As skin ages, it develops pigmentation, fine lines and deeper wrinkles. Many people reach for heavy foundation, but make-up artist Lisa Potter-Dixon advises against this. She says new-generation foundations act more like skincare, with moisturising ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, peptides and squalane to plump skin. They deliver a radiant, healthy-looking complexion that looks like your own skin.
Potter-Dixon recommends applying foundation with fingers, as the warmth helps it meld with skin. Using a brush can cause streaks. A beauty expert with 35 years of experience tested a range of foundations without primer or powder, applying them after SPF moisturiser. Fingers almost always gave the best results.
One standout is an ultra-light liquid foundation that provides good coverage for redness while looking imperceptible. Made from 94 per cent natural ingredients, it contains hyaluronic acid and squalane, and lasts well on the skin. It is also marketed as a body foundation and works to conceal veins on hands. It comes in 43 shades.
Another option is a velvety foundation rich in silicones, which blurs lines and smooths the complexion. It contains hydrating glycerine, antioxidant matcha tea and niacinamide to minimise pores and reduce redness. Best applied with fingers, it offers medium coverage and comes in 24 shades, including a good range for deeper skin tones.
A third foundation features hyaluronic acid and ceramides for a dewy finish. It is 100 per cent naturally derived, with no silicones, and comes from a fast-growing British beauty brand that started as a street market side-hustle. The small nozzle helps control the amount dispensed.
