10 beauty brands with the widest foundation shade ranges – we’re talking 40 and above!

The Daily Vanity team believes that beauty is for everybody. This is why brands with wide foundation shade ranges shouldn’t be unique, but a norm.

Back in 2017, Fenty Beauty set the bar for inclusivity with 40 (now 50!) shades of foundation. Since then, we’ve seen an uptick in foundation launches with impressive shade ranges, along with numerous brands that have come under fire for their meagre offerings. While the makeup industry still has miles to go, there are fortunately a number of brands that provide more than a few shades up from ivory.

If you’re a darker-skinned sis who’s struggling to get a good colour match, we got you covered. Here are the makeup brands with the widest foundation shade ranges you can find online or in-store locally.

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBeeUknjWq6/

Number of shades: 50

When Rihanna launched the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, some of these deepest shade sold out first, proving there was a giant gap in the market that needed to be filled. The foundation range took things to the next level by catering to the nuances in undertones too, whether it be yellow, red, or olive.

For plenty of reviewers, the formula is just as incredible as its diverse options. The Pro Filt’r Soft Matte is a long-lasting, crease-free formula that gives the skin a matte finish without feeling dry or cakey. This oil-free foundation is resistant to sweat and humidity, and you can build it up to medium or full coverage.

Here’s a tip before you purchase the foundation: It tends to oxidise a little, so may want to get a shade lighter than your usual.

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation retails for S$52 at Sephora.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup SPF 10 Foundation

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9UAcyXHW9E/

Number of shades: 40

With 40 shades available, Estée Lauder shows everyone that it’s possible to create an award-winning formula in a wide range of shades. In fact, YouTubers like Jackie Aina have extolled Estée Lauder for years, citing this brand as one of the most inclusive for makeup lovers.

This creamy liquid formula is a long-time favourite of ours and readers alike. It has a buildable medium-to-full coverage that leaves a natural-looking, matte finish. It’s also oil-free, waterproof, and transfer-resistant, so lasts in hot and humid weather. The best part? It doesn’t oxidise. The shade you see on your face when you blend the foundation out will remain that same when you remove it at the end of a long day.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Makeup SPF 10 Foundation retails for S$71 at Sephora.

Morphe Fluidity Full-Coverage Foundation

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBgqEOEHkDu/

Number of shades: 60

When Morphe launched a whopping 60 shades of its Fluidity Full-Coverage Foundation in January 2019, it left everyone shook. The shade selection may be overwhelming at first, but you can narrow down your match by starting with the five levels (labelled F1 to F5) that are arranged from light to dark tones.

It’s a full-coverage, long-wearing formula that evens out your skin tone and conceals imperfections without feeling heavy or uncomfortable. You can even skip the concealer with this one. The foundation is oil-free and fragrance-free, which makes it a great option for those with oily or sensitive skin. It’s sweatproof and water-resistant too, so you don’t have to worry about transfers on the inside of your face mask.

Morphe Fluidity Full-Coverage Foundation retails for S$24 at Selfridges.

UOMA Beauty Say What?! Foundation

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0AOOCep4A3/

Number of shades: 51

Instead of categorising and ordering its shades from lightest to darkest as most brands do, UOMA Beauty flips the script by doing the opposite with its Say What?! Foundation. Providing options for various undertones in its lineup, the brand ensures that anyone who has medium-deep to deep-dark skin can find a shade that’s right for them.

To help you navigate the shades faster, the brand has labelled the undertones on each bottle. C stands for cool undertones, N stands for neutral, while W represents warm. The long-wear foundation is lightweight yet hydrating, and it grants a soft matte finish for a blurred effect. If you want a smooth, flawless canvas, this is the foundation you’ll want in your stash.

UOMA Beauty Say What?! Foundation retails for S$44.50 at Beauty Bay.

