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7 Silky Serum Foundations For Polished But Natural Coverage

Base and benefits in one streamlined step.

Prioritising is a tall task at the best of times, but when you have two minutes to take care of your face from start to finish, it becomes even more difficult.

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What takes precedence? A soothing, hydrating serum able to nourish the skin’s health or an evening, smoothing foundation designed to polish the skin’s appearance?

If your answer was ‘both’ but your time restraints refuse to cooperate, take solace in the fact that the beauty industry has at last come up with a true ‘one and done’ style base product. ‘Serum foundations’ are said clever category, specifically formulated to address both the needs of the face you’re presenting to the world and the face you wake up with.

Think of a serum foundation as the more modern answer to a tinted moisturiser. They serve the same practical time-saving purpose while taking the category of skincare/makeup melds to the next level. The serum form allows for more concentrated, efficacious delivery of skincare ingredients while also embracing the ‘second skin’ style finish we favour nowadays.

So if you’re searching for a silky foundation that also comes with a helping of hyaluronic acid, or a mattifying, moisturising multitasker able to simultaneously cloak pores, you’ve come to the right place; here are the top serum foundations to shop.

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2024’s top serum foundations

  1. Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40, $77.25, Kogan
  2. Clinique Even Better Clinical™ Serum Foundation SPF 20, $68, Clinique
  3. L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum Foundation, $20.24, Amazon Australia

The best serum foundations 2024

01

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

from $77.25 at Kogan

Best for: Sensitive skin

Regularly worn by celebrities like Miranda Kerr both on and off the red carpet, Ilia’s take on serum foundation prioritises sensitive skin-friendly, clean ingredients, as well as a triple-tasked formula that promises sheer coverage, potent skincare ingredients, and mineral SPF. Plus, the dewy finish offers a naturally perfected complexion that wears well come rain or shine.

Sizes: 30ml

Colours: Available in 30 shades

Key features:

  • Three products in one (sheer coverage foundation, skin serum and mineral SPF)
  • Dewy finish
  • Improves the appearance of dry skin, blemishes, redness, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone over time
  • vegan, non-comedogenic, and fragrance, gluten, and silicone free
  • Suitable for sensitive skin

Available at:

02

Clinique Even Better Clinical™ Serum Foundation SPF 20

from $68 at Clinique

Best for: Oily skin

This satin-matte oil-free formula is a welcome option for oily skin types who prefer to steer clear of traditionally moisturising makeup options with dewy finishes that can enhance their shine. The lightweight formula utilises a blend of hydrating and plumping hyaluronic acid, radiance-restoring and smoothing salicylic acid, and brightening vitamin C, which work together to refine skin tone and texture, and unify the complexion.

Sizes: 30ml

Colours: Available in 42 shades

Key features:

  • Infused with hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, and vitamin C
  • Lightweight, satin-matte finish
  • Oil-free formula
  • Hydrates and plumps
  • Enhances radiance, and evens skin tone and texture

Available at:

03

L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum Foundation

from $20.24 at Amazon Australia

Best for: Budget

L’Oréal’s iconic True Match foundation has been upgraded to match the sensibilities of modern living, injecting a healthy dose of micro-epidermic pure hyaluronic acid, glycerin and luminous mineral pigments into the formula to create a lightweight, radiant finish foundation.

Sizes: 30ml

Colours: Available in 10 adaptable shades

Key features:

  • Infused with micro-epidermic pure hyaluronic acid and glycerin to plump skin and promotes 24 hour hydration
  • Luminous mineral pigments enhance radiance and create an airbrushed finish
  • Ten super blendable, skin adapting shades melt into skin for the perfect shade match
  • Clinically proven to smooth skin over time
  • Minimises the appearance of imperfections, blemishes and fine lines

Available at:

04

Estée Lauder Futurist Skin Tint Serum Foundation SPF20

from $90 at Adore Beauty

Best for: Long wear

With a sweat and humidity resistant formula, and the promise of eight hours of streak, crease and pore-free wear, and a smoother, moisturised and unified complexion after one week it’s hard to find fault with this serum foundation — it’s built for longevity.

Sizes: 30ml

Colours: Available in 29 shades

Key features:

  • Sweat and humidity resistant
  • Eight hour wear time
  • Doesn’t streak, crease or settle into pores
  • Smooths texture, evens skin tone and moisturises skin in just one week of wear
  • Non-acnegenic and fragrance-free

Available at:

05

Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion Drops

from $104 at Westman Atelier

Best for: Dull skin

Pumped full of antioxidant-rich superfoods, this pick is like a lightweight and radiant wheatgrass shot for your skin, providing radiance, nourishment, hydration, and protection from pollutants, all whilst calming stressed skin, so it can look and perform at it’s best.

Sizes: 30ml

Colours: Available in 20 shades

Key features:

  • Ginseng extract brightens, soothes and revives dull skin
  • Pomegranate extract supports healthy microbiome function and protects from free radicals
  • Ginger root complex calms and soothes skin both instantly and over time
  • Sunflower and almond oil nourish, soothe and strengthen
  • Tsubaki oil firms, hydrates and smooths texture
  • Urban Shield Complex protects against blue light and pollutants

Available at:

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06

Revolution Skin Silk Serum Foundation

from $23 at ASOS

Best for: Combination skin

Lightweight and breathable, with a hydrating and plumping infusion of hyaluronic acid and peptide complex, this silky serum foundation achieves undetectable coverage that feels like a second skin. A must-have for combination complexions that need a little bit of hydration, but not too much.

Sizes: 23ml

Colours: Available in 20 shades

Key features:

  • Infused with hyaluronic acid and peptides
    Hydrates and plumps
    Promotes a dewy, glowy complexion
  • Sheer, buildable coverage
  • Lightweight, breathable formula

Available at:

07

Trinny London BFF De-Stress Tinted Serum

from $75 at Trinny London

Best for: Normal to dry skin

This innovative tinted serum uses NP-TriOX™ technology, which helps your skin to manage stress better during the day and supports the skin’s natural regenerative processes at night. Transforming the quality of skin over time for a fresher, brighter complexion.

Sizes: 30ml

Colours: Available in 12 stretchable shades

Key features:

  • NP-TriOX™ technology improves skin’s stress management and nighty regeneration process
  • Improves skin quality over time
  • Promotes a fresh, radiant appearance
  • Hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps
  • Stretchable shade range adapts to your skin tone

Available at:

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What is a serum foundation?

Serum foundation is a hybrid makeup product that combines the complexion-perfecting abilities of a foundation with skin care ingredients typically found in skin care serums. By combining the two products, a serum foundation can help to not only immediately improve the appearance of the complexion by concealing and correcting, but it can also help to improve the quality of the skin over time.

What is the difference between serum foundation and liquid foundation?

The main difference between a serum foundation and liquid foundation is that the latter is solely a makeup product with no skin-improving properties, whereas a serum foundation is infused with skin care ingredients, as well as makeup, to improve the appearance of skin both immediately and over time.


Looking to save money on a serum foundation? Check out our coupon codes for MECCA, Sephora and more.


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Main image credit: @bobbyeliot

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