Everything You Need To Know About Water-Based Foundation

Discover the benefits of wearing a water-based foundation, learn the differences between water vs silicone-based foundation, and find out the best type of makeup primer to use with Charlotte Tilbury water-based foundations.

Darlings, knowing whether a foundation is water based can help you to determine if it will work for your skin type and can indicate which beauty products like moisturisers and primers will layer beautifully alongside it. In this guide, discover which of my Charlotte Tilbury foundations are water-based and learn the differences between water-based vs silicone-based foundation makeup.

Water-based foundation

What is water-based foundation + how do you know if foundation is water based?

Water-based foundations are foundation formulas where water is the primary base ingredient. You can identify whether your foundation is water based by looking at its ingredients list; water is often listed as aqua in the ingredients of cosmetic products and if it is one of the first ingredients mentioned, it is likely your foundation is water based. Foundations with high water content are often lightweight and fluid in texture, are hydrating, and feel breathable to wear.


Is water-based foundation suitable for oily skin?

Yes – water-based foundations are a good choice for oily skin because they are often formulated without oil or silicone. The cause of oily skin is an excess production of sebum and using oil-based beauty products can exacerbate the problem. By reaching for a water-based foundation without oil, you are avoiding applying further amounts of oil to your complexion.

Discover more about foundation for oily skin


Is water-based foundation suitable for dry skin?

Yes – water-based foundations can be good options for people with dry skin because they are often more hydrating foundation formulas. When applying makeup for dry skin, it’s important to reach for moisture-rich products that will help dry skin to appear smooth, supple and sufficiently moisturised. When water is the primary ingredient of a foundation, it will naturally feel hydrating on skin. Many water-based foundations are also enriched with hydrating skincare ingredients that will work to rehydrate dry patches and dry skin.


Discover which Charlotte Tilbury foundations are water-based

  1. Airbrush Flawless Foundation full-coverage liquid foundation with lid off

    AIRbrush Flawless Foundation: Full coverage water-based foundation

    Many water-based foundations are formulated to provide dewy-looking light coverage, but if you want the benefits of a water-based foundation without sacrificing a full-glam, full-coverage look with stay-all-day wear, I recommend my AIRbrush Flawless Foundation. This gorgeous full-coverage foundation has velvety, natural-matte coverage that feels weightless. It sets down to create a longwearing makeup base that looks airbrushed and flawless!
    Shop AIRbrush Flawless Foundation

  2. Beautiful Skin Foundation medium-coverage glowy liquid foundation

    Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation: Medium coverage water-based foundation

    Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation is a water-based foundation that’s perfect for giving your complexion a smooth, healthy-looking, radiant appearance. The water-based formula is infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid and brightening-effect rose complex to give skin a hydrated, even-looking glow that makes you look like you on your best skin day.

    Shop Charlotte’s Beautiful Skin Foundation

  3. Unisex Healthy Glow is Charlotte's tinted moisturiser for a sun-kissed complexion

    Unisex Healthy Glow: Water-based tinted moisturiser

    Unisex Healthy Glow is a white-to-bronze formula that glides on and gives skin a flattering, bronzed tint that makes you look fresh from a week in the sun. It’s a water-based tinted moisturiser that feels hydrating and is perfect for creating natural, light-coverage makeup looks. Water-based formulas like Unisex Healthy Glow are known for their lightweight, hydrating, breathable coverage which aligns perfectly with the desired effect of applying a tinted moisturiser. If tinted moisturiser is your complexion perfector of choice, you will love Unisex Healthy Glow.

    Shop Unisex Healthy Glow

What are the differences between silicone vs water-based foundation?

Both water-based and silicone-based foundations can look beautiful on every skin type, but there are some key differences between water-based vs silicone-based foundations that can determine the way your makeup looks, feels, and wears. Discover the differences below:

Ingredients: The main difference between water and silicone-based products are their ingredients. Water-based foundations generally have water or aqua as their primary ingredient, whereas silicone-based foundations usually contain derivatives of silicone such as dimethicone.

Finish: Water-based foundations are usually more hydrating and have a dewy, natural-looking finish, whereas silicone-based foundations give skin a smooth, silky-looking texture and generally have a velvet-matte finish.

Wearability: Water-based foundations have a fluid consistency that feels lightweight on skin, offers more breathability, and allows your natural skin to shine. They tend to have a shorter wear time than silicone-based formulas and can begin to break down after a few hours. Alternatively, silicone-based foundations are thicker formulas that are designed to last all day and create a blur-effect skin finish, usually offering fuller coverage and longer wear time.


Can you use silicone primer with water-based foundation?

Yes – you can use silicone-based primers with water-based foundations and vice versa to create a flawless makeup look. Marrying the smoothing, pore-blurring effects of silicone products with the hydration and dewy finish of water-based products can give you the best of both! However, water and silicone naturally repel one another, so if you are wearing makeup for an extended period of time, it’s best to avoid mixing the two as makeup may begin to separate.

Discover how to stop foundation separating


What’s the best primer for water-based foundation?

The best primer for water-based foundations is a water-based primer that will layer seamlessly with foundation and allow it to meld into skin for easy, long-lasting wear. Water-based foundations can be less long-lasting and sometimes lack the super-smooth skin texture of their silicone counterparts, so water-based primers with gripping capabilities and smoothing, blurring elements can be a perfect match.

Discover more about primer


Discover Charlotte Tilbury’s water-based primers

  1. Wonderglow is an illuminating primer that gives the skin a soft-focused, luminous finish

    Wonderglow

    To give your complexion a candlelit glow while priming it for makeup, smooth Wonderglow onto skin before applying your water-based foundation. Wonderglow is a water-based primer designed to give skin a beautiful, illuminating, soft-focused effect. It helps skin to look smooth and blurred while boosting radiance and creating a glowing canvas for foundation to glide onto.

    Shop Wonderglow

  2. Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer with SPF50 sunscreen primer hybrid

    Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer SPF50

    To give your complexion a smoothing, blurring effect before foundation, apply Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer SPF50. This water-based primer is also a sunscreen, providing daily SPF50 protection that helps shield skin from harmful UV rays. I recommend applying my SPF primer every day as essential sun protection – it layers beautifully with each of my water-based foundations and perfectly primes your complexion for makeup.

    Shop Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer SPF50

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Author Details

Charlotte Tilbury

Founder, President, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty

With over 30 years experience, Charlotte Tilbury MBE is the world's number 1 makeup artist and British beauty entrepreneur. Charlotte established Charlotte Tilbury Beauty in 2013, which is now a record-breaking beauty brand that has won over 400 awards.

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