We’re going to hold your hand when we say this: the matte finish is finding its way back into our routine. But don’t worry, these are not the finicky, patchy formulations that will become an arm workout when you blend them out. Things have modernised, and these foundations are incredibly easy to apply, super breathable on the skin, and for the most part, offer top-notch staying power. Keep reading for our list of the best matte foundations of 2025 to consider.
But first, the elephant in the room. We’ve hit saturation point with gleaming bases, and to be frank, there can be such a thing as too much glow. Especially in the Southeast Asian climate, the base can slip and slide in the heat and humidity, creating a storm of a mess that even the best touch-ups can’t help. As usual, the pendulum swings from one extreme to the other, and we’re already seeing new complexion products that boast matte finishes.
Below, we hand-select 11 foundations according to categories. Whether you’re searching for a matte foundation that is suitable for dry skin or a luxurious experience that’s worth every penny, there’s bound to be a matte foundation to fit your specific needs.
The Best Matte Foundations to Try in 2025
Best Shade Range: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation
Rihanna understood the assignment from the get-go. Now with 52 shades available, the Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation comes in (easily) the widest range in the market, so no matter your skin colour and undertone, there is bound to be a perfect match here. The reliable formula applies seamlessly with both a brush and a sponge, and can extend from medium to full coverage. In our try-on, we find that the formula plays well with other products you apply on top, and doesn’t really pill—even if you forget to wait for your skincare to sink into the skin, which is a total win in our books.
RM210 | Shop here
Best Longwear Option: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation
One of the newest brands to hit our shores, the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation has earned its place on the list by the sheer fact that it can deliver up to 24-hour wear. And that is a bold claim that you can totally count on, because the complexion product is built to last. With multiple technologies embedded in its formulation, the foundation keeps the face completely picture-perfect all day and night long by controlling shine. Granting its wearer a smooth finish, it is also transfer-proof, sweat-proof, and humidity-proof, so go ahead and put it through the wringer—the foundation can handle it.
RM235 | Shop here
Best Lightweight Option: Laura Mercier Real Flawless Foundation
If you’re in the market for a good matte foundation that is ultra comfortable to wear, this is the one to check out. The weightless formula is a pleasure to apply—even with fingers! Our favourite aspect of this foundation is how it’s buildable from sheer coverage, because sometimes we just don’t need to go hard, but still enhanced and shine-free. Offering up to 12 hours of flawless, fade-proof wear, the formulation includes Auto-Balancing Technology that keeps the skin balanced. This means that it hydrates the skin when it teeters to the edge of dryness and reduces shine throughout the day. Isn’t that neat? The frosted glass packaging is a bonus, too, in our books.
RM245 | Shop here
Best Full Coverage Option: Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Pro
For the ultimate perfected matte coverage, there could be none better than the Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Pro. Among all of Armani Beauty’s foundations, this is the collection that has the highest concentration of pigment, granting its wearers total colour correction and coverage. But despite that, the texture is incredibly thin, a quality that doesn’t always go together. The result is a refined base that is made for comfortable wear throughout the day. Infused with niacinamide and bisabolol, the foundation is effective at minimising visible pores for that camera-ready finish.
RM280 | Shop here
Best SPF Foundation: It Cosmetics CC+ Cream Natural Matte Foundation with SPF 40
You can count on It Cosmetics to get the job done because the founder (who personally understands the qualms and needs of the average user) partners with plastic surgeons and dermatologists to bottle up the high-impact CC cream. This version delivers a natural matte finish while protecting the skin against the sun with SPF 40, without the unsightly white cast. As it effectively evens out the skin tone, the formula is also fortified with ingredients that hydrate, blur textures, and minimise the appearance of pores. To extend its longevity, the formula is also sweat- and humidity-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about your makeup (and sun protection) melting off your face.
RM208 | Shop here
Best Powder Foundation: Natasha Denona HY-Glam Powder Foundation
Don’t knock a powder foundation until you try a good one. In this case, it’s one of the best matte powder foundation options around. Absolutely zero caking, and it offers fantastic coverage. Whether you wear it alone or apply it over another foundation, the powder guarantees a velvety air-brush finish. As an added bonus, the product is non-comedogenic and dry skin-friendly. That’s major for a powder product. The general rule of thumb with this format, though, is to prep the skin well, and let it sink in—which is something we’re all supposed to do anyway ahead of makeup application.
RM270 | Shop here
Best for All Skin Types: Anastasia Beverly Hills Impeccable Foundation
One of the latest arrivals in the matte foundation circle, the Impeccable Foundation is a coverage product that is in that sweet spot that allows it to work for many skin types. Its long-wearing, water-resistant formula plays well with oily skin types, while hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and phytoglycogen help to retain a balanced layer of moisture for the skin. Ultimately, when wearing the foundation, you can expect a blurred, skin-like finish without the fuss, and that’s up to 12 hours. To extend the wear to 24 hours, you can always opt to pair it with a setting spray under the same range.
RM237 | Shop here
Best for Oily Skin: Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation
It’s a classic and Estée Lauder’s number 1 foundation across the world for a reason. Ever since its debut in 1997, the formula has remained a top performer in the foundation category because it’s just that reliable. The formula itself is an oil-free formula while simultaneously offering all-day oil-control for an undetectable finish. What we appreciate about the foundation is its thin, liquid texture, which lends itself to perform best on oily skin when it comes to application. There’s no need to overapply, because a thin layer is really all you need. To seal the deal even further, it is also sweat-, heat-, and humidity-resistant, and the brand even goes as far as calling it “lifeproof”.
RM240 | Shop here and at Estée Lauder stores and counters for more shades
Best for Dry Skin: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation
Everything that Dame Pat McGrath touches is essentially worthy of a try, and this staple in her backstage makeup kit ranks at the top of that list. This serum-like formulation is a weightless formula that melts into the skin to create a flawless, soft-focused finish. The coverage is customisable from light to medium, and the self-setting foundation promises to stay intact for up to 12 hours, good enough for a full day out. To address the needs of those with dry skin, this is infused with a skin-loving dose of hyaluronic acid and ceramides, and features a technology that diffuses light, creating a filter-like appearance in real life.
RM354 | Shop here
Best for Sensitive Skin: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation
For those suffering from sensitive skin, it may be hard to venture out of your comfort zone, but Lancôme is worth a shot. Making the best of their skincare know-how, the brand’s Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation is chock-full (we’re talking 81 percent) of nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and moringa oil—all of which protect the skin from external aggressors. The formulation has also been proven to result in better skin after four weeks of wear. Additionally, it stays fresh for up to 24 hours, and essentially feels like nothing on the skin, perfect for the person who abhors feeling the sensation of makeup on the skin.
RM255 | Shop here and at Lancôme stores and counters for more shades
Best Luxury Choice: Dior Forever Foundation
Nobody does luxury beauty like Dior Beauty. If you’re considering getting a little treat for yourself, the Dior Forever Foundation would not disappoint. It’s regarded as one of the best matte foundations on the market, with many singing high praises. As you could expect, everything from the formula, the finish, to the packaging is supreme. The ingredients are 86 per cent skincare, so it’s a treat to the skin while you’re wearing it. And despite that, the matte foundation wears gracefully for up to 24 hours, remaining breathable in all those hours. Our favourite part? Dior Beauty has curated a shade range that is split between six undertones, including warm olive and cool rosy tones.
RM300 | Shop here
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