Kelly Ripa Wore This $10 Foundation on the Oscars Red Carpet

Red-carpet beauty usually sounds like a hobby reserved for people with unlimited budgets, professional lighting, and someone whose entire job is to hold a powder puff. Kelly Ripa, however, offered a refreshingly affordable plot twist at the 2025 Academy Awards: Her polished complexion was created with a drugstore foundation that was selling for about $10.

The product was L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation, a familiar beauty-aisle staple rather than an exclusive formula delivered to Hollywood in a velvet briefcase. Celebrity makeup artist Kristofer Buckle used it as part of Ripa’s Oscars makeup, proving that an effective base does not necessarily require a luxury price tag.

Ripa attended the 97th Academy Awards with her husband and co-host, Mark Consuelos, on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The couple also remained in Los Angeles to host the annual Live with Kelly and Mark: After the Oscars show from the theater the following morning.

The Drugstore Foundation Behind Kelly Ripa’s Oscars Glow

Contemporary coverage of Ripa’s red-carpet routine identified the exact complexion product as L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation. Its regular retail price was approximately $14, but it had dropped to just under $10 at certain retailers when the Oscars beauty story began circulating in March 2025. In other words, the famous “$10 foundation” description reflected a sale price, not a permanent promise carved into a makeup compact.

That distinction matters because beauty prices can change faster than an Oscars host changes jokes. Depending on the retailer, shade, promotion, and date, shoppers may find the foundation for around $10, closer to its regular price, or somewhere in between.

The affordable price was only part of the appeal. According to L’Oréal Paris, the current formula offers:

• Medium, buildable coverage
• A lightweight, natural-looking finish
• A vegan formula
• Hyaluronic acid for hydration
• 47 shades organized around different depths and undertones
• A finish designed to resemble skin rather than a heavy layer of makeup

The brand describes the finish as neither intensely matte nor aggressively dewy. That middle ground is useful for events because it can soften uneven color while allowing the face to retain dimension under bright lights.

How the Foundation Fit Kelly Ripa’s Full Red-Carpet Look

Foundation rarely deserves all the credit for a celebrity makeup look. It is the supporting actor that quietly holds the scene together while blush, lashes, highlighter, and lipstick accept the applause.

Ripa wore an orange chiffon gown from Zuhair Murad’s Resort 2025 collection. The draped design featured cutouts and a vivid coral-orange tone that practically demanded warm, radiant makeup rather than a cool, powdery complexion. Her hair was styled in a high, sleek ponytail, keeping the focus on her face, shoulders, and statement earrings.

Buckle built the makeup around defined brows, warm eye color, glowing skin, coral and pink tones on the cheeks, strategic highlighting, and a glossy medium-nude lip. The result coordinated with the gown without matching it so literally that Ripa appeared to have been dipped into a vat of orange sherbet.

A Complexion That Looked Polished, Not Plastered

The foundation gave the rest of the makeup a smooth visual foundationpun unavoidablebut the goal was not to erase every natural feature. Medium coverage can even out redness and discoloration while still allowing the skin to look flexible and alive.

That approach suited the broader beauty mood of the 2025 Oscars. Beauty coverage from the event repeatedly highlighted luminous skin, flushed cheeks, glossy lips, polished updos, and softly neutral makeup. Ripa’s warm, radiant complexion fit neatly into that trend while still feeling tailored to her bright gown.

Why an Affordable Foundation Can Work on a Major Red Carpet

The phrase “red-carpet makeup” may suggest that expensive products automatically perform better, but price alone does not determine whether a foundation photographs well. Professional results usually come from the relationship between the formula, shade, skin preparation, application technique, and setting products.

1. The Shade Match Matters More Than the Logo

A luxury foundation in the wrong undertone will still look wrong. It may turn pink, gray, yellow, or noticeably different from the neck. True Match’s shade system separates colors into cool, neutral, and warm families, giving users more control over undertone as well as depth.

Skin tone describes the visible depth of the complexion, while undertone refers to the subtler cool, warm, or neutral coloring underneath it. Testing several nearby shades in natural light is generally more reliable than choosing a bottle based only on its online photograph or swatching it on the back of the hand.

2. Thin Layers Survive Better Than One Thick Layer

Buildable foundation lets a makeup artist begin with a small amount and add coverage only where it is needed. This reduces the risk of heaviness around the eyes, mouth, and forehead, where excess makeup can collect as the face moves.

