Makeup

12 Best Foundations Under $15

Get flawless-looking skin with these face makeup beauties from L'Oreal, CoverGirl and more

October 26, 2009 | by Sarah Carrillo | 53 COMMENTS

No. 1: L'Oreal Paris Ideal Balance QuickStick Balancing Foundation for Combination Skin, $13.99 TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 9.4*
Why it's great: Readers love how "convenient" this product is. "Just toss it in your purse," one reader says. "When you go to the ladies room to freshen up, you can fix every flaw on your face!" Readers also say this "covers dark circles [and] discolorations � smoothly for a flawless look" and that it is "great � for combination skin." One reader even says it "works overtime as a concealer." And if you're looking for a natural finish, readers say this is it: "Most people don't believe I wear foundation, even when I tell them."

Agree? Disagree? Write your review here.

*At time of publication

13 of 13

products mentioned

Maybelline New York Pure Stay Powder Foundation

8.1

CoverGirl Advanced Radiance Age-Defying Liquid Makeup

8.6

Revlon New Complexion One-Step Compact Makeup

7.9

Revlon Age Defying Makeup Foundation with Botafirm...

8.8

Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Cream Foundation

9.0

Avon PERFECT WEAR Extralasting Liquid Foundation SPF 15

9.1

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer

8.3

Almay Clear Complexion Pressed Powder

6.8

mark Powder Buff Natural Skin Foundation

9.2

L'Oréal Paris Ideal Balance QuickStick...

8.7

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Origins make up is great too!

by RORO84 Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 02:00PM Report as inappropriate

I like the addition of the Avon and Almay foundations here. Great article!

by GigiSD Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 10:51PM Report as inappropriate

I agree with LittleBunny. I always buy L'Oreal foundation and I never get blemishes and I think it looks good all the time. I don't care to buy a brand I've never tried. Need some sample packets of some of the top rated brands. But I must ask, WHY isn't L'Oreal represented here?

by babycull Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 10:16PM Report as inappropriate

I completely agree with this article, well written and accurate! great job!

by Misselizabeth Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 11:45PM Report as inappropriate

Loreal makes great products

by LittleBunny Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 11:15PM Report as inappropriate

Nice info

by EricaF123 Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 07:39AM Report as inappropriate

Definitely going to try some of these, but I hate buying foundation!

by schien Monday, November 12, 2012 at 11:31AM Report as inappropriate

good to know for when i go shopping again.

by nicky22 Monday, November 12, 2012 at 09:50AM Report as inappropriate

No drugstore foundation for me. Strictly MAC or Smashbox.

by robyne00 Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 05:29PM Report as inappropriate

Whenever i use drugstore brand, I happen to have blemishes.

by lilas Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 10:58PM Report as inappropriate

Not surprised Revlon Colorstay is on here at all!

by Chris213 Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 05:03PM Report as inappropriate

I've never even seen that Covergirl Advanced Radiance foundation before.

by eatinglipstick Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 09:07PM Report as inappropriate

Love Revlon Colorstay....it actually does what its name says it does (and it doesn't look like someone smeared tomato sauce all over my face)!

by LAGlamRGrl Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 12:34AM Report as inappropriate

YES!!! My favorite came out on the list: mark powder buff natural skin foundation! The absolute best foundation for oily skin

by darkangel81 Monday, May 7, 2012 at 04:02PM Report as inappropriate

Love revlon color stay!!! Amazing coverage and staying power.

by lisiana_de_bem_justino Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 08:20PM Report as inappropriate

I really want to try the balance quick stick, sounds really convenient.

by marithinks Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 10:37PM Report as inappropriate

definitely going to have to try the revlon colorstay. i always hear about it!

by olkrav319 Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 01:43AM Report as inappropriate

I used to use Maybelline's Pure Stay foundation when I was in college and I don't know why I stopped. I used to love it.

by beautybody Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 09:40PM Report as inappropriate

i love this foundation but the only thing i dont like is that it drys fast so you have to work with it really fast but other than that i loveit

by mayra_alonzo Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 08:21PM Report as inappropriate

I like revlon photoready for dry skin. Not sure if it fits your budget though.

by FoundationLover Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at 10:12AM Report as inappropriate

I might try a couple of these! Thanks!

by powerwoman033 Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 10:59PM Report as inappropriate

I love revlon colorstay

by Kary43 Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 06:08PM Report as inappropriate

i hear a lot of good things about revlon colorstay

by NYdesichick Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 02:39PM Report as inappropriate

I don't usually wear foundation but a couple of these look like they are worth a try.

by skinpro Monday, January 30, 2012 at 11:54PM Report as inappropriate

I want to switch from a powder foundation (Bare Minerals) to a liquid foundation. I will try one of these.

by WiccanLady Friday, December 23, 2011 at 01:53PM Report as inappropriate

Im going to try a couple of these and see how they work.

by andyv1217 Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 09:03PM Report as inappropriate

I definitely want to try a few of these, but some of them are discontinued or hard to find :(

by kelser11 Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 01:23PM Report as inappropriate

im gonna try one of these.. i cant wait to try the L'oreal balance quick stick..

by Mssaralee18 Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 05:46AM Report as inappropriate

I want to try out the revlon colorstay. i haven't found that perfect foundation yet, from the reviews though, it sounds my best bet.

by aprillynnnxo Monday, October 17, 2011 at 05:53PM Report as inappropriate

I haven't worn foundation in over 4 months now. I switched to tinted moisturizer (Aveeno) and I use a bit of mineral powder for those peskya reas that need a bit more coverage

by Only1KimmieD Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 12:19PM Report as inappropriate

I love Covegirl foundation and it's cheap!

by LittleBunny Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 11:48AM Report as inappropriate

