How to buy foundation online

Foundation isn’t one-formula-fits-all. There are tones and undertones to consider, which finish you prefer, as well as which formulation suits your skin type.

Just when you think you’ve nailed it, a new season comes along and you’re back to square one, trying to track down the perfect foundation for winter-ravaged skin or sticky summer days.

That’s why we’ve enlisted top makeup artist Lan Nguyen-Grealis to help you find your perfect fit foundation. 

Ask yourself what level of coverage you prefer – and would you like it to have added skincare benefits or SPF?

‘Liquids are the easiest and most popular formulations to work with, applied with your fingers or using a foundation brush to layer up and buff,’ says Lan. ‘There are many finishes – from tinted moisturisers and BB creams that give a hint of colour and work well on dry skin, to heavier coverage liquid foundations that work better on oily skin and can range from dewy to matt.’

• Best liquid foundation Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation

‘Cream textures offer a natural-looking flawless finish that you can build up. Full-coverage cream foundations in particular tend to offer the greatest staying power, without any masklike effect.’

• Best cream foundation Laura Mercier Silk Creme Moisturising Photo Edition Foundation

‘Powder is better for oily and combination skin but should be avoided if your skin is particularly dry. They give a matt finish that relies on diligent blending.’

• Best powder foundation bareMinerals ORIGINAL Loose Powder Foundation SPF 15

‘Mousse is lightweight and fluffy with a matt finish, and best applied with a buffing brush. It gives less coverage than a liquid but is great for adding a natural, airbrush-effect tint.’

‘Finding the right colour match is about much more than light, medium and dark; it also means understanding the skins undertones,’ Lan explains.

‘Look at the veins on your wrist; if they’re blue or purple you have a cool undertone and if they’re green you have a warm one. 

‘If you can’t make out the veins on your wrist simply hold a bright white towel to your face and assess whether your skin has a more red (cool) or yellow (warm) tone to it. 

‘That said, some foundations can make dark skin look ashy because the colour is too cool, so I'd recommend erring on the warmer side, especially when it comes to undereye concealer.

‘Your undertone remains the same regardless of the season but you may need to switch your foundation between summer and winter as your skin tone changes. I’d recommend having one lighter and one darker shade, which can be mixed together during the in-between stages.'

• Sheer Featherlight for a fresh, dewy, no makeup-makeup look
• Light For subtle everyday coverage (redness, fine lines) minus the weighty feeling 
• Medium Suits most occasions, buildable for fuller coverage (blemishes, pigmentation, redness)   
• Full Long-lasting for all-day coverage of pigmentation, rosacea, dark circles and uneven skin tone
  

It’s a personal reference but matt is ideal for long-lasting coverage of imperfections and blemishes, be it for wedding makeup or work meetings. Natural matt foundation suits everyday wear. Sisley Phyto-Teint Perfection Foundation is a great matt option.

If a dewy, silky-smooth finish is your thing, try a radiance-boosting glow finish foundation. Our best foundation for radiance right now is NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation.

Can’t decide? Go demi-matt for a satin, skin-like finish providing natural-looking coverage with a hint of glow. Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation is a demi-matt hero.

‘Foundation should be tested in natural light and worn over several hours to see how it feels and wears,’ says Lan. ‘Try patch-testing on different areas of the face and neck, to avoid having a mismatched face and body. 

‘Some foundations look great when first applied but less so by the end of the day. This is down to oxidation, when certain ingredients react with the oxygen in the air. and can influenced by skin texture, cleanliness and the natural oils in your skin.

‘To ensure the colour stays as true as possible, I recommend prepping the skin with a primer and setting powder.’