Imagine being at an event and having to use the restroom now and then just to touch-up your smudging makeup. This experience can be quite frustrating. However, you can prevent this by wearing a long-lasting foundation, especially formulas that are water-resistant.
Foundations can’t be removed from your makeup regimen, as their application forms the major part of any beauty-enhancing routine. Having a foundation that stays-in-place all day leaves you with an improved appearance and a flawless complexion.
This guide looks to bring you up-to-date on the best waterproof drugstore foundation for your skin. Not only can you easily get these products, but they’re also budget-friendly and provide satisfactory results.
What are Drugstore Waterproof Foundations?
It’s not every product you can walk into a drugstore to purchase, some are only available on manufacturers’ websites. This doesn’t make drugstore products less effective or of low-quality. They’re, in fact, as potent as other product types.
Waterproof foundations are makeup formulas that neither budge, smudge, wash-off, or melt when in contact with moisture. Some of these products repel moisture from the skin surface without leaving it dehydrated.
Many brands out there add the label ‘Waterproof’ to their products, but only a few are what they claim to be. To avoid falling into this trap, we’ve curated a list of the top drugstore waterproof foundations for you.
Before the list, it’s vital for you to know certain criteria to consider before choosing a foundation formula. These criteria also guided us while curating this list. They are:
Type of Skin
Your skin type determines the form and type of finish your foundation should come with. Matte finish is more recommendable for oily and combination skin than dry skin. In contrast, satin and natural finish look more appealing on dry skin type.
When it comes to form, foundation sticks and powder work well for dry skin types, while liquid formulas are great for oily skin.
However, this doesn’t indicate that liquid foundation can’t be used on dry skin or powdered formula can’t be used on oily skin. It’s just a reminder to always ensure that the formula you’re choosing is recommended for your skin type.
Foundation shades
An excellent foundation should come in a wide range of shades. This makes it easier for you to pick a formula that matches your skin tone.
Using a shade that doesn’t fit your skin tone leaves you with flawed appearances and an uneven complexion.
Sunscreen
It’s not every foundation formula that boasts of SPF addition, but having a formula that contains it is a plus. It offers your skin protection against sun rays while ensuring your makeup lasts longer.
Best Drugstore Waterproof Foundation in 2023
Reading online reviews for features, pros, cons, and affordability is also an excellent thing to do, not leaving out reviewing the ingredients’ list. Without further delay, below are the products that made our list:
UCANBE Matte Pro Longwear Liquid Foundation
This foundation formula comes in liquid form. It is most suitable for individuals with oily and combination skin. The waterproof face foundation is transfer-resistant and stays-in-place for 24hrs.
It is sweat-proof, meaning it can withstand the most intense daily activities. The oil-free foundation provides you medium buildable coverage to provide full coverage for blemished areas on the face.
It is non-cakey, smooth, silky, and comes with an air-light texture. The oil-resistant formula helps even out skin tone, improves pore appearance, and leaves the skin shine-free. It comes in seven different shades that are suitable for light to dark skin tones.
L’Oreal Paris 24hrs Infallible Pro-matte Foundation
As the name implies, this foundation doesn’t wash or fall off, it is INFALLIBLE. The excellent formulation from L’Oreal Paris provides you a 24hrs longwear benefit.
It is weightless, creamy-textured, and seamlessly glides over the skin surface for a long-lasting semi-matte finish. The blendable and waterproof formula leaves your face flawless, natural-looking, and non-cakey.
It is oil-free and offers incredible shine-control, thereby ensuring the face remains shine-free. It comes in 28 different shades, easing the selection of shades for your skin tone.
The effective formula leaves you with a satisfactory result by improving your appearance and complexion while hiding imperfections excellently.
Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick
This stick foundation formula provides you buildable full coverage. The vegan-friendly formula is lightweight, waterproof, and cruelty-free. It’s an excellent drugstore foundation, and it offers 12hrs extended coverage.
The foundation is highly pigmented to ensure maximum coverage. This aids flawless concealing of discolorations and imperfections on the skin.
It is a multipurpose formula that can be used as a foundation and concealer while offering excellent highlighting and contouring benefits.
The non-toxic foundation contains no synthetic additives like fragrance, color, dyes, or preservatives. It comes in 32 different shades and sets with a natural-looking satin finish.
Revlon Colorstay Foundation
This foundation is one of the most efficient you’ll find in a drugstore. It provides you a 24hrs long-lasting effect and stay-true color. The liquid formula glides smoothly on the skin to give an even, flawless, and shine-free matte finish.
It comes with buildable medium coverage that hides imperfections excellently. It also features a pump to ensure a mess-free application.
The waterproof formula comes in 43 different shades, making it easier to find a match for your skin tone. It is lightweight, non-toxic, and highly beneficial to the skin.
It contains SPF 15 for optimal protection against harmful sun rays. It’s advisable to use this foundation with a setting powder to ensure it doesn’t transfer.
MAC Pro longwear Nourishing Foundation
Improve your appearance with this lightweight, full coverage, and dual-purpose foundation formula. The dermatologist-tested foundation offers incredible nourishing and concealing benefits to your skin.
It is non-acnegenic — doesn’t cause acne breakout, and seamlessly blends in the skin, leaving you with a satin finish. The foundation can also be used as a concealer, and it offers a 24hrs longwear effect.
The oil-free formula repels moisture from the skin surface, and it boasts of a strong water-resistant feature that makes it withstand rain and tears.
It provides you with long-lasting hydration and an improved complexion, making it an effective foundation to possess.
