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When choosing a foundation, not only is it essential to find the correct shade, but it’s equally important to get the formulation that works best for you. A lightweight luminous finish will work for some, while others will want full coverage. Thaere are countless formulas and finishes to choose from, and various recommended techniques for applying them. Here are some of my favourites:
Clarins
Pore Perfecting, Matifying Foundation and Matifying Kit
Clarins has recently launched this foundation and powder combo to keep the skin shine-free. This duo contains acacia gum, which smooths the skins surface to create flawless photo-perfect skin in an instant. The foundation is light in texture but somehow gives great coverage, concealing blemishes and minimising the appearance of pores. Follow with Pore Perfecting Matifying Kit, which is a fine-pressed translucent powder combined with facial blotting papers. Both products are suitable for ladies of all ages who are prone to enlarged pores. This is a welcome product for important occasions, especially for brides who want to prevent unwanted shine, and to keep their make-up in place and stay looking fresh all day.
Make Up For Ever
Ultra HD stick foundation Face Foundation
This amazingly light foundation has great coverage and is wonderful for mature and dehydrated skin. Created for the very latest high-definition technologies of the film and TV industry, it’s also great for killer selfies.
As a rule, stick foundations aren’t associated with a natural look, but this product surprised me. The formula glides on, makes the skin look even-toned and moisturised, and gives it a soft, satin finish.
The creamy texture blends in seamlessly to conceal imperfections and can be layered to give the desirable level of coverage, from light to full. The convenient swivel-stick packaging is great for touch-ups throughout the day or when travelling.
Laura Mercier
Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Foundation
I am so thrilled that Laura Mercier has launched Flawless Fusion, a long-wear foundation with great coverage that still manages to be as light as a whisper. The addition of mica helps control shine, and silica helps to minimise the appearance of pores. I’ve used many Laura Mercier foundations over the years and have always loved her approach of producing a natural-looking base that encourages women not to feel the need to be over made-up. While this new oil-free matte formula is long-wearing and gives full coverage, it has an extremely natural look – it felt like I wasn’t wearing any foundation at all! It works well for all skin types, especially normal to oily, as it’s perspiration, humidity, water and transfer resistant.
Zelens
Youth Glow Foundation /Age Control Foundation
Zelens skincare range was created by Dr Marko Lens, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who also specialised in the field of skin cancer and skin ageing. Powerful high-performance ingredients are combined with a blend of plant-derived molecules that have potent anti-ageing and healing properties. The same principles apply to his make-up line.
Youth Glow Foundation is perfect for skins lacking luminosity and vitality, or for those with visible signs of stress and loss of elasticity.
Age Control Foundation gives sheer coverage and is perfect for drier skins or those showing the signs of ageing like pigmentation, thinning, lines, or loss of firmness and elasticity.
Both products contain active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, and the more exclusive Shiso extract (Japanese mint), which has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-allergic bioactivities.
Charlotte Tilbury
Magic Foundation
This foundation treats and transforms the skin while providing full coverage, but gives a weightless texture for a perfect-looking second skin that lasts all day. It glides on like a dream, conceals blemishes, and smooths out frustrating imperfections like melasma, rosacea or general redness, resulting in perfectly smooth-looking skin. Concentrated mushroom extract improves firmness, tightens pores and moisturises; hyaluronic filling spheres reverse wrinkle grooves to retexture the skin; supercharged vitamin C gives a lit-from-within effect and helps prevent and treat ultraviolet-induced photodamage. It’s also great for those with acne scarring, mature skin and tired, dull skin. The mineral-based sunscreen is kind to sensitive skin and provides gentle broad-spectrum sun protection to help prevent sun damage.
Sisleÿa
Le Teint
Not just a foundation, this make-up and skincare-in-one is recommended for the more mature skin. Like all the Sisley range, Le Teint is packed with natural plant extracts and essential oils. Some noteworthy ingredients are soy peptide extract to recover the smoothness and firmness of more youthful skin, two micas for a radiant and healthy glow, and cherry blossom extract for its anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to help lighten uneven pigmentation. In an effort to hide skin imperfections linked to ageing, those with mature skins can sometimes accentuate the problem by over-applying or using heavy foundations. Le Teint foundation becomes like a veil and blends imperceptibly without masking or overloading.
- ‘Strong foundations’ is published in Anthology Volume 04. Read more features from this volume or buy it now.
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