To help you pick the right formula, we asked nine makeup artists to share their all-time favourite drugstore foundations (although if you're looking for a definitive guide, these are the best foundations in the world). There were some clear drugstore standouts (we're looking at you, Maybelline Fit Me!), along with a few must-know application tricks.
Favourite Affordable Foundation: Rimmel Fresher Skin (£8)
"This is The One for acing your base, thanks to its super-light and creamy formula, plus top shade selection. It lets skin breathe while giving a natural, expensive-looking finish when blended on with fingers, and then buffed over with a fluffy brush."
Favourite Affordable Foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation (£7)
"I discovered how great this one was 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 Beautyblender and lightly build the coverage starting through the centre of the face and working outwards. I also love using a couple of shades darker across the cheeks for a natural tanned effect, also applied with a Beautyblender."
Favourite Affordable Foundation: Revlon ColorStay Foundation (£13)
"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 for and trying 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!
"Drugstores 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 skin tone changes throughout the 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 sitting on the surface. I like to finish it with a soft stipple using a blending sponge."
Favourite Affordable Foundation: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm (£6)
"My favourite 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 90-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 Beautyblender if I want a little bit more coverage. The Beautyblender helps the product build on top of itself easily."
