Beauty tip: 8 Supermarket Foundations Makeup Artists Love

Top makeup artists have access to the world’s most luxe and high-end foundations: La Mer, Clé de Peau, Tom Ford, Armani—you name it, they’ve used it. So given makeup artists' experience and authority within, we wanted to know which pharmacy foundations they love—because if a supermarket foundation impresses a celebrity makeup artist, then you know it’s good.

We asked 10 artists to share their all-time favourite pharmacy brand foundation. There were some clear standouts (we’re looking at you, Maybelline Fit Me!), along with a few must-know application tricks, so keep reading!
1 / 10



Makeup Artist: Amber Dreadon

Clients: Lorde, Haim, Sofia Ritchie, Florence Welch

Follow: @amberdmakeup

Favourite Supermarket Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation ($20). Check out all the latest eBay coupon codes, promo codes & discounts

"I discovered how great this foundation is when I worked on a couple of shows with Maybelline this season at New York Fashion Week. The shade selection is so great. It just looks like great skin. It's lightly matte so it wears really well during the day. I like to use a damp Beauty Blender and lightly build the coverage starting through the centre of the face and working outward. I also love using a couple of shades darker across the cheeks for a natural tanned effect, also applied with the Beauty Blender."
2 / 10



Makeup Artist: Denika Bedrossian

Clients: Kelly Osbourne, Kiesza, Matt + Kim, Kelly Cutrone, Kelis

Follow: @dendoll

Favourite Supermarket Foundation: Revlon ColorStay Foundation ($35)

"A personal favourite of mine is the Revlon ColorStay Foundation. This magical foundation has incredible long-wear and buildable coverage. Its oil-control components help with shine and it sets matte to the skin. I am constantly searching and trying for new things. As an artist, you never know what will surprise you and be incredible. I actually tried this after seeing so many commercials and finally decided to go out a buy a few shades. Hooked ever since! Supermarkets provide such a large range of beauty items for reasonable prices. Who doesn't love a good deal—especially for something you love to use! Because our skintone changes through seasons, it's nice to use something affordable, so you can change shades as often as you need. I love to apply foundation with a fluffy brush, preferably a kabuki style, flat and fluffy, almost like a shaving brush. This allows the product to blend and buff into the skin, rather than it sitting on the surface. I like to finish it with a soft stipple using a blending sponge."
3 / 10



Makeup Artist: Joy Fennell

Clients: Runway and editorial for Oscar de la Renta, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, Vera Wang and Carolina Herrera

Follow: @JoyFennell

Favourite Supermarket Foundation: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm ($16)

"My favourite supermarket foundation is the Maybelline BB cream. I joined Maybelline's New York Fashion Week team a few seasons ago and was introduced to this product then. Once I started using this product backstage on all the models, I fell in love with it. Now I use it on a lot of my shoots and clients and everyone is surprised how much they end up loving it. It's such a 'no fuss' product. Once it goes on you don't have to worry about it for the entire day. I've used it on several Self magazine shoots where the models are running and jumping in 30-degree weather and this product did not move an inch. The number one way I like to apply it is with my fingers. It goes on really smooth and blends easily under the eye area. I also like to apply with a damp Beauty Blender if I want a little bit more coverage. The Beauty Blender helps the product build on top of itself easily."
4 / 10



Makeup Artist: Kelly Hunt

Clients: Lizzy Caplan, Amber Valetta, Sofia Richie, Danika Yarosh

Follow: @kellykathunt

Favourite Supermarket Foundation: L'Oréal True Match Super-Blendable Makeup ($30)

"My all-time favourite drugstore foundation is the L'Oréal True Match. I discovered it way back when I was in college and had a bad breakout from stressing over all those midterm papers. Now I use it on clients whenever I need a product with great coverage that doesn’t get cake-y. True Match is not only a buildable foundation but it's also oil free, which is great for anyone with trouble-prone skin. It leaves a nice, even, and airy finish comparable to more costly foundations, and it’s got great wear for clients headed to events. For the best finish and coverage manageability, I use a damp sponge. It's definitely my supermarket secret!"
5 / 10



Makeup Artist: Julie Harris

Clients: Allison Williams, Ashley Greene, Kate Hudson

Follow: @makeupqueennyc

Favourite Supermarket Foundation: Revlon Nearly Naked Makeup ($26)

"I love the consistency and colour choices of Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation.I was sent the product when I worked with Olivia Wilde, so I applied it on myself first and realised I liked how natural it looked on the skin. It has light to medium coverage with a satin finish to give the skin a luminous and flawless look without feeling heavy. I like to apply it with a damp Beauty Blender sponge for light coverage, without looking cake-y."
6 / 10



Makeup Artist: Matthew VanLeeuwen

Clients: Lea Michele, Camila Alves, Minka Kelly

Follow: @makeupmatthew

Favourite Supermarket Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation ($20)

"My favourite supermarket foundation is Fit Me by Maybelline. I recieved the full line of foundations recently and immediately fell in love. The formula goes on so smooth and the texture is matte and silky without being dull or chalky looking. It has a beautiful skin-like glow that I adore! The coverage is buildable and it hides imperfections like a dream. It's my new go-to! I usually apply it with a Beauty Blender or a Shiseido foundation brush."
7 / 10



Name: Nicole Walmsley

Clients: Katheryn Winnick, Katrina Bowden, Phoebe Tonkin

Follow: @nicolewalmsley

Favourite Supermarket Foundation: L'Oréal True Match Super-Blendable Makeup ($30)

"L’Oréal's True Match Super-Blendable Makeup is a great supermarket foundation. It's an oil-free formula that provides light to medium coverage. I love that it comes in 33 shades! I found it because friends are always asking me which makeup to use, and I feel like most everyone who tries this will find a shade that works for them. It's divided into warm, neutral, and cool colours, setting it apart from other drugstore brands. I suggest using the tips of your fingers to blend the makeup into your skin. It has a very natural finish, and it layers well so you can add more makeup where needed and less where you don't need as much coverage."
8 / 10



Makeup Artist: Sage Maitri

Clients: Judy Greer, Jessica Capshaw, Melissa Fumero

Follow: @sagemaitri

Favourite Supermarket Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth Foundation ($20)

"My favourite foundation from the drugstore is Maybelline Fit Me Dewy + Smooth. I discovered this after forgetting to pack my personal makeup bag on a trip. I always look for formulations that are labelled dewy and hydrating. This is actually oil-free and has buildable coverage. When doing my own makeup, I prefer to use my fingers to warm up the product and pat into the skin. My other go-to application is with a dampened Beauty Blender, tapping into skin.”
9 / 10



Makeup Artist: Robert Sesnek

Clients: Chrissy Teigen, Kate Upton, Kiernan Shipka

Follow: @robertsesnek

Favourite Supermarket Foundation: Revlon ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup ($35)

"I love Revlon ColorStay Whipped Creme foundation. I needed a buildable cream foundation for a client that required a little more coverage, but my cream foundation of choice was not available in her shade. I gave this a try and everyone was blown away by the results! Since this is medium to heavy coverage, I always start with a damp Beauty Blender or sponge and sheer it out, then build as we need if areas require more coverage."