5 serum foundations you need to try now
Ace your base
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They’re the high-tech hybrid of make-up and skincare. Here’s why the experts want you to embrace a base with benefits.
We may be a nation of fresh-faced outdoorsy types, but Australia sure has a love affair with foundation. In fact, according to a 2023 study on makeup – something we spend roughly $2.5 billion of our hard-earned collective dollars on each year – half of those surveyed named foundation as their most essential makeup product. (For the record, mascara was a distant second.)
Given the fact we tend to use foundation as a base, it’s easy to understand why. Who doesn’t want glowing, blemish-free, even-toned, rule-that-Zoom skin? (Although, for the record, we’re totally here for skin realism. Those freckles? Gorgeous. Adult acne? Join the club.)
But the irony in all this, is that while layering on our products of choice may have instant but transient benefits, it’s typically been at the detriment of our skin. That is until now, thanks to one of the fastest-growing product categories in the cosmetic landscape. It’s time, fellow cosmetic aficionados, to enter your Serum Foundation Era.
To Michelle Sciara, a career beauty therapist, expert in dermal technology and national education manager for InSkin Cosmedics, spending time and money on great skincare, then using an old school foundation is akin to going to the gym then picking up a Big Mac on the drive home.
“As therapists, we often see people following fantastic skincare routines whose great work is undone by makeup options that clog, aggravate and work against the skin,” she says. “Serum foundations, on the other hand, are all about extending the benefits of your skincare.”
So how exactly does serum foundation differ from regular base, or from a tinted serum, for that matter? Unlike the latter, which is a regular serum with a subtle tint or bronzer tossed into the mix, serum foundations are full coverage products that contain little to no irritant ingredients, and are infused with soothing, hydrating and typically anti-ageing active ingredients at a potency that can make an impact.
Think niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, antioxidants and peptides. “There should be no silicones, no fillers, and definitely no talcs, which are in a lot of mineral make ups now, but are not beneficial to your skin,” Sciara notes.
Professional makeup artist and beauty expert Nikkia Joy, who has almost a million followers on YouTube, has had a front seat to the rise of this wonder category.
“Three or four years ago, serum foundations were virtually unheard of. Now most of the major brands have at least some version of one,” she says, noting that at present her favourite is “the L’Oreal True Match Nude Tinted Serum; it gives skin a gorgeous natural glow and is still a beautiful long lasting formula. The KVD Beauty Good Apple Serum foundation is also great. It gives a really full coverage look but still feels breathable, and it lasts all day.”
Coverage is the key word both experts mention frequently. The reason? In the past, serum foundations tended to fall on the sheer side, meaning you needed to layer (or add some of your regular base colour) for heavier coverage. Not so now.
“One of the main misconceptions about serum foundations is that they offer little to no coverage because they have a lighter, more fluid texture than traditional foundations,” agrees Sianan Scrivner, another of Australia’s most-followed beauty influencers, whose content MO is radiant, natural-looking skin. “In reality, many serum foundations are designed to be buildable, meaning you can layer them to get the coverage you need.”
Sciara echoes the sentiment. “You apply it the same way as regular foundation, remove it the same way. It’s buildable the same way. The finish is the same. You’re not sacrificing benefits, only gaining. It’s simply extending your skincare into your makeup,” she stresses. “And because they’re formulated to be gentle and free from chemicals, they’re a good choice for anyone with sensitive skin.”
One caveat, though. Adding a serum foundation to your make-up bag doesn’t mean you should cut back in other areas. “It doesn’t matter how much skincare your foundation has in it, you still need to apply skincare underneath,” stresses Joy. “The ingredients in the foundation will support your skin’s hydration but they’re not at a high enough concentration to replace your usual skincare products.” Point duly noted and approved.
An expert guide to applying it right:
Step 1 - Know your skin: “If it’s dry, look for key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin or squalane that help lock in moisture and prevent flakiness,” says Scrivner. Joy suggests looking for keywords like ‘transfer-proof’ and ‘long-lasting’ if you have normal or oily skin, as these suggest oil control or mattifying properties.
Step 2 - Use a light touch: “Start with a small amount of foundation and apply it in thin layers to avoid cakiness,” says Scrivner. “This lets you build coverage gradually as needed.”
Step 3 - Pick the right tool: “These formulas are so flexible and easy to use, the way you apply them determines the finish you get,” says Joy. “Typically you’ll get more coverage if you use a foundation brush, less with a sponge and even less with your fingers.”
Top super serum foundations
L’Oreal True Match Nude Tinted Serum, $45 (10 shades), priceline.com.au
Great coverage, infused with a special type of hyaluronic acid 50 times smaller than usual, meaning it sinks deeper into the skin to hydrate, and leaves it looking plump and smooth.
1Skin Treatment Fusion Foundation, $62 (8 shades), ocosmedics.com
A high-end, silky-finish foundation made from 97 per cent natural ingredients, including botanical peptides, essential fatty acids, antioxidants and soothing oils.
KVD Beauty Good Apple Full Coverage Serum Foundation, $60 (40 shades), sephora.com.au
Designed to cover blemishes, acne scars, open pores and the like, but still light, natural-looking, and packed with skin-boosting vitamins and AHAs.
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Lift & Firm Foundation, $75 (10 shades), myer.com.au
Using the same Ceramide Triple Complex in the brand’s anti-ageing products, this new medium-to-full coverage base feels like velvet on the skin and doubles the TLC.
Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick, $38, meritbeauty.com
The cult American brand loved for its streamlining ethos arrived in Australia this month - perfect timing for those keen to try this genius foundation-concealer stick with benefits.
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