It’s not an overstatement to say that wearing foundation during COVID-19 comes with its own unique set of problems. Besides getting onto your face mask, the formula can also accentuate pesky dry patches caused by skin mask irritation. Additionally, wearing face masks day in day out with a full face of foundation underneath can also cause and exacerbate “maskne” — acne and breakouts caused by wearing a face mask for prolonged periods of time.
Below, we’ve compiled some lightweight foundation alternatives you can add to your makeup arsenal when you want to give your skin some added R&R, or just create a more natural look that wouldn’t budge under a face mask.
Touted as the world’s first skincare makeup, this is infused with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to give you glowing skin. It also has Light Reflective Technology that allows light to bounce off your skin for a glowy, pearlised finish.
Dr. Jart’s cult-favourite multitasker isn’t just hype. Formulated with skin-loving ingredients like centella asiatica, niacinamide, panthenol, beeswax and adenosine, this green-to-beige colour correcting treatment conceals redness while coating skin in a veil of moisture. Bonus: The SPF 40 protects skin against harmful UV rays.
Steeped with hyaluronic acid to plump the skin, the lightweight CC cream does a great job in diminishing redness, minimising the appearances of blemishes and generally evening out the complexion without looking cakey. It genuinely feels like you aren’t wearing anything on your skin. Applying it with your fingertips creates a dewy, your skin but better finish, but you can build up the coverage with a damp sponge or a brush.
Formulated with edelweiss, a powerful antioxidant, this sunscreen delivers a hefty dose of skincare while protecting your skin from the sun’s rays. It blurs out fine lines and pores to deliver a lit-from-within radiance with zero white cast.
An oldie but goodie, this tinted moisturiser was formulated specifically for those with combination skin (dry face and oily t-zone), and provides lightweight coverage with an SPF of 20 that will offer protection from the elements all day long.
The Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint is made with a patented process that suspends pure pigments into a jelly-like aqueous solution. When applied, this luxurious formula immediately hydrates and soothes skin while blurring imperfections, leaving you with the perfect #nomakeupmakeup finish. Each bottle of Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint comes with a small dense brush that makes the application mess-free.
When your skin feels like it needs an extra punch of glow, this is the product to reach for. This tinted moisturiser offers the coverage of a lightweight foundation, but also includes ingredients that provide hydration and antioxidants with soothing properties, like green tea, rose water, and lavender. A little skincare added in with our makeup? We’ll take it.
This tone-up cushion base pulls out all the stops, as it is not only a colour-correcting primer that will cancel out any redness or dark spots, but also includes a formula that is meant for illumination and hydration.
Great for dry or mature skin, the Hourglass Illusion Skin Tint is enriched with an advanced form of hyaluronic acid that reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and the pearlescent pigments add glow to the skin.
This refreshing CC Creme really delivers on that no-makeup makeup base. Packed with antioxidants (specifically, vitamin B3), this lightweight, shade-matching product is said to fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation, smooth uneven, ruddy complexions, and generally improve the look of your complexion. The best part? It doubles up pretty well as a glowy primer if you want to layer concealer or a heavier foundation on top.