The 9 Best Foundations For Dry Skin That Won't Cake Or Crack

Givenchy's Prisme Libre powders are well-loved for their four-toned, colour-correcting pigments. This foundation essentially harnesses that expertise to counteract any sallowness, dullness and redness while Prismatic Light™ Technology promises to give a candlelit glow to the skin. It's essentially glassy, glossy skin - in a bottle.

Lady Gaga's make-up line flies under the radar, but it is a force to be reckoned with, especially if you're prone to sensitivity. It's formulated with fermented arnica as the key ingredient, which addresses redness and calms easily irritated complexions. Meanwhile, squalane, sweet almond oil and camellia seed oil provides lasting nourishment to parched skin types. It doesn't cause breakouts, either.

This high performance formula imparts a perfected finish that lasts, without feeling heavy. It seamlessly covers acne, scars and hyperpigmentation, all while looking completely fresh and natural. The extensive colour range sets the bar high, too.

Anyone who has used a tretinoin product before will know that the dryness is almost impossible to cover: even the most moisturising formulas highlight flakiness.

Well, MAC’s Studio Radiance foundation is the solution. The light, watery texture skims over those peeling patches, making everything look hydrated and happy – even at close range.

It won’t cover blemishes or thread veins, but will deliver that glowy, glass-skin effect on skin that's in the midst of a flaky, raw tretinoin purge. It’s too viscous for a brush, apply with fingers for best results.

Senior digital beauty editor Amelia Bell hasn't worn anything else since she first laid eyes on Charlotte Tilbury's Unreal Skin Tint. It's described by Tilbury herself as a 'ring-light effect in a stick', and we think she's bang on: this highlighter-foundation hybrid delivers mineral coverage and maximum glow to make skin seriously shine.

There's at least one member of team ELLE that has worn this every single day since it landed on the beauty desk. The ultimate dewy-skin shortcut, Saie's Glowy Super Skin Foundation is essentially a milky hydrating serum packed with skin-brightening colour: think of it as pigmented skincare, and you're on the right track.

As for application, fingers will suffice, but if you're planning on building it up over areas of redness, the brand's stubby Base Brush is worth investing in.

Ilia's skin tint combines surprisingly high coverage with SPF 30, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. It's definitely the dewiest of the whole bunch – so much so, we're surprised there are no oils involved. One use, and you'll fully understand why it's Sephora's bestselling base product in the States. The only downside is the smell: it's not artificially fragranced, so it does have a bit of a musty aroma.

An investment worth making, Gucci Westman’s foundation sticks are infused with nourishing squalane and camellia oil to deliver hydration. A far cry from the stick formulas of old, these elegant formulas are deliciously creamy and melts seamlessly into skin to swiftly disguise redness and pigmentation.

Swipe on wherever needed, and blend out with fingertips of a dense brush for a refined finish.

This isn’t a foundation in the traditional sense, but if you’re dry-skinned and simply want something fresh and lightweight, this is worth its weight in gold.

As hydrating as a face cream but satisfyingly well-pigmented, this all-in-one winner softens and quenches while unifying the skin tone. A useful formula for no make-up make-up days.

This serum foundation is heaven on persistently dry skin. Not only does it provide light-reflecting radiance alongside lasting coverage, it's also powered by antioxidants that promise to deliver added protection against environmental damage. It leaves skin looking healthier, plumper and just that much...happier.