Complexion is clearly the focus of beauty launches this season.

It&rsquo;s only the first quarter of 2026, but it already feels like every major brand has turned its attention to foundation. Either they&rsquo;re launching something entirely new or going back to refine their most iconic formulas. It&rsquo;s been a while since we&rsquo;ve seen releases come this consistently, and honestly, it&rsquo;s refreshing.
Last year, everything revolved around blush. Cream, stick, powder, you name it. It was everywhere. This time around, the focus has clearly shifted. Skin is the priority again. Brands like Est&eacute;e Lauder and Armani Beauty are updating long-time favourites, while others like Herm&egrave;s Beauty and NARS are introducing completely new formulas. After trying them all over the past few weeks, I can say this is one of the most interesting waves of foundation launches in a long time.

Why this new generation of foundation feels different

I&rsquo;ve never been someone who enjoys wearing foundation daily. Most formulas either felt too heavy, too obvious, or just uncomfortable after a few hours. Even when lighter skin tints became popular, they didn&rsquo;t always give enough coverage to feel polished.
For a long time, it felt like choosing between extremes. The full-coverage, thicker formulas of the 2010s versus the barely-there, ultra-glowy tints that took over more recently. Neither quite hit the mark for me. I always felt like I was searching for something in the middle.
After testing these new launches, I finally feel like we&rsquo;ve reached that point. There&rsquo;s a noticeable shift. Glowy foundations are more controlled now. They hydrate without making the skin look overly shiny. Matte formulas, on the other hand, feel lighter and more flexible, with a soft blur instead of a flat finish.
What stood out most to me was how wearable everything felt. These foundations don&rsquo;t just sit on top of the skin. They move with it. I found myself reaching for them more often than I expected, even on days when I wouldn&rsquo;t usually bother with foundation. That &ldquo;your skin but better&rdquo; effect actually feels real this time. These formulas are easy to wear, easy to trust, and most importantly, they actually look like skin.
Here&rsquo;s how each of the standout launches performed for me.

This was one of the biggest surprises for me. NARS has replaced its previous matte foundation with this new formula, promising long wear, shine control and a soft-focus finish. I&rsquo;ll admit, I was a bit sceptical at first. Matte foundations and I don&rsquo;t always get along.
But from the first application, it felt different. The texture is incredibly lightweight, almost serum-like, which isn&rsquo;t what I expected from something with medium to full coverage. Once it&rsquo;s on, I genuinely don&rsquo;t feel it on my skin, but the coverage is clearly there.&nbsp;I ended up preferring to apply this with my fingers, which is actually what NARS recommends. The warmth helps the product melt in, and it blends seamlessly without streaks. Even as someone who usually reaches for brushes, I didn&rsquo;t feel the need here.
What really impressed me was how it held up throughout the day. In Singapore&rsquo;s heat and humidity, it stayed intact with minimal touch-ups. It also has a noticeable blurring effect. I received more compliments on my skin while wearing this than I expected, which says a lot.
NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation, S$85

Clarins

Inspired by their iconic Double Serum, this formula is built around two complementary phases that combine skincare with makeup. The colour phase uses A.U.R.A. technology, turmeric extract and caring peptides to deliver medium-to-high, buildable coverage that feels weightless and blends seamlessly into the skin. It evens out the complexion while still looking natural.
The hydric phase focuses on hydration and glow. Powered by stabilised papain and a mix of plant extracts, it helps smooth and nourish the skin over time. The two phases are kept separate in a dual-chamber system and only mix upon application, which helps maintain the potency of the ingredients.&nbsp;Turmeric extract, a key component of the original Double Serum, supports the skin&rsquo;s essential functions like hydration and protection, helping it stay balanced and resilient.
On my skin, it looks virtually undetectable even up close. It feels lightweight, comfortable and slightly nourishing, making it an easy choice for everyday wear when I want something that enhances rather than masks.
Clarins Double Serum Foundation, S$98

Herm&egrave;s Beauty

This one feels like skincare first, foundation second.&nbsp;From the moment I applied it, I could tell the focus was on comfort and hydration. The texture is incredibly smooth and lightweight, and it spreads easily without needing much effort.&nbsp;What stood out most to me was how nourishing it felt throughout the day. My skin didn&rsquo;t feel tight or dry at all, which can sometimes happen with matte-leaning formulas. Instead, it stayed comfortable and hydrated.
The coverage is light to medium and buildable, which I personally prefer. It doesn&rsquo;t try to completely cover everything, but it evens out the skin beautifully. Up close, it&rsquo;s almost invisible.&nbsp;If you have dry or slightly mature skin, I think this would work especially well. It gives that refined, healthy look without emphasising texture.
Herm&egrave;s Plein Air Luminous Matte Skincare Foundation, S$205

Dior Beauty

I ended up testing both versions depending on how I wanted my skin to look that day.&nbsp;The Glow version gives a fresh, radiant finish that looks great in natural light. It&rsquo;s the kind of foundation that makes your skin look healthy without trying too hard.&nbsp;The Skin Wear version leans more matte, but still in a soft, natural way. It lasts slightly longer on me, especially around areas where I tend to get oily.
What I appreciated is that both formulas adapt well in different settings. Whether I was indoors, outdoors, or checking my skin up close, they held up nicely without looking obvious.&nbsp;Since I have dehydrated combination skin, I found both worked well and held up well too with little touch-ups needed. It really just came down to what kind of finish I felt like wearing that day.
Dior Forever Skin Glow &amp; Dior Forever Skin Wear, S$103

Hourglass Cosmetics

Hourglass rarely disappoints when it comes to complexion, and this was no exception.&nbsp;The texture is creamy and blends in effortlessly. As I applied it, it immediately smoothed out my skin and added a soft radiance that looked natural rather than shiny.
Over time, I noticed how well it held up. It didn&rsquo;t settle into fine lines or break apart, and it stayed looking fresh for hours. It also didn&rsquo;t oxidise, which is always a plus.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s one of those foundations that gives you both instant results and a sense that it&rsquo;s doing something good for your skin over time. It also holds up well throughout the day. It resists creasing, doesn&rsquo;t oxidise, and maintains a fresh finish for hours. If you want a radiant base that still feels skincare-focused, this is worth considering.
Hourglass Illusion Luminous Glow Foundation SPF 30, S$99

Armani Beauty

I&rsquo;ve used Luminous Silk before, so I was curious to see how the updated version compared.&nbsp;The signature finish is still there but with an enhanced glow. Lightweight, smooth, and softly radiant. But what I noticed this time was how much more comfortable it felt on my skin throughout the day.
With my dehydrated combination skin, I could feel the added hydration. My skin looked fresher for longer, and it didn&rsquo;t start to feel tight or uneven as the day went on. Importantly, the extra hydration didn&rsquo;t affect how it wore. It still set well and kept its glow without becoming overly shiny, which I appreciated.
Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation, S$95

Est&eacute;e Lauder

This is one of those foundations that many people already know and rely on.
The updated version keeps everything that made it popular but improves how it feels on the skin. When I tried it, the first thing I noticed was how lightweight it felt compared to what I remembered.
It still offers that long-lasting, matte coverage, but now it moves better with the skin. I experienced fewer creases, especially around areas where the foundation usually settles.
In Singapore&rsquo;s heat, it performed exactly as I hoped. It controlled oil, stayed in place, and didn&rsquo;t require much touch-up. By the end of the day, it still looked put together.&nbsp;It really does feel like the same reliable formula, just refined to be more comfortable and natural.
Est&eacute;e Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup, S$82

Spring 2026’s Best New Foundations

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