I am a huge fan of the Revlon Colorstay foundation! It works so well for me!

by vfalkow Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 11:47AM Report as inappropriate

I am a very big fan of CG...it's my favorite drugstore brand. I'm not too big on revlon however

by janellelora Monday, September 5, 2011 at 04:47PM Report as inappropriate

I'll have to make a note to try some of these out for myself

by Bon_Bon Monday, August 15, 2011 at 02:37AM Report as inappropriate

what about covergirl natureluxe?

by riley_beach Sunday, July 31, 2011 at 03:45PM Report as inappropriate

from my personal experience, I personally feel that Revlon is a reliable drugstore brand when it comes to foundations

by awan0912 Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 11:07PM Report as inappropriate

I've only tried one of those--Maybelline's powder foundation--and was really underwhelmed by it. It wasn't anything special at all! Now that I've found a good foundation, I'm sticking with it, even though it's almost thirty bucks!

by LipglossandSpandex Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 09:34PM Report as inappropriate

I only have two problems with Revlon's foundations that keep putting me off them continuously...and they are.... dont come with a pump and have an evil smell to them...yuck

by debjosh Friday, April 1, 2011 at 04:49AM Report as inappropriate

Colorstay is the first foundation I've used. It is the best for oily skin...would buy it again if it had a pump..

by ArmenianGal Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 12:48AM Report as inappropriate

I'm happy with my L'oreal True Match, but this article was an interesting read.

by Nanette1970 Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 12:14PM Report as inappropriate

I REALLY want to try Revlon colorstay foundation, i have heard so much good of it! Anyone think its no good??

by judyangel101 Sunday, February 13, 2011 at 06:33PM Report as inappropriate

because there are so many great drugstore foundations, i see no need to spend on high end foundations.

by kenya Sunday, December 26, 2010 at 10:50PM Report as inappropriate

I do not like "tube" foundations. I feel like I am rubbing lipstick all over my face.

by pynkNymphette Monday, November 22, 2010 at 07:39PM Report as inappropriate

At least 5 of these foundations are no longer made. This list is WAY out of date!

by lilinah Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 01:11PM Report as inappropriate

i always have the problem of having my foundation be too runny and thin. during the day, it tends to wear away, especially when iam exercising. i also can't stand whwen my foundation ocmes off when i touch my face. i have tried age defying make-up, which does work. only it does not stay on all day and comes off when i touch my face. i am going to try avon perfect wear foundation. i hope it works!

by Jessica007 Saturday, April 24, 2010 at 02:18PM Report as inappropriate

L'Oreal Paris True Match Super Blendable Liquid Foundation should have made this list. Some of these foundations are good but don't come in enough shades.

by BoxedCrayons Sunday, April 18, 2010 at 07:37AM Report as inappropriate

maybelline has made a big mistake by discontinuing rewind foundation with avacado it was excellant makeup it made your skin look flawless it as taken me months to find a makeup that looked good and didn't break me out.The new rewind has berry in it that irratates my skin and now i am all broken out and my eyes are puffy why does marketing keep changing makeup when they have something good that works. Now i will spend tons of money trying to find another makeup that works all the other maybelline makeup is to powdery I miss my rewind with avacado. I called maybelline and they said it was a marketing decission what do they know ...the public knows better what thier needs are.Then they put fruity acid in makeup are they crazy don't they relalize makeup goes all over your face next thing you know your eyes are all swollen up and now you need a puffy eye cream.....Very disappointed!

by shavaughn Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 09:05AM Report as inappropriate

I'm having the problem of looking white in pictures. BUT when I'm outside in the sunlight, my foundation on my face looks slightly darker than my neck. But when I take pictures indoors with the flash on, my face is extremely white. I use Maybelline 24 Hour Superstay makeup and I use their loose powder "Maybelline mineral powder finishing veil" to set it. I apply my liquid with a stippling brush, and the powder with a powder brush. Since the powder is white, does that have something to do with the "light reflecting" from the flash? I mean, I don't apply much of it though, so I'm not really sure. I saw the comment that said "maybe it's cause of the sunscreen" and I'm not sure if the liquid has sunscreen or not. And I can't really take the makeup out of Walmart to apply it to my jaw in the sunlight so yeah. I have the liquid in Nude right now, (and it's still a shade too dark out in the sun but too bright in pictures), and used to have the shade that's one shade darker than that (and never had that problem in pictures) but then it was 2 shades darker in the sunlight. Idk what to do. Should I go back to using the colored pressed powder? (Maybelline (the one that goes with the mousse makeup), its brown and it's pressed.) Please help!

by pandaeyes Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 08:02PM Report as inappropriate

my favorite isn't here! sally hansen natural beauty's your skin makeup foundation...$12.99 and AMAZING!

by abcbeautynyc Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 04:33PM Report as inappropriate

Maybelline makes a wonderful powder foundation. i think its called the Purestay, i wore bare skin all the way through camp a few years back and the last week i was there i purchased this at the grocery store, and whenever i had it on guys would compliment me! But not until i had the nakeup on, isnt that wierd?! So I guess this stuff really evens you out, it takes away dark circles and any kind of discoloration while leaving a smooth powder perfect finish!

by CBBabe Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 11:08AM Report as inappropriate

i have to say the avon is really good foundation is awesome!!

by avon_rep_susan Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 05:37PM Report as inappropriate

Due to this article needing MAJOR updating as many of these products are no longer even being made, I can only give this story a 1 rating.......Maybe someone could check the "effective date" of the articles before they're recyled and put back out on the site.....LOL At the very least, the products should be checked out before they're recommended just to ensure that they're even available!

by jenn8779 Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 02:26PM Report as inappropriate

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