The Best Serum Foundations To Shop In Australia

Feel like you’re constantly having to decide between letting your skin breathe or a flawless complexion? We’ve found the solution.

It’s 2025 — and as we’ve seen with the quality of supermarket shampoo these days — it’s now possible for us to have our cake and eat it too.

How? By prioritising the use of skin care-makeup hybrids in our routines, of course.

Introducing: serum foundations.

The result of a happy marriage between a hydrating serum and a complexion-diffusing tint, serum foundations hydrate, brighten and strengthen skin — all while evening skin tone, smoothing fine lines, and concealing breakouts.

What are serum foundations?

Not dissimilar to a traditional foundation, serum foundations are used as a base product to conceal and unify the complexion. The only difference? They are infused with skin care heavy-hitters such as hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and peptides to address skin issues such as dehydration, dullness and premature signs of ageing.

What are the best serum foundations?

The Ordinary Serum Foundation

from $12.70 at The Ordinary (relaunches Saturday 22nd February)

When The Ordinary’s Serum Foundation first launched in 2017, it did so with a 25,000 person wait list. The affordable take on lightweight complexion makeup was discontinued by the brand in 2022, but due to popular demand it’s back — but for a limited time only. We suggest adding your name to the waitlist for this much-loved pick before it sells out again.

Key features:

Available in 36 shades
A light foundation with a natural finish
Highly-blendable, water-based formula
Smooth and diffused look
Serum-like texture

Available at:

$12.70 from The Ordinary (relaunches Saturday 22nd February)

Clinique Even Better Clinical™ Vitamin Makeup SPF 25

from $68 at Clinique

Find your skin always looks dull no matter how much makeup you put on? It might be time to change your strategy and try a sheer serum foundation. This newcomer from Clinique combines a cocktail of radiance-enhancing vitamins to promote a healthy and vibrant complexion all day long.

Key features:

Available in 20 shades
Lightweight, sheer coverage
Natural radiant finish
Promotes vibrant, healthy-looking skin
Formulated with vitamins B3, C, and E
Minimises dullness

Available at:

$68 from Clinique
$68 from MYER
$68 from David Jones

Estée Lauder Futurist SkinTint Serum Foundation SPF 20

from $90 at Estée Lauder

Kind of like your skin, just better, Estée Lauder’s serum foundation creates a sheer wash of natural radiance. Enhancing hydration and radiance levels for up to eight hours, as well as, smoothing texture and evening skin tone over time.

Review: “I tried the Estée Lauder Futurist SkinTint Serum, and I’m impressed. It has a silky, lightweight feel that provides light coverage and a natural, radiant finish. I love that it stays put all day without creasing, streaking, or settling into pores, even in humidity. The hydration is noticeable, locking in moisture and glow throughout the day. Plus, the SPF 20 gives peace of mind for sun protection. Over time, I’ve noticed my skin feels softer and smoother. It’s a perfect blend of makeup and skincare.” — avamelick

Key features:

Available in 29 shades
Sheer, tinted, natural and radiant finish
Sweat and humidity resistant
Promotes hydration and radiance for up to eight hours
Smooths texture and evens tone over time

Available at:

$90 from Estée Lauder
$90 from MYER
$90 from David Jones

Revlon Illuminance™ Skin-Caring Foundation

from $21.47 at Priceline

If you don’t want to compromise on hydration or coverage, you don’t have to. This over achiever from Revlon uses a blend of hyaluronic acid and squalane to retain moisture, as well as, smooth fine lines. Plus, the formula also boasts buildable medium coverage with a natural, radiant finish — in other words — it’ll never look cakey.

Review: “I loved the way this foundation looked like a better version of my own skin with a decent amount if coverage. Light weight, powdered down with setting spray it didn’t break down too much and still looked very pretty after 10 hours wear. This definitely has the potential to transfer if not set properly and may not necessarily be suitable for oily guys and girls. Even powdered down slightly, it still gave a beautiful glow to my skin and just looked stunning all night long. Would definitely recommend this for someone who wants a radiant, skin like finish.” — Mummyaddstwo

Key features:

Available in 16 shades
Infused with hyaluronic acid and plant-derived squalane
Deeply hydrates and minimises the appearance of wrinkles
Medium, buildable coverage
Natural, radiant finish

Available at:

$21.47 from Priceline
$21.50 from Big W
$25.69 from Chemist Warehouse

L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum

from $22.49 at Amazon Australia

If makeup tends to dry your skin out, accentuating your dry patches, fine lines and wrinkles, then you need to be introduced to this hybrid foundation formula from L’Oréal. Infused with a hydrating hyaluronic acid serum, it works to keep skin moisturised, plump, bouncy, and youthful-looking.

Review: “The formula is lightweight and has a serum-like consistency that blends effortlessly into the skin. Infused with hyaluronic acid, it provides a boost of hydration, which is particularly appealing for those with dry or dehydrated skin. It feels almost like a skincare treatment rather than a traditional foundation, leaving the skin soft, plump, and glowing. The serum also includes nourishing ingredients like vitamin C, which adds to its skincare benefits, brightening the complexion while offering light coverage. In terms of coverage, the product offers a sheer to light finish that’s buildable. If you’re looking for a natural look with a touch of radiance, this serum is a great option.” — Ethelinde

Key features:

Available in 10 shades
Infused with a hydrating hyaluronic acid serum
Plumps fine lines and wrinkles
Promotes bouncy, youthful-looking skin
Buildable coverage and a radiant finish

Available at: