propolis extracts
The Tirtir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation is one of the buzziest complexion products of 2024. It’s made the rounds on TikTok, with millions of views and searches for try-on videos and reviews, where top beauty influencers are left stunned by its full coverage and flawless finish. Promising “glass skin,” it’s infused with soothing hibiscus and red propolis extracts (a bee-made resin with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties) with an essence-like texture. It applies with an oval-shaped puff, which helps the product melt into the skin with buildable coverage.
Editor testing and review notes: “Tirtir’s foundation was an unexpected hit for me, a gal who usually wears $60 foundation. The compact has everything you need for on-the-go application, including a powder puff and built-in mirror, but it’s the formula itself that blew us away. It has a skin-mimicking, demi-matte finish that you can build up for full coverage or blend out for a more translucent, barely-there effect.” — WWD Shop Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Commerce Editor Claire Sullivan
Longwear: 5/5 rating | Coverage: 5/5 rating | Formula: 4.8/5 rating | Finish: 5/5
Price upon publish date of this article: $22.50
E.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter
Editor testing review rating: 4.8/5 rating
Shade range: 12 shades available
Texture: Liquid
Finish: Radiant
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, squalane, finely-milled powders
According to one obsessed editor, this is the best E.l.f. beauty product worthy of your makeup bag. Is it technically a foundation? Nope. But she wears it like one. Consider the E.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter more of a skin-blurring tint that infuses a healthy skin glow with hyaluronic acid, squalane, and super fine shimmers. It offers light coverage that’ll even out the skin tone while allowing the natural skin to shine through, creating an enhanced, glowy complexion primed for more layers of product — or as a subtle perfector for no-makeup-makeup days.
Editor testing and review notes: “I don’t like to wear heavy foundation on the daily, but I definitely like to to even out my skin tone. This is a holy grail. The formula feels so lightweight and moisturizing, and, when used alone, looks very natural and lets my freckles pop through the product. The large doe foot applicator is great for clean and controlled coverage, too. It blends like a dream and visibly smooths the skin with a radiant finish.” — Cigliano
Longwear: 4.8/5 rating | Coverage: 4.4/5 rating | Formula: 5/5 rating | Finish: 5/5
Price upon publish date of this article: $14
L’Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluronic Tinted Serum Foundation
Editor testing review rating: 4.8/5 rating
Shade range: 14 shades available
Texture: Liquid serum
Finish: Radiant
Key ingredients: 1% hyaluronic acid, luminous mineral pigments
Walmart offers several skin care-hybrid foundation formulas, but the L’Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluronic Tinted Serum Foundation proved the best. We recommend it for combination or dry skin, as it leaves behind a more radiant finish, due to its healthy dose of hydrating hyaluronic acid and brightening mineral pigments. You’ll get medium-coverage from this formula, along with a skin-plumping effect and lightweight feel. Think: Your skin, but turned up a notch.
Editor testing and review notes: “This serum foundation blends so effortlessly into the skin with a buffing brush and provides natural, buildable, and transformative coverage. Compared to other serum foundations, it doesn’t have a running consistency and is comparable to a typical foundation texture. The dropper applicator makes dispensing product simple and sanitary (and a little fun). The hyaluronic acid in this foundation does not go unnoticed — it feels hydrating without overdoing it on the dew-factor.” — Cigliano
Longwear: 4.6/5 rating | Coverage: 4.7/5 rating | Formula: 4.9/5 rating | Finish: 5/5
Price upon publish date of this article: $15.18
Nyc Professional Makeup Bare With Me Blur Skin Tint Foundation
Editor testing review rating: 4.8/5 rating
Shade range: 24 shades available
Texture: Liquid
Finish: Matte
Key ingredients: Glycerin, matcha, and niacinamide
If you have oily skin and struggle to find a foundation that controls shine without weighing you down, look no further. While this formula is defined as a skin tint, it actually provides medium coverage, so it’s made to feel thin and lightweight. The kicker here is its filter-like finish that leaves the skin with a beautiful soft matte appearance. This best matte foundation at Walmart is not overly drying like other matte foundations, thanks to hydrating glycerin and brightening niacinamide.
