You know the drill by now: the best foundation (opens in new tab) you can buy won’t form a mask on your skin, but rather cover most of what you need covering, and add a unifying veil so that your skin does that ‘you, but better’ thing. And I’ve always had a hunch Lancôme foundation offers those things.
Now, I am not foundation’s regular customer; as a beauty editor, make-up artist, and sufferer of acne, my needs change regularly. Sometimes when my skin is behaving well, I am all about the best tinted moisturisers (opens in new tab). Other times, I am hitting up the best foundation for oily skin (opens in new tab) for my t-zone and the best foundation for dry skin (opens in new tab) on my cheeks.
One thing that remains constant: I want my skin to look smooth, healthy, and blemish-free.
Enter Lancôme, which has been on my radar for years as a brand which delivers solidly researched and tested make-up. I’ve used loads of their products on my face and on clients’ for years, and found them very reliable.
I therefore embarked on this trial of all their foundations with clear criteria: I wanted to find the ultimate options for different coverage, needs, and finishes—but while keeping the rule that they need to create the healthy, uniform skin I know Lancôme does so well.
After testing them all meticulously, these are the three Lancôme foundations I fell in love with.
1. Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear SPF15 Foundation
Best all-rounder
(Image credit: Madeleine Spencer)
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear SPF15 Foundation
The thing I loved most about this foundation is that it did so many things at once: it added glow, but also finished velvety; concealed redness, but didn’t look like a mask when on. And my favourite of all: I usually wear powder to contain my greasy t-zone, but didn’t need any with this.
For
- Lasts for ages without creasing
- Offers a velvety finish
- It isn’t greasy but doesn’t remove all glow
- Makes skin look beautifully even
Against
- Might not be moisturising enough on drier skin
- The glass bottle doesn’t make it the easiest foundation to travel with
2. Lancôme Teint Idôle Ultra Wear Care and Glow
Best for backlit glow
(Image credit: Madeleine Spencer)
Lancôme Teint Idôle Ultra Wear Care and Glow
I started testing this after I’d had a cold, which was perfect timing – my usually-oily skin was quite dry, and this added the dose of glow I so desperately needed.
The clever thing about this one if your skin gets greasy over time: while it’s designed to create luminous skin, it also contains silica to absorb excess oil. I wore it without any powder on in the above picture and felt really happy with the result.
For
- Adds luminosity
- Doesn’t get greasy over the course of the day
Against
- The glass packaging isn’t overly travel-friendly
- It you have an oily t-zone, it might not be the one – or you’ll have to powder
3. Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer
Best for customisable coverage
(Image credit: Madeleine Spencer)
Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer
If you’re someone who has bits you’d prefer to cover, and bits you like to leave with no make-up on at all, this one is going to be your new best friend.
I used it on good skin days to cover the areas around my nose and chin where I am always a bit red or have some scarring.
A word to those of you who want to use it on acne or more actively cross skin: it will cover well, but don’t expect it to work miracles—you’re looking at a medium-to-full product, here.
For
- The doe-foot applicator means you can dot it wherever you want a little coverage
- It blends really easily into the portions of skin with no make-up on
- It looks like juicy, bouncy skin on
Against
- While it can conceal, I wouldn’t say it was up to the job of big spots
- The formula is buildable
- It’s easy to sling in your travel bag