A sheer first layer can be blended across the center of the face, with a second light layer tapped over redness or uneven areas. Concealer can then address individual spots. This method often looks smoother than using a thick coat of foundation everywhere simply because one blemish has decided to make its red-carpet debut.

3. A Natural Finish Leaves Room for Strategic Glow

A balanced base allows highlighter or illuminating products to be placed selectively on the cheekbones and other high points. If the entire face is extremely shiny, dimension can disappear under flash photography. If everything is heavily powdered, the complexion may look flat.

Ripa’s routine reportedly included other affordable L’Oréal products, such as True Match Lumi Glotion, True Match Lumi Le Liquid Blush, Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray, and Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil. The combination created luminosity, warmth, and longevity rather than asking one bottle of foundation to perform every job.

How to Recreate Kelly Ripa’s Oscars Makeup at Home

You do not need a designer gown, an Academy invitation, or a husband carrying emergency sneakers backstage to borrow the useful parts of this look. The same principles can work for weddings, dinners, photographs, work events, or any Tuesday when the bathroom lighting is feeling unusually supportive.

Step 1: Prepare the Skin Without Overloading It

Begin with a gentle cleansing routine and a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type. Allow skincare to settle before applying makeup. When too many slippery serums, oils, and creams remain on the surface, foundation may separate or move around.

Hydration is especially important when applying makeup over dry or mature skin. Professional makeup artists commonly recommend preparing the complexion carefully and using thin layers of liquid or cream foundation rather than immediately covering the face with powder.

Step 2: Find the Correct True Match Shade

Choose a few shades close to your complexion and compare their undertones. Apply small stripes near the lower cheek or jaw and inspect them in daylight. The best match should appear to disappear into the skin instead of sitting on top as a separate beige, peach, pink, or golden patch.

Wait several minutes before making the final decision. Some foundations can shift slightly after mixing with skincare and natural facial oils. Your hand may help you judge texture, but it is rarely the best guide for facial color because hands and faces often receive different amounts of sun exposure.

Step 3: Apply a Small Amount First

Shake the bottle, then place a modest amount on the back of a clean hand or a makeup palette. Dot it around the center of the face and blend outward using clean fingers, a brush, or a damp makeup sponge.

Keep the layer thinner around expression lines. If additional coverage is needed, press on another small amount rather than rubbing a large quantity across the entire face.

Step 4: Add Warm Coral and Pink Tones

Ripa’s makeup worked because the cheek colors communicated with the gown. For a wearable interpretation, use a peach, pink-coral, or warm rose blush and blend it gradually across the cheeks. A small amount can also be swept upward toward the temples for continuity.

The goal is a believable flush, not a warning signal visible from another zip code.

Step 5: Define the Eyes Without Competing With the Skin

Use warm neutral shadows, softly defined brows, and brown or black liner near the lash line. Ripa’s blue eyes were emphasized with warm eye makeup, but the technique can be adjusted for any eye color. Bronzes, soft browns, taupes, and muted copper shades create definition without overwhelming a glowing complexion.

Step 6: Highlight Selectively

Tap a subtle illuminator on the high points of the cheekbones. A small amount can also be used on the shoulders or collarbones when wearing an open neckline. Avoid applying thick shimmer over heavily textured areas unless that is the effect you enjoy.

Step 7: Set Only Where Necessary

Use a light layer of powder on areas that become oily, such as the center of the forehead, sides of the nose, and chin. Leave the cheekbones relatively fresh. Finish with setting spray, then let it dry without touching the face.

Is L’Oréal True Match Suitable for Mature Skin?

Ripa’s red-carpet appearance attracted attention partly because it showed a lightweight drugstore foundation creating a refined finish on a woman in her 50s. However, no foundation performs identically on every person, and age alone does not determine whether a formula will work.

The product’s medium coverage, natural finish, and hydrating ingredients may appeal to users who dislike thick matte makeup. Lightweight formulas are often easier to apply in thin layers, helping reduce visible buildup around fine lines.

Technique still matters. Even a hydrating product can look heavy when too much is applied. Let moisturizer settle, use a modest amount of foundation, and remove excess product from any crease before setting the makeup.

What About Dry, Oily, Sensitive, or Acne-Prone Skin?

Dry Skin

Apply moisturizer first and avoid using excessive powder. A damp sponge can help press the foundation onto the skin without creating an overly dry-looking layer. Concentrate on evenness instead of trying to cover every freckle or natural variation.

Oily or Combination Skin

Use thinner skincare layers, apply foundation sparingly, and powder the areas where shine develops fastest. A setting spray may help extend wear, but no product can permanently negotiate a peace treaty with facial oil. Carrying blotting papers is often more effective than repeatedly piling on powder.