Editor testing and review notes: “Where did my pores go? This foundation makes my skin look so velvety-smooth — I even had to pull out a magnifying mirror to make sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me. It applies well with both a beauty sponge and my usual buffing brush, and though the texture is a bit runnier than other foundations (which is typical of skin tints) I found it easy to work with. I definitely noticed that my combination skin appeared less shiny by the end of the day.” — Cigliano
Longwear: 4.8/5 rating | Coverage: 4.7/5 rating | Formula: 4.9/5 rating | Finish: 5/5
Price upon publish date of this article: $13.97
Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-In-One Foundation + Concealer
Editor testing review rating: 4.8/5 rating
Shade range: 24 shades available
Texture: Liquid
Finish: Natural matte
Calling all full-coverage foundation lovers — the Milani Conceal + Perfect foundation won’t leave you disappointed. It’s as if a concealer and foundation had a baby, resulting in a reliable, flawless formula you can play with for customizable, demi-matte coverage. It’s waterproof, transfer-proof, and, according to our testers, totally photogenic, so it’s great for special occasions or days when you want to up the glam-factor. Trust us, a little goes a long way with this best full coverage foundation at Walmart, so start with a few drops before committing to a full face.
Editor testing and review notes: “This foundation pumps out to a thick consistency, but thins out as you blend it into the skin. I find that I can skip concealer with this product, as it completely evens out my discoloration and covers spots in one step. I also like to mix it with my moisturizer on days when I want a more lightweight feel. I have combination skin and it doesn’t make me dry or oily, so, in my opinion, it’s worth a dry for every skin type.” — Cigliano
Longwear: 4.9/5 rating | Coverage: 5/5 rating | Formula: 4.7/5 rating | Finish: 4.7/5
Price upon publish date of this article: $11.18
Covergirl Clean Fresh Skin Milk Foundation
Editor testing review rating: 4.5/5 rating
Shade range: 15 shades available
Texture: Liquid
Finish: Dewy
Key ingredients: Coconut milk and aloe extract
The Covergirl Clean Fresh Skin Milk Foundation is one of the best foundations at Walmart for sensitive skin. This formula opts out of irritating sulfates and talc, while depositing healthy, soothing moisture from coconut milk and aloe extract. Its light coverage results in a naturally enhanced finish with a happy-skin glow.
Editor testing and review notes: “As someone with sensitive, dry skin, I’m always looking for clean foundations that prioritize moisturizing ingredients. This Covergirl formula looks like a tinted moisturizer and applies just like one. The creamy liquid has light but buildable coverage. There’s a slight smell to the formula, but the cushiony, cooling effect on my skin makes it well worth it. During my eight-hour testing period, I didn’t experience any smearing, smudging, or streakiness.” — Sullivan
Longwear: 4.3/5 rating | Coverage: 4.4/5 rating | Formula: 4.5/5 rating | Finish: 4.8/5
Price upon publish date of this article: $10.28
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Foundation
Editor testing review rating: 4.6/5 rating
Shade range: 8 shades available
Texture: Liquid
Finish: Dewy
Key ingredients: SPF 18
A staple in the drugstore aisle and on TikTok, the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Foundation always passes our tests with flying colors. This new formula now includes SPF 18 — a major win for product minimalists who like to combine multiple steps in one. Its signature sponge applicator is plush and soft and works to cleanly dispense an even layer of controlled product on the skin. It’s thin and comfortable, with buildable, dewy coverage that lasts all day. And, although it offers a limited range of shades, the formula is actually self-adjusting, so it’s not a struggle to find your color.
