Rated 4.5 out of 5 from 102 reviews
Best Foundation Under £20
Foundation is the hardest product in beauty to buy online, because two things must both be right: the shade and the finish. Shade has an undertone as well as a depth — the same lightness can read pink, neutral or golden, and a mismatch there is what makes foundation look like a mask rather than skin. Finish decides how the product behaves through the day: matte formulas control oil and can emphasise texture, dewy formulas reflect light and can slide on oily skin. The picks below are foundations available on Amazon UK, ranked on customer rating weighted against review volume, though it is worth reading reviews from people with your skin type rather than the average.
21 productsFrom £4.59 to £14.21
Top picks
8 products
- Rated 4 out of 5 from 37 reviews
cruelty-free
- cruelty-free
Best Foundation Under £20
13 products
£11.99View on Amazon UKWas £19.27Price checked 6 September 2026
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£7.99View on Amazon UKWas £10.09Price checked 6 September 2026
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£8.90View on Amazon UKWas £12.33Price checked 6 September 2026
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£7.95View on Amazon UKWas £8.48Price checked 6 September 2026
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£8.66View on Amazon UKWas £9.82Price checked 6 September 2026
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How we picked these
We compare every product in this category on customer rating, review volume, price and listed ingredients. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not test products ourselves — the ranking reflects what Amazon UK shoppers actually rated.
Prices and availability are accurate as of the date shown and are subject to change on Amazon.
What to look for
Undertone matters more than depth
Getting the depth slightly wrong is forgivable; getting the undertone wrong is not. Cool undertones read pink or red, warm read golden or olive, neutral sits between. Check against your jaw in daylight, not against your hand.
Match the finish to your skin, not the trend
Oily skin generally holds a matte or natural finish longer. Dry or mature skin usually looks better in a satin or dewy formula, because matte finishes settle into fine lines and dry patches.
Coverage is adjustable; formula is not
A buildable medium-coverage foundation can be sheered out or layered. A full-coverage formula cannot be made to look sheer, so buying up in coverage limits your options rather than expanding them.
Shade ranges vary enormously
Some brands offer six shades, others fifty. A wide range is not just an inclusivity point — it means a much better chance of a genuine match rather than the nearest approximation.
Oxidation changes the shade after application
Many foundations darken slightly over the first half hour as they react with air and skin oils. If a shade looks perfect immediately, it may read too dark later, which is why judging after thirty minutes is more reliable.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I find my shade when buying online?
- Work out your undertone first, then use a shade-matching tool if the brand offers one, and cross-reference with reviewers who name a shade they match in another brand you already own. That triangulation is more reliable than any single source.
- What is the difference between foundation and BB cream?
- BB creams are lighter, usually combine some skincare and SPF, and offer sheer coverage. Foundation is a dedicated complexion product with more pigment and more control over coverage and finish.
- Why does my foundation look patchy?
- Most often the skin underneath, not the foundation. Dry patches grab pigment and oily areas break it up. Exfoliating and moisturising beforehand fixes patchiness more reliably than changing product.
- Do I need primer?
- Not always. Primer helps if you have a specific problem to solve — oil breaking foundation up, or texture you want to smooth. On skin that holds foundation well, it is an extra step without a clear payoff.
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Last updated 6 September 2026
Foundation Under £20: top 5 compared
Price, rating and reviews for the highest-scoring products in this list, side by side.
| Attribute | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £14.21 | £10.53 | £7.99 | £8.89 | £8.99 |
| Rating | 4.5 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Reviews | 102 | 37 | — | — | — |
| Brand | e.l.f. Cosmetics | e.l.f. Cosmetics | Rimmel London | Max Factor | Maybelline |
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