6 Foundations for People Who Hate Foundation

I don’t like to wear foundation. Matching and applying it correctly requires a level of skill and commitment I don’t have, and I live in dread that everyone is just looking at my foundation instead of my glowing skin.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes (OK, frequently) need a little flaw-concealing and evening out. Luckily, there are now tons of nontraditional foundations that are easy to use and not messy, and most important, they blend invisibly into your skin. Here are six options that will make you a foundation believer:

L’Oreal Paris Magic Nude Liquid Powder, $12.99: This is the product that made me take another look at foundation. It really is magic. It’s much thinner than a traditional foundation and dries to a silky, powderlike—but never cakey—finish. You don’t need much to cover a lot. 12 shades

Lorac Touch Up to Go Concealer/Foundation Pen, $28: This brilliant little tool is a bigger version of those popular brush-on concealers, except in a lightweight formula that you can use as either a fuller coverage foundation or a standalone concealer. And it’s so easy to carry around.12 shades

Nars Radiant Cream Compact Foundation, $38: This has become a favorite of a lot of beauty editors and for good reason. Its cream formulation is never cakey, and it’s a cinch to apply. The refillable compact comes with sponges, but a brush works great for strategic coverage. 20 shades

Aveda Inner Light Mineral Dual Foundation, $24: It’s a powder, so it’s easy to carry around. It completely evens out your skin tone and hides imperfections. You can also wet the sponge applicator and apply, which is great for times when you want minimal, more translucent coverage. 9 shades

Amore Pacific Cushion Compact, $60: This one is hard to describe, but it’s been on a zillion “best of” lists. You press an applicator into the spongelike base of the compact and the product gets deposited. It’s incredibly lightweight and sheer. 4 shades

Armani Maestro, $62: The OG foundation for people who hate foundation. It’s very similar to the less expensive L’Oreal version but more luxurious, and the dropper applicator cuts down on mess and waste. 18 shades