Editor testing and review notes: “This cream foundation leans into dewiness and shine, but in a flattering way (particularly for those dealing with dullness or dry patches). I’d liken it to a BB cream in coverage and hydration, but with the sheen of a liquid highlighter. This combination lends a really nice brightening, blurring effect that I didn’t experience with other foundations I tested. Best of all, it’s easy to layer other products on top — the formula features some ingredients you’d find in a great makeup primer.” — Sullivan
Longwear: 4.5/5 rating | Coverage: 4.6/5 rating | Formula: 4.7/5 rating | Finish: 4.6/5
Price upon publish date of this article: $11.12
- Become a Walmart+ member: Our best tip for savvy beauty savings at Walmart is to sign up for a monthly Walmart+ membership. You can test it out cost-free for 30 days and see why we recommend it; You’ll enjoy perks like free deliveries from your local store, year-round free shipping, and product returns from your doorstep. Plus, you’ll have first-in-line access to new beauty product drops, savings events like Black Friday, and even a free Paramount+ subscription. On top of all of that, the monthly $98 subscription will also unlock savings across travel, auto care, and gas through partnerships with top brands.
- Shop bestsellers: The best place to start on your Walmart foundation hunt is to browse the retailer’s bestseller lists. These products already come vetted and loved by beauty lovers you likely have skin concerns (and goals!) in common with, and can be filtered based on your formula preference. Just navigate from the “Beauty” page from Walmart’s “Departments” menu, select “Makeup Shop” and click “Foundations.” Then, sort the page by bestsellers, customer ratings, deals, and more. You can also see the most-loved options marked with “Best Seller” or “Popular Pick” badges on the upper left corner of standout products.
- Watch for flash deals: You can find Walmart’s flash beauty deals on the Beauty Rollbacks page. This is a great place to check for sales events and browse newly-added Premium beauty you won’t find discounted anywhere else. You can also keep tabs on Walmart shopping news by signing up for email alerts here, so you’re notified of new releases, exclusive offers, flash deals, and shopping inspirations.
- Shop verified storefronts: To ensure you’re not purchasing an expired or counterfeit product, it’s important to make sure you are purchasing from a verified Walmart storefront. An easy way to check this is by shopping directly from Walmart’s curated shopping page in the “Departments” drop-down menu. If a product catches your eye, double-check it’s a vetted brand by going to its page and clicking the link above the product name. If it says, for example, “Visit the L’Oréal Paris Store” and leads you to a branded storefront, this is a sure sign that you’re purchasing from the correct seller.
How We Tested and Selected the Best Foundations at Walmart
To curate a testing pool of Walmart foundations, WWD Shop editors scrolled through Walmart’s bestseller list and conducted field research at local New York City stores. We paid attention to formulas flying off the shelves and then cross-checked our findings with customer reviews and ratings. Additionally, we selected newly released formulas, TikTok-viral foundations, and revisited personal favorites. We were mindful in selecting foundations with wide shade ranges, skin-healthy ingredients, and options for various skin types.
For this shopping guide, four WWD Shop editors tested 20 Walmart foundations over three months. We wore each formula for at least 8 hours at a time in various settings, including a typical day at the office, sunny days outdoors, and late nights on the town. To determine the best performance of each foundation, we applied them using various methods, including buffing brushes, beauty sponges, and our own fingertips, as well as with and without a base layer of face primer. We then set them as we normally would in our personal makeup routine, by applying face powder, setting spray, or nothing at all to assess their finish and staying power. From there, we took note on how other makeup products played with each formula, and whether each Walmart foundation served as a reliable base for layering concealer and color cosmetics like blush and bronzer. Additionally, we examined special claims, such as transfer- or water-proof formulations, to assure readers of reliable staying power and coverage.
Why Trust WWD
Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections.
Meet the Testers
A panel of four WWD Shop product testers evaluated Walmart foundations for this comprehensive shopping guide. Our testers include Olivia Cigliano, the Commerce Writer & Producer at WWD and the author of this story, who is constantly reviewing foundations at WWD, as well as Claire Sullivan, the Senior Beauty and Lifestyle Commerce Editor for WWD, and two additional testers. In order to recommend formulas for various needs, our testers represent various skin tones, skin types, skin sensitivities, and makeup preferences.
Meet the Author
Olivia Cigliano is a Commerce Writer & Producer at Footwear News and WWD where she writes and edits shopping content across fashion, beauty, footwear, TikTok style trends, and more. Cigliano received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Emerson College, and her byline can be found in publications including Elite Daily and CR Fashion Book. She is currently based in New York City. At WWD, she is constantly testing and reviewing bestselling complexion products like foundation.