Cover FX Power Play Foundation

https://www.instagram.com/p/B052XpajQCk/

Number of shades: 40

With 40 shades in its Power Play Foundation range, Cover FX has one of the easiest collections to navigate. Here’s a quick guide: The lightest shades are numbered 0 to 20, while the medium shades are from 20 to 40. You’ll find the darker shades in 50 to 85, and the deepest shades numbered 90 to 125.

From there, pick a letter based on your undertone. If you lean a little pinker, choose a shade with the letter P in it. N stands for neutral and G is for those with yellow or golden undertones. There’s also a selection of G+ shades if your skin tone is particularly warm and more olive.

This foundation provides buildable, medium-to-full coverage with a demi-matte finish. The shades are also packed with a trio of ultra-fine, sweatproof powders to control shine and blur imperfections without drying out your skin.

Cover FX Power Play Foundation retails for S$70 at Sephora.

Jouer Essential High Coverage Crème Foundation

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-z0BuegmTf/

Number of shades: 50

Jouer knocked the ball out of the park with this one. The brand launched 50 shades of its Essential High Coverage Crème Foundation, and this formula aims to please with a matte, airbrushed finish.

Apart from delivering full coverage, the pigmented foundation is enriched with a slew of skin-friendly ingredients. Chamomile and cucumber extracts soothe and reduce redness, while hyaluronic acid and a peptide complex boost moisture levels for a fresh, youthful glow.

Jouer Essential High Coverage Crème Foundation retails for S$58.29 at Cult Beauty.

M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation

https://www.instagram.com/p/BncfJ7PA4lB/

Number of shades: 65

M.A.C is the grand dame of inclusive beauty, and it proves just that with 65 shades in its Studio Fix Fluid Foundation line. This formula combines a medium-to-full coverage and a matte finish with broad-spectrum SPF 15 protection. Of course, while it’s lovely that it comes with added sun protection, you should still layer sunscreen under it.

The long-wear foundation applies, builds, and blends easily and evenly while it controls shine. It even minimises the appearance of pores and blemishes too, which gives the skin a smooth, flawless look and finish.

M.A.C Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation retails for S$40.50 at Selfridges.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqY1X5PgV6I/

Number of shades: 40

If Tarte’s your brand of choice for palettes and concealers, you can trust that they’ve also got your shade in the bank. Its cult-favourite Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation comes in 40 shade options to suit plenty of skin tones.

Incredibly blendable and buildable, the foundation has a lightweight texture that gives you up to12 hours of flawless coverage with its skin-perfecting, full-coverage formula. This foundation not only shrinks the appearance of pores and minimises discolouration, but it also addresses your skin concerns, whether you have oily, dry, or combination skin.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15 retails for S$60 at Sephora.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0grPQmBjdE/

Number of shades: 50

When Anastasia Beverly Hills launched its first-ever foundation, the Luminous Foundation, it prioritised shade diversity with 50 options. Categorised by fair, light, medium, tan, and deep shades, this foundation works with neutral, cool, warm, pink, peach, golden, and even olive undertones.

Each foundation is housed in a sleek bottle with a hygienic pump that dispenses the right amount of product for your whole face. The water-resistant, long-wear formula delivers medium coverage to give your skin a fresh, radiant look while hiding discolouration and uneven skin tone. It has a lightweight texture that feels like second skin once it’s on. You won’t experience any flashback with this foundation either.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation retails for S$68 at Sephora.

Colourpop No Filter Natural Matte Foundation

Number of shades: 42

Like its name suggests, Colourpop’s No Filter Natural Matte Foundation is made for the selfie age, except you don’t have to slap on a filter when you have this on. This buildable foundation offers a matte, full-coverage finish for poreless-looking skin from day to night.

The light formula blends out easily, so you can adjust the coverage however you like. Whether you layer up or sheer it out, the foundation blurs your complexion with innovative pigments for a natural look. Each bottle has a lockable pump to keep your routine mess-free too.

Colourpop has a new Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Hydrating Foundation that’s launching on 9 July 2020 and it has 42 shades too, just like the No Filter Natural Matte Foundation.

Colourpop No Filter Natural Matte Foundation retails for S$16.72 at Colourpop.