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Serum foundations have become all the rage lately as their lightweight formulas blend seamlessly into the skin. These foundations also have added skincare benefits and are perfect for those who prefer light-to-medium coverage that never looks cakey.
We have gathered a few of our favorite brightening serum foundations of 2024, some familiar and not-so-familiar brands, that live up to the hype and will give you brighter, more luminous skin.
Our options include some mineral-based foundations that are known for their skincare benefits, some brightening options to give your skin a glow, and formulas that run the gamut from matte to glowy. These foundations are all long-wearing and most have SPF to give you the protection and confidence needed for daily wear.
Great Brightening Serum Foundation of 2024 Reviewed in Detail
Maybelline Fit Me Foundation — Best Overall
This foundation has a cult following for a reason: it provides an ideal matte and poreless finish that never looks cakey and will last all day. Ideal for normal-to-oily skin types, this formula provides medium coverage and is formulated with clay and micro-powders to blur pores and stop shine all day. This foundation comes in an amazing 37 shades and applies easily with a brush, beauty blender, or even your fingers for a flawless finish.
Pros
- This foundation is dermatologist and allergy tested and non-comedogenic
Cons
- If you have really dry skin, another option might be better
Veil Cosmetics Foundation — Runner Up
Get a fresh, healthy glow and an airbrushed finish with this skin-brightening foundation. This water-based formula has a specially formulated texture that blends effortlessly into the skin, giving you a soft-focus, satin, and poreless finish that will last all day. This lightweight foundation does not require the use of any setting powders and provides sheer-to-medium coverage that is water-resistant.
Pros
- This foundation is cruelty and fragrance-free and contains no oils or parabens
Cons
- If you prefer to apply multiple coats, it’s advised to wait 30-45 seconds in-between layers
Glo Skin Beauty Foundation — Honorable Mention
Another great mineral-based makeup option is this liquid mineral foundation. This foundation is formulated with light-diffusing diamond powder that creates a soft, luminous complexion for a dewy, glowy finish and contains a proprietary antioxidant blend and SPF 18 for protection. Ideal for all skin types, this foundation is also buildable, provides sheer-to-medium coverage, and works best when applied with a flat-top kabuki brush.
Pros
- This product contains no talc or gluten and is cruelty-free
Cons
- This foundation is not recommended for very oily skin types
PHOERA Foundation — Contender
If you prefer a more full coverage foundation option, this version is both ground-breaking in formula and effective in coverage. This foundation has a soft, velvety texture that is not too mattifying and basically blurs out every line or blemish for a filter-like effect. It is also made with climate-adaptive technology that is resistant to sweat and humidity while it boosts radiance, leaving skin silky smooth. Apply gradually with a small quantity using your fingers or damp makeup sponge and increase as needed.
Pros
- This is a hydrating formula and contains whitening and moisturizing ingredients to cover fine lines and wrinkles
Cons
- The color options are limited
BareMinerals Foundation — Also Consider
This brightening serum foundation has a unique formula with its tone-correcting minerals and skincare serum in one. As it is a serum-based foundation, the formula is ultra-thin which provides seamless, adjustable coverage with a natural finish. This foundation is ideal for all skin types and skin tones and has added powerful antioxidant protection to help defend against daily environmental stressors. And, with regular use, you will see a noticeably brighter, more youthful appearance.
Pros
- This foundation has SPF 20 and is formulated without oil, silicones, parabens, and fragrance
Cons
- There may be a slight learning curve for an ideal application
Physicians Formula Foundation — Another Option
Infused with hyaluronic acid, an antioxidant blend, and protective SPF 20, this healthy foundation is formulated to brighten, hydrate, and even out the skin tone. This is a long-wearing and breathable formula that provides lightweight buildable coverage with a satin finish and is light enough to be worn alone for light coverage or layered with your favorite color cosmetics. Apply with your favorite blender sponge or foundation brush for a flawless finish.
Pros
- This formula blends well and will not look cakey on your skin
Cons
- There may be a slight fragrance upon application
Buyer’s Guide to Finding a Brightening Serum Foundation
When we talk about makeup, most people will always prefer a product having lots of varieties so that they can easily get their desired look. However, when you have so many options for makeup like brightening serum foundations, you may get confused about what is best for you. If you mistakenly end up with the wrong product, not only will your entire look get ruined but also your skin’s safety might be at stake. That’s why we have created a complete buying guide for you so that you can invest in the best product and achieve a flawless, glistening, and radiant look every day.
