A face isn’t truly beat without a great base: foundation. Ironically, the most basic part of any makeup routine can be the hardest to find. Recently, foundation shade ranges have seen the most growth and have made some of the biggest beauty headlines. No longer in the background, our focus on foundation give a unique perspective of some of the most inclusive foundations available.

This isn’t your typical list of must-have foundations. NUDEST has taken a scientific approach to finding the most inclusive foundations currently on the market. From a swatch on a white sheet of paper to color analysis in a lab, the winners of each category are carefully calculated to show the true colors of diversity. 

Highest Number of Shades

PÜR 4-in-1 Love Your Selfie Foundation, $36

With a jaw-dropping 100 shades suited for all skin tones and undertones, PÜR’s 4-in-1 Love Your Selfie foundation (and concealer!) is truly groundbreaking. Raising the bar from 50 to 100, PÜR’s foundation comes in so many shades, the brand launched a new Instagram page to real people wearing each shade. Light, medium, rich, cool, neutral, warm, almost everyone can find their perfect match. 

Darkest Shade

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick, $46

Twist-up foundations often get the short end of the stick, but this one has the darkest shade we swatched. Designed to look like skin, Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation stick reigns supreme when it comes to those elusive dark shades. Its darkest shade, “Cool Espresso” is a rich brown with cool undertones for the deepest skin, a savior for rich skin tones looking for a match.

Lightest Shade

Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation, $25

Shade inclusivity means accounting for those typically left out of shade offerings on both sides of the spectrum. The fairest of skin tones may find a match in Anastasia Beverly Hills stick fountaion’s lightest shade, “Alabaster.” Created for very fair skin with cool undertones, it’s a gem for those with very light skin.

Greatest Shade Range

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick, $46

Since we know 50 shades of beige is just more of the status quo, a shade range is only as good as its tonal diversity. The lightest and darkest shades can be a good indication of how inclusive a foundation really is. And a stick foundation with 43 shades? That’s a rarity and another win for Bobbi Brown’s stick foundation. The line contains the largest contrast between their darkest and lightest shades, spreading their shades across a wide color spectrum.

Best Customer Rating

Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation, $43

Makeup lovers can’t get enough of the Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation. The transfer-resistant and waterproof formula lasts in hot and humid weather and is ideal for oily and combination skin. Rated the #1 foundation in the U.S., according to a study by the NPD Group, Double Wear has accumulated thousands of reviews plus 4.5 stars on Ulta, 4.4 stars on Sephora and 4.8 stars on Nordstrom. It’s fair to say that this formula is a hit with fans.

First Place Overall

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Foundation, $35

She changed the game and put every brand on notice. The soft matte, long-wear foundation with a boundary-breaking 50 shades has dominated conversations and is the foundation a beauty empire. When it first launched, some of the richest shades sold out in less than a week, debunking the myth that dark shades do not sell. The foundation is so good, it has inspired memorable reviews like "I walk around looking like a life-size Academy Award," and it has the range to back it up.. Fenty Beauty gives us confidence,inclusivity and recognition. This foundation created a new standard in beauty and is more than deserving as NUDEST’s Best Overall Foundation.