Sensitive Skin

L’Oréal markets True Match as suitable for different skin types, including sensitive skin, but individual reactions remain possible. Check the current ingredient list and patch-test the product when you have known sensitivities or a history of cosmetic irritation.

Acne-Prone Skin

A lightweight texture may feel more comfortable than a heavy base, but foundation is not an acne treatment. Use clean tools, remove makeup thoroughly before bed, and stop using any product that appears to trigger persistent irritation or breakouts.

The Bigger Beauty Lesson Behind Kelly Ripa’s $10 Foundation

The most interesting part of this Oscars beauty story is not simply that a famous person wore an inexpensive product. Celebrities wear affordable makeup regularly, especially when brands sponsor awards-season routines or when professional artists genuinely prefer a particular formula.

The useful lesson is that makeup results are rarely proportional to spending. Shade selection, preparation, blending, placement, and restraint can make an affordable product look polished. Conversely, a $70 foundation applied in the wrong shade with a kitchen spatula will still have questions to answer.

Ripa’s look also demonstrates the value of coordination. The warm eyes, coral-pink cheeks, luminous complexion, glossy nude lip, orange gown, and sleek ponytail belonged to the same visual story. Nothing appeared accidental, yet the finished look did not feel stiff.

A Practical Experience: Recreating the Red-Carpet Effect at Home

The following is an editorial wear-test scenario based on the application techniques and product characteristics discussed above. It is not a claim that we personally wore Kelly Ripa’s exact Oscars shade or attended the ceremony disguised as an unusually well-blended seat filler.

The at-home experience begins with one important realization: A red-carpet-inspired base looks better when less product is used than expected. After moisturizing and allowing the skin to settle, one light pump or a few small drops can cover most of the face. The foundation spreads easily, so starting with a generous amount may result in more coverage than necessary.

Using fingers creates a quick, natural finish because their warmth helps distribute the liquid. A damp sponge removes some coverage but gives the surface a soft, pressed-in appearance. A brush provides the most control around the nose and areas of discoloration. The most practical method may be a combination: a brush for placement followed by a sponge for final blending.

The initial layer typically evens the complexion without completely hiding freckles, natural redness, or skin texture. That is a benefit when the goal is Kelly Ripa-style polished skin rather than a full-coverage stage mask. A second thin layer can be added around the nose, chin, or cheeks while leaving the eye area relatively light.

The finish becomes more convincing after blush and highlighter are added. Foundation alone can make the face look visually quiet because it reduces natural variation. A coral or warm pink blush restores color, while a subtle illuminator gives the cheekbones the dimension seen in Ripa’s Oscars makeup.

After several hours, the main challenge is likely to be the same one encountered with most natural-finish foundations: shine may develop through the center of the face. Blotting first and applying only a small amount of powder preserves the original finish better than covering the entire face with another layer.

On mature or dry skin, the experience improves when skincare is simple and sufficient. Too little moisture can make foundation catch on dry areas, while too much rich cream can encourage movement. The successful middle ground is hydrated skin that no longer feels wet or slippery when the makeup is applied.

Shade matching may require more patience than blending. A 47-shade range offers options, but a large selection does not automatically identify the correct bottle. Comparing two or three adjacent depths and undertones in daylight is worth the effort. The right shade makes even a casual application appear intentional; the wrong one can create a visible border despite excellent technique.

The biggest experiential takeaway is that the foundation functions best as part of a routine rather than as a miracle product. It can create an even, flexible base, but the red-carpet illusion comes from the entire combination: prepared skin, accurate shade, light layers, warm blush, controlled highlighting, eye definition, and strategic setting.

That is encouraging for everyday shoppers. You may not reproduce every detail of celebrity glam without a professional team, but you can reproduce the logic behind it. And unlike Ripa, you will probably not need to pack emergency Ugg boots behind the bathroom door.

Conclusion

Kelly Ripa’s 2025 Oscars makeup offered an appealing reminder that affordable beauty products can hold their own in one of the most photographed environments in entertainment. L’Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Foundation provided the base for her warm, luminous complexion while her makeup artist used coral cheeks, defined eyes, strategic highlights, and a glossy nude lip to complement her orange Zuhair Murad gown.

The product was available for approximately $10 during a temporary sale, although its normal price was higher and current prices vary. More important than the discount was the technique: a carefully chosen shade, thin buildable layers, targeted setting, and coordinated colors transformed an ordinary drugstore foundation into an Oscars-ready base.