What Are the Differences Between Brightening Serum Foundations and Regular Foundations?
Often people get confused between brightening serum foundations and the regular ones which is why we have differentiated between these two product types.
- Brightening serum foundation will help brighten your skin naturally while the regular foundations are mainly used for evening skin tone.
- On applying brightening serum foundations, you won’t have to deal with a cakey look which is the case for regular serums.
- SPF is included in most brightening serum foundations but in the case of regular products, this ingredient is there in selected brands only.
What Key Factors Should You Consider for Choosing the Top Brightening Serum Foundations?
Base
The brightening serum foundations can be categorized into two types as per the base used. In mineral-based products, the ingredients used are extracted from the earth like zinc oxide or iron oxide. These minerals help a lot in restoring the pH of the skin and adding a natural glow. The second type is water-based foundations where the regular ingredients are mixed with water till the desired consistency is achieved. If you want a normal radiance on your face, go for the water-based product.
Texture
It is imperative to check the texture of the brightening serum foundation as it will decide what type of look you can achieve. For example, if you want a smooth, flawless, and poreless look, go for a product having a light and velvet texture as it will help in balancing out your skin tone and blur out the wrinkles. There are a few products that have a slightly thick texture using which you can lighten your skin tone in a better way. Even though such a foundation will give you a radiant look, blending it can be a problem due to the consistency.
Finish
The brightening serum foundations are available in two finish options— matte and shimmery. With the matte foundation, you can even out the skin tone and blur the fine lines easily. It will also help you achieve a poreless look without too much application. But if you have a subtle shine on your face or want to highlight certain areas of your face, you should go with the shimmery foundation. However, make sure that you apply the product only if you do not add a highlighter later because that will completely ruin the natural radiant look the foundation will give you.
Ease of blending
As the brightening serum foundation will form the base of your makeup, always choose a product that is easy to blend and won’t cause a cakey appearance. It should merge with your skin tone and create a completely natural look. Besides, if you have used a corrector or a primer before, the foundation must blend with those makeups too seamlessly. There shouldn’t be blotches or unevenness as that will ruin your look and won’t give a flawless appearance.
Color/tone
The brightening serum foundations are available in a wide range of colors or tones like peach, bronze, dusky brown, light orange, and more. You need to choose the product based on your skin tone and the shades of other makeup you will be using. As these foundations will brighten your skin tone automatically, it’s better not to choose a shade that’s too light compared to your skin tone.
Skin-friendliness
No matter what type of finish you want or the texture of the brightening serum foundation, you should always check whether it is skin-friendly or not. For this, make sure that the product you are choosing does not have any gluten, paraben, sulfate, and such harsh chemicals. It will not only cause allergies or trigger any adverse skin reactions but also might damage your skin’s texture permanently. Besides, you should go for a product that is super light and won’t block your pores. If that’s the case, your skin won’t be able to breathe, and you might suffer from allergies or skin reactions.
Coverage
Before choosing the brightening serum foundation, you should check its coverage type. If you want a breathable and sheer product that will simply add a natural radiance to your skin, go for a foundation with light coverage. However, it won’t cover the freckles or the fine lines. With a medium coverage foundation, you can even the skin tone and help you achieve the desired look. If you want to change your skin’s tone and brighten it completely, you must look for a product that offers full coverage.
How to Choose a Brightening Serum Foundation Color Based on Your Skin Tone?
As the brightening serum foundations are available in different tones and shades, you need to choose a product that suits your skin the best. To do so, you can follow these steps.
- Learn about your skin’s tone and undertone first.
- Choose three brightening serum foundation colors that match your skin the best.
- Dab a little amount of all the three foundations on your jawline.
- Now check which two colors are completely out of tune with your skin tone.
- Remove those two shades and then spread the remaining foundation slightly across the jawline.
- Once done, take a small cotton swab dipped in makeup remover and swipe it right from the middle.
- If you cannot notice any difference between the foundation-covered area and your bare skin, the shade is good to go.
How to Apply and Blend a Brightening Serum Foundation?
To make sure that the brightening serum foundation completely blends with your skin and does not create a cakey look, follow the below-mentioned steps.
- Take a sponge and wet it. Now pour a little amount of the foundation onto it and dab over the main points of your face.
- Now, without dabbing or rubbing the foundation, start to press the sponge onto your skin in a stippling motion.
- Make sure to spread out the liquid onto your bare skin evenly in circular lines so that you don’t accidentally cause wrinkles on your skin.
- Do not apply more foundation till you have blended the previous amount completely with your skin.
