Beauty brains

How to choose your new-season foundation, by Annabel Jones

This is my favourite time of year. The back-toschool feeling has begun to sink in and I’m ready to kick my floral frocks to the kerb and embrace a fresh pair of boots and a cosy new jumper or two. What goes with a new season is, of course, a couple of make-up upgrades to transition your look from summer to autumn.

I always recommend beginning with a new base. Dewy summer skin is divine, it screams health and well-being, but as the leaves begin to fall, I like nothing more than choosing make-up that gives an opaque, cashmere finish. That doesn’t mean a dry, powdery base that settles in lines. These days even the most densely pigmented foundations are infused with vitamins and hydrating ingredients that deliver buildable coverage with added radiance. Clinique’s Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation SPF20 does just that.

The pigments are surprisingly concentrated, which can mean you apply too much, so begin with a tiny amount and blend it in well before adding more. I find the best finish is achieved using a damp beauty blender sponge as it helps to spread the formulation sparingly and evenly. The bonus here is the impresif sive range of 42 shades, plus the added targeted skincare benefits – it includes vitamin C for brightening, hyaluronic acid to hydrate and salicylic acid to exfoliate. The finish is a chic satin matt that promises 24-hour wear.

From September you’ll be able to get your hands on Bare Minerals’ Original Liquid Mineral Foundation SPF20. As you’d expect it contains 88 per cent naturally derived ingredients, including mineral pigments and nine skincare ingredients from peptides to prickly pear extract, which adds up to a pretty medium-coverage glow. you have dry skin, it’s worth applying a hydrating primer first and letting it sink in properly before adding your base. And if you’re working in an arid office environment, have a facial spritz or setting spray to hand to refresh the finish throughout the day.

Those with oilier complexions will like Morphe Filter Effect Soft-focus Foundation (£20, cultbeauty.co.uk), an oilfree liquid base that disguises open pores and imperfections with special filter-effect technology. Plus, gym bunnies will appreciate its sweat- and transfer-proof benefits.

The best finish is achieved using a damp blender sponge

There’s also an array of new foundation brushes worth investing in to ensure expert application, but I haven’t found one better than the Jones Road Skin Brush, (£32, jonesroad beauty.com), which is crafted in Japan. To complete the look, dust a translucent powder (By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder, £42, is really unbeatable; spacenk.com) over the chin, under-eyes and sides of the nose to mattify shiny spots, leaving the cheeks to glow. Find your perfect match from these fab five foundations…

Sharon Stone’s flawless complexion at Cannes Film Festival in July