As someone who has spent more than two decades daily covering spots as a side effect of having PCOS, finding the best foundation (opens in new tab) under the sun has been something of an obsession. Add in that I write a lot for publications on beauty, as well as working as a make-up artist, and you can probably understand why I often try new formulas and have lists and lists of the bests: best tinted moisturiser (opens in new tab), best foundation for mature skin (opens in new tab), best foundation for oily skin (opens in new tab), etc.
That said, No7 hasn’t really been on my radar for foundation. Mascara, YES (the Full 360 Mascara (opens in new tab) is a joy, and I regularly recommend it as a purse-friendly option). Skincare, you bet. But I’d never really got into their foundations.
I have now learned that this was an error of epic proportions – they make loads of options for different finishes and application preferences, and they’re hugely affordable, making them a very savvy brand to tap up at any point.
I tested them all as if I were thinking of buying them for day-to-day life, asking myself how easy they were to apply, how long they stuck around for, and how they fared on my skin in general. Here are the ones I think you should know about:
No 7 Stay Perfect Stick Foundation
Best for on-the-go
(Image credit: Madeleine Spencer)
No7 Stay Perfect Stick Foundation
This was a perfect addition to my on-the-go make-up bag—it’s lightweight, and the stick format means I could just swipe it on bits where my foundation had worn off, and blend it with my fingers. I liked it with a little bit of powder over shiny bits, but I do lean towards some shine so you may well be fine without any.
One thing to note: it’s easy to apply quite a lot if you push down hard, and I also found it transferred onto polo necks if I wasn’t careful.
For
- Offers full coverage
- Handy if you need to reapply
- Doubles up as a concealer
- Can be buffed out with a brush for a lighter finish
Against
- It is easy to apply more than you intended
- The mousse finish can transfer onto clothes
No7 Essentially Natural Foundation
Best for a whisper of coverage
(Image credit: Madeleine Spencer)
No7 Essentially Natural Foundation
I felt like this was skincare plus – yes, it offered some coverage, but I did the bulk of hiding spots and redness with concealer, while this added a soft focus veil and a LOT of hydration to my skin.
In terms of staying power, it’s precisely what you might expect from a hydrating, light-coverage foundation in that yes, it hung on for a while (I noticed it was still doing good work of making my skin look glossy during the middle of the afternoon, and I’d applied it at 8am), but there didn’t seem to be much left in the evening when I cleansed my face.
For
- Makes skin look glossy and healthy
- Great packaging – lightweight and hygienic
- It’s hydrating
- Adds a slight blur effect to skin
Against
- Isn’t buildable to a fuller coverage
- It doesn’t stick around for a long day
No7 Stay Perfect Foundation
Best long-wear option
(Image credit: Madeleine Spencer)
No7 Stay Perfect Foundation
If you’re busy and want to fling on a foundation knowing it’s not going to require much maintenance throughout the day, this is probably the one for you.
I needed concealer on spots as it’s thoroughly a medium-coverage foundation, but I found that the mild redness around my nose was covered by it.
The finish is velvety, though some sheen broke through on my t-zone by the evening, as you can see in the above picture, which I took at 9pm, after having worn it for more than 12 hours.
For
- Stays put and doesn’t migrate into wrinkles or crevices
- Doesn’t become too shiny over the course of the day
- The SPF 30 is a handy addition
Against
- The glass packaging is a bit bulky
- It offers medium coverage so you’ll still need concealer
No7 Beautifully Matte Foundation
Best for a matte finish
(Image credit: Madeleine Spencer)
No 7 Beautifully Matte Foundation
I loved the finish of this on my oily t-zone: it took down shine, but didn’t make my skin look flat or lifeless as too much powder can. It didn’t move a lot or disappear. I found using it down the centre of my face where shine is most prevalent worked best, then used a more luminous formula on my cheeks where I’m ever so slightly more dry.
A note if you opt for it: applying it with a brush gave me the best finish.
For
- Mattifies without looking chalky
- Doesn’t crease over time
- Makes skin look very smooth
Against
- Bulky glass packaging
- You’d ideally need a brush to apply
No 7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Serum Foundation
Best skincare/make-up hybrid
(Image credit: Madeleine Spencer)
No 7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Serum Foundation
- Containing a cocktail of vitamins A, C, and E, this is part light to medium coverage foundation, part skincare. It wore really well, not settling into dry patches or making the creases around my eyes look pronounced.
- The illuminating bit, by the way is very much true – it made me look glowing and healthy, even when I was nursing a hideous cold.
For
- It looks after skin thanks to the vitamins and peptides in the formula
- It makes skin look very glowing
Against
- The glass packaging is a bit bulky
- It might be too shiny on very oily skin