Sometimes, dry facial skin can affect the look of a makeup. It can cause foundation to crack and become creasy as the day wears on. If you have very dry skin, or dry spots on your skin resulting from acne treatments or other skin conditions, Clinique Super Moisture Makeup (average price; $24) might be for you. It's a thick, rich formula that eliminates dryness and keeps your skin looking dewy and healthy.

Compact makeup is convenient and easy to use. You can take it with you wherever you go and apply it on the run. Many times, makeup compacts are smart choices for women with dry skin because they contain creamy, emollient-rich foundation. CoverGirl CG Smoothers AquaSmooth Compact Foundation (average price; $8) is infused with vitamins and a special moisturizing complex that effectively delivers hydration to your skin throughout the day. You can use just a touch of this product for a light, barely-there look, or use a bit more for extra coverage.

Combination Skin

It's tricky to find the right foundation for combination skin. In typical combination skin, the majority of the skin is dry or normal, while the T-zone is oily. You can handle this by using products to address the skin's specific issues; for example, using rich moisturizer on dry areas and oil-zapping wipes on your T-zone - and wearing a good-quality foundation formulated for normal skin.

There are some cosmetic products that can help give your combination skin a more uniform look. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (average price; $32-$38) balances and evens out skin while filling in fine lines and wrinkles so the rest of your makeup goes on flawlessly. It comes in a clear formula as well as several other corrective and skin-enhancing colors.