Who doesn’t love liquid foundations? This tried-and-true base makeup essential provides complexion perfection in just a few swirls, joined by beauty besties like concealer and color corrector for the ideal canvas. While we have a lot of love for other formulas, there’s just something that hits differently about the art of knowing how to apply liquid foundation. It’s customizable based on your preferred coverage and personal style and helps to create a beautifully blurred effect for Insta-worthy skin in seconds. Though eyeshadows and eyeliners are often credited with being the most transformative makeup techniques, we truly don’t think that liquid foundation gets nearly enough credit. It’s quite literally the base of all your most memorable makeup looks, and you can easily find the best liquid foundations for all skin types, coverage, and seasons.
Now that we’ve done the proper gushing over the best full coverage liquid foundations and all the glam look that comes with them, it’s time to shamelessly plug our UD favorites. Does Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation take the cake (as in, non-cakey coverage always) or what? It just celebrated its double-digit birthday last year, and has delivered personalized coverage and perfectly smooth lewks an entire decade. It even has its own travel companion in the form of the Stay Naked Correcting Concealer. Of course, you’ll also be obsessed with the Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator, your go-to for medium coverage, major hydration, and a 24-hour glow that never goes out of style. Looking for a lightweight, long-lasting, 100% vergan and ultra-luminous product that sets the stage for all your favorite looks? Check out the best liquid foundations from Urban Decay, and which one is right for you.
Makeup We Mention
Stay Naked Hydromaniac Fluide Hydratant Teinté Éclat
Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation
Why it’s the best
Countless publications will tell you why Stay Naked is the real deal for your complexion. Who What Wear praises the diverse shade range (50 shades, baby) and says that it “lasts so long and doesn’t look too cakey. What more can you ask for in a foundation?” We totally agree, babe, but that’s just the beginning of what Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation can do for your complexion. Meanwhile, POPSUGAR calls it out as one of the best liquid foundations for oily skin courtesy of a balancing matte finish that lasts up to 24 hours. Love that for you. All this being said, the opinions we care about the most are that of our UD fam, and we know you’ll make Stay Naked your holy grail foundation for any occasion.
Don’t let the ironically cheeky name fool you, as Stay Naked actually offers not one, not two, but three coverage levels for your complexion. The ultra-buildable longwear foundation is made for those who switch their makeup mood on a regular basis. While medium-full coverage is the default setting, it’s also able to create a lightweight look for barely-there makeup days in between your flawless glam. Seriously, just take a look at the Urban Decay Instagram. Every last setting helps to even out your skin and minimize imperfections for an extra gorgeous matte finish, and it’s actually incredible. UD is all about elevating your look whenever you feel like it, and Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation is the perfect tool for matte lovers in any moment.
Who should use it?
The best matte liquid foundations have a solid reputation for many things. The first is being an absolute essential for those with acne-prone or oily skin, as this finish helps to absorb excess oil and keep your face from looking greasy or shiny. The famously long-lasting coverage minimizes pores and more skin imperfections throughout the day, while Stay Naked is also transfer-proof to ensure that sweat or oil never cause a meltdown. Just listen to a September 2022 review from TransBeauty90, who can’t get enough of Stay Naked for their oily skin.
“I live in Texas so of course it’s very hot, but this foundation really holds up,” they say about the beloved matte liquid foundation, “I work 8 hours at an airport and I take my breaks outside sometimes and at the end of the day I get home and my face is still beat!” Is there any greater compliment? Skin type aside, a liquid matte foundation like Stay Naked is also perfect for a certain lifestyle.
Do you live and breathe classic glam, consisting of polished and airbrushed skin? Do you want to cover up more imperfections such as blemishes, scars, or larger pores? Do you spend a lot of time outside and need an extra long-lasting liquid foundation to beat the heat, even with our All Nighter Setting Spray on lock? If the answer is “yes” to all of the above, you need Stay Naked and all the best liquid matte foundations in your beauty collection. Like, yesterday.
When should I use it?