CoverGirl Outlast Active 24hrs Foundation
CoverGirl boasts of various excellent foundation formulas, with this being one of the best. The sweat-proof and water-proof formula provides buildable medium coverage while gliding smoothly on the skin for a satin finish.
The transfer-resistant formula is suitable for dry skin, and it doesn’t settle into fine lines or wrinkles. It is non-comedogenic — doesn’t clog pores, and helps improve pores and wrinkle appearance.
It is neither smudge, streak, nor budge, and it stays out for 24hrs, making it a long-lasting foundation. It’s an effective drugstore formula and leaves you with every reason to make it your choicest foundation formula.
PHOERA liquid Foundation
This longwear liquid foundation formula also doubles as a concealer. It comes in five different shades that fit perfectly for almost every skin tone. It is lightweight, hypoallergenic, waterproof, and buildable.
The air-light textured formula offers excellent oil-control while leaving the skin with a shine-free, natural-looking soft matte finish. It seamlessly blends on the skin to correct and perfect skin blemishes like uneven skin tones, dark spots, under-eye circles, amongst others.
It ensures the skin stays moisturized while smoothing and blurring pores. This is made possible by the micro-powders infused in it, which is also responsible for the shine-control effect.
NYX Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Foundation
You should expect nothing but optimal satisfaction when your foundation is from NYX. The makeup product giant doesn’t fail to deliver with this highly pigmented formula again.
The foundation provides a full-coverage effect that perfectly conceals blemishes while leaving you with a matte finish. It is waterproof and offers excellent sweat and shine control, thereby ensuring your makeup lasts for 24hrs.
The cruelty-free formula is lightweight, non-toxic, and pure. It leaves the face with a smooth and flawless finish and doesn’t clog pores.
It boasts of 48 different shades that blend seamlessly with matching skin tones for an improved appearance. It is suitable for normal, oily, combination, and sensitive skin types only.
Wunder 2 Last & Foundation Makeup
How about a 24hrs full coverage flawless finish? This is exactly what you experience with the last & foundation makeup. The liquid formula boasts of an effective waterproof feature and an incredible longwear benefit.
It is oil-free and comes in 7 different shades for you to pick a matching one. The vegan formula has never been tested on animals, making it the right choice for ethical reasons.
It is lightweight, smudge-proof, and transfer-proof. It also leaves the skin with a natural glow while providing buildable coverage to hide imperfections. The formula contains hyaluronic acid that ensures your skin stays hydrated all day.
It is breathable and doesn’t leave you with clog pores. All these make it an excellent choice for a waterproof foundation.
Estee Lauder Double wear stay-in-place foundation
This foundation is indeed one of the best out there, and you shouldn’t expect otherwise from the recipient of the Allure Best of Beauty award.
The 24hrs longwear foundation is suitable for all skin types, and it leaves the skin with a flawless, natural, matte finish. The waterproof formula contains SPF 10 that protects the skin from harmful sun rays.
The liquid formula is lightweight, oil-free, and transfer-resistant. It offers incredible shine-control and improves skin appearance by covering imperfections and ensuring even skin tone.
It provides the skin medium to full coverage while leaving you with a complexion to be proud of.
Maybelline Fit Me matte + Poreless liquid foundation
This foundation formula is more recommendable for individuals with normal to oily skin. It is lightweight, derma-tested, and doesn’t clog pores. It comes in a container that’s designed for an easy and non-messy application.
The foundation mattifies and refines pore, thereby leaving you with an improved pore appearance. It also leaves the skin with a natural and flawless finish, making it an excellent choice of foundation.
Trust Maybelline to never compromise on effectiveness, this waterproof foundation works efficiently, just as described. It contains SPF sunscreen protection to prevent sun rays from causing any damage to the skin.
It also comes in 40 different shades, which allows you to pick a suitable shade for your skin tone without stress.
Urban Decay All nighter Liquid Foundation
Looking for a foundation formula you can wear overnight without any side effects? Urban Decay has got you covered. The potent formula provides flawless full coverage for your oily and combination skin types while leaving you with a matte finish.
It is waterproof, transfer-resistant, and comes in 23 different shades. The highly pigmented foundation offers full coverage to conceal scars, discoloration, acne, and other skin blemishes.
It excellently absorbs excess oil, thereby making the skin shine-free. The oil-free formula is vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic. It contains no harsh chemicals or common irritants.
It’s an effective liquid foundation that’s suitable for everyday use and can also be used all night.
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12hrs Full Coverage Foundation
This foundation is suitable for individuals with light to medium skin tone. It is long-lasting, easy to apply, and blends seamlessly on the skin for a natural-looking, flawless, matte finish.
The liquid formula is oil-free and provides the skin with full coverage. It effectively covers imperfections, thereby enhancing your appearance. It is lightweight and contains no ingredients from animal sources (vegan).
The highly beneficial formula contains broad-spectrum SPF 15, which ensures your skin is protected even when exposed to harmful sun rays. It offers you a 12hrs longwear benefit and leaves you with a healthy glow and an improved complexion.
Conclusion
Foundations are essential makeup items that form the base for other makeups. This makes it vital to ensure it stays in place all day to avoid seeing your makeup smudge or wash off.
The major factors that lead to makeup washing off are sweat and moisture, and waterproof formula is the solution to combat them.
Our guide has done justice to everything involved in picking such foundation formulas, and we’ve also curated a list of the top ones to save you time and stress.
We hope you find the guide beneficial.