12 Makeup Products Everyone With Dry Skin Should Own

Makeup is a fun way to enhance your beauty, but applying it to dry skin can have the opposite effect. It can make your complexion look drier and flaky, which is a major no-no. So it’s essential that you prep your skin beforehand and use the right makeup products. A hydrated base goes a long way in helping you achieve a smooth and seamless makeup application. 

Start off your beauty routine by cleansing your skin with a refreshing cleanser, such as the L’Oréal Paris Micellar Water Complete Cleanser Waterproof. Then, follow up with a hydrating moisturizer as this will set the stage for a natural, dewy look. The L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Day Lotion SPF 30 is our top pick since it moisturizes, helps correct uneven skin tone (thanks to its dose of vitamin C) and protects your skin against harsh UV rays.

Once you’ve cleansed and moisturized, it’s time to have some makeup fun. Read on as we share the best makeup products that can help you get glam while easing your dry skin. 

1. Primer

Dry skin can give off a dull appearance, so it’s best to reach for a primer with illuminating qualities. Before applying makeup, start by using the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Lock Makeup Primer. It will help get you a radiant, healthy glow that lasts all day.

2. Liquid Foundation

When you’re experiencing dryness, powder makeup can settle on your skin and make it look even more parched. Switch to a liquid foundation, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24HR Fresh Wear Foundation, Lightweight. This foundation provides a natural, breathable finish, and you can build it up as much as you want without it getting cakey. 

3. Tinted Serum

If foundation isn’t your thing, reach for a tinted serum — such as the L'Oréal Paris True Match Hyaluronic Tinted Serum — instead. Formulated with one percent hyaluronic acid, this all-in-one tinted product instantly brightens, evens and makes skin feel hydrated. We especially love that you can even wear it alone if you don’t plan on wearing makeup.

4. Makeup Blender

Great makeup application also lies in the beauty tools you use, so make sure to invest in a makeup blender. Try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender. Applying makeup on dry skin with a blender rather than your fingers allows for a more seamless and barely-there skin finish. 

5. BB Cream

This skin care-makeup hybrid provides lightweight coverage and moisture for dry skin. We love the L’Oréal Paris Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream because of its skin-soothing ingredients, including vitamin E. It helps provide a more even-looking complexion, hydrates for all-day moisture and hides imperfections. BB creams are great to use when looking to shorten up your makeup and skin care routines.

5. Liquid Highlighter

Highlighter is a great go-to product dedicated to transforming a dull complexion into a radiant one. If that’s what you’re after (and let’s face it, you probably are), you can achieve it with the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer. Formulated with glycerin and shea butter, this multi-use product instantly hydrates and luminizes your skin for an all-over natural glow. 

Plus, the highlighter can be worn in so many ways — alone, under your makeup or applied to the high points of your face.

6. Liquid Concealer

You can’t expect a flawless face without the addition of a concealer. When dealing with dry skin, make sure to opt for a liquid formula. The L'Oréal Paris True Match Eye Cream in a Concealer, 0.5% Hyaluronic Acid provides instant dark circle coverage with a boost of hydration.

7. Cream Blush

If you want to add a pop of color to your cheeks, opt for a cream blush or one that’s formulated with good-for-skin ingredients. The L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Satin Blush With Camellia Oil has a super-buttery formula that glides seamlessly onto cheeks and provides them with a long-lasting, healthy-looking flush. Its formula is so velvety, you’ll never need to worry about it caking or drying out your skin.

8. Cream Contour

Don’t forget to chisel out those cheekbones with a cream contour! If you’re in a pinch, you can use a concealer one to two shades darker than your skin tone — or even a bronzer, such as the L'Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Bronze It Bronzer. All work wonders at creating a sculpted appearance and complementing your complexion without looking cakey.

9. Cream Eyeshadow

Shimmery cream eyeshadows are not only just pretty but are also great for dry skin types. Take your pick from the 12 shimmer shades available in the L’Oréal Paris Brilliant Eyes Shimmer Liquid Eye Shadow Makeup collection. The high-impact, sparkly eyeshadow has a lightweight and non-greasy feel that stays in place all day, so you won't ever have to deal with annoying fallout. 

Use the doe-foot applicator to apply the product to your lids and use a finger or brush to blend. It’s that easy.

10. Hydrating Lipstick

Finish your look by puckering up in a moisturizing lippie, such as L'Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Balm-in-Lipstick With Pomegranate Extract. It’s a hybrid pout product that provides the same hydrating properties of a lip balm and pigmented color of a lipstick. 

Editor’s tip: If you prefer rocking a matte finish, you can still make it happen. The L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Matte Lipstick adds instant hydration to your lips while delivering that zero-shine look we all know and love.

11. Hydrating Lip Gloss

In case you haven’t realized, glossy lips are all the rage again. Take part in the Y2K resurgence by dressing your pout in the L'Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Balm-in-Gloss. Unlike sticky lip glosses of the past, this option adds moisture and shine thanks to pomegranate extract and hyaluronic acid. Bonus: It won’t ever cling to your hair, face or anything else really.

12. Makeup Setting Spray

Skip setting powder and opt for setting spray to keep your makeup in place without drying out your complexion. Spritz the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray and Set Make-Up Oil-Free Setting Spray in ‘X’ and ‘T’ motions over your face, and your dewy look is complete.

Editor’s tip: You can also try the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Shake & Glow Dew Mist for a boost of hydration while preserving your flake-free makeup look. 

Next: Your Guide to Taking Care of Very Dry Skin

Edited by: Sophie Dweck, Photo Design: Sarah Duvivier