If you hadn’t gleaned from the above, Stay Naked liquid foundation is totally hot girl approved. And by that, we mean that it should be worn during the spring and summer seasons to heat things up in more ways than one. The up-to-24-hour matte finish stays on your face all day through blood, sweat, tears (okay, maybe not blood), and whatever else, remaining locked in place even as you sweat outside during your summer job. Our suggestion? Get out your best liquid foundations like Stay Naked right after spring fashion week. You’ll be fully covered through graduation events, summer-beginning bashes, beach days, and more, and have the best base to recreate all the spring 2023 beauty trends!
Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator
Why it’s the best
Hydromaniac is a newer addition to the UD family, but has quickly earned a reputation as one of the best liquid foundations, ever. Or is she a skincare essential that just so happens to provide an ultra-glowy and practically-perfect complexion? It’s actually both, and that’s the beauty of your new must-have hybrid product. Voted winner of the “Best Tinted Moisturizer” category in the 2021 Glamour Beauty Awards, Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator is beloved by TikTok makeup artists and no-makeup-makeup enthusiasts everywhere. This dewy liquid foundation has a “your skin but better” feel with major appeal, especially to those who live and breathe for a natural sparkle, and you’ll see why the second you apply it.
Let’s start with makeup, and then we’ll fill you in on everything that Hydromaniac does for your skin. Cool with you? This dewy liquid foundation provides medium coverage that feels hydrated for up to 24 hours, plus a fresh glow finish that’s super-natural and never dull. It’s ideal for barely-there beauty looks or understated soft glam, as the lightweight formula could totally trick people into thinking you’re hardly wearing any makeup! Whether you’re going for a SoCal girl natural glow or a blurred and beautiful effect that soft glam dreams are made of, Hydromaniac is one of the best liquid foundations for a wide range of lewks.
As for the skincare benefits, they’re simply the best. Hydromaniac contains Kombucha Filtrate to detoxify and nourish skin along with Marula Oil to protect and hydrate. Your skin is locking in moisture with every second you wear this dewy liquid foundation, providing 24 hours of hydration to send dry patches packing. This Urban Decay face makeup essential is ultra-glowy, great for your skin, and gives off great vibes for any occasion. What are you waiting for, dewy skin enthusiasts?
Who should use it?
Those with dry skin, or combination skin that tends to be on the drier skin, will be obsessed with Hydromaniac for obvious reasons. Nobody should have to sacrifice a dewy liquid foundation look to avoid further drying out their skin, and this Urban Decay face makeup must-have lets you have your glowing complexion and wear it too. The long-lasting coverage and 24 hours of moisture means that you won’t have to worry about dryness, dullness, or any other annoying skin problems. Bonus tip: lock in your Hydromaniac dewy liquid foundation for up to 16 hours with the All Nighter Vitamin C Setting Spray. This product also provides an extra boost of brightness, skin repair and even more healthy hdyration!
When should I use it?
While the beach-babe worthy glow of Hydromaniac may trick you into thinking it’s made for summer, it’s also perfect for the colder months! You may be tempted to wrap your face in a thick liquid foundation to protect against dropping temperatures this fall and winter. However, that’s actually a less-than-ideal move, as the chilly weather is already drying on your skin and a matte or too-thick foundation can make things even worse. Ugh. Instead, you should invest in a lightweight and hydrating essential that lets your winter skin breathe and sparkles like the holiday decorations around you. Like the Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator, perhaps? The natural ingredients within this liquid foundation fight against winter skincare woes, like dryness or increased acne, while providing up to 24 hours of hydration to lock in moisture.
Since many of our UD fam typically do more full-face glam makeup around the holidays, from Halloween eye art to a cranberry smokey eye for Thanksgiving to all the holiday parties, you need to treat your skin with kindness. Hydromaniac is an easy way to sparkle through the fall and winter seasons while sneaking a bit of skincare into your packed makeup schedule. Your complexion will thank us when it’s bouncing with hydration and beaming at your family get-togethers… we promise!
In This Article
