Just like any fabulous work of art, a beautifully made-up face must start with a perfectly prepared canvas. In make-up terms, that means creating a flawless base, and the simplest way to achieve perfect skin is with foundation.

When it comes to picking your base, there are two key points: tone and texture. Obviously you must colour-match your product to your natural skin tone. Make-up pros usually recommend testing a new foundation on your lower cheek or jaw.

Trouble is, when you go into a beauty store, the last thing you want is to walk out with strange, streaky skin. Also, when you’re out and about, there’s a good chance you’re already wearing make-up, so you won’t get a true result if you apply a new foundation on top.

Instead, I try out shades on the inside of my wrist, where the skin is smooth and hairless. The right colour should be close enough to your natural skin tone to be almost invisible.

First things first, however, before selecting the shade you must pick the right product: tinted moisturiser, powder-foundation, spray-on base or a classic fluid… The choice can be mind-boggling, so to get you started, I’ve identified a few favourites.

How To Choose The Perfect Foundation

BINKY’S PICK OF THE BEST FOUNDATIONS

Nuxe Teint Eclat Prodigieux Moisturising Tinted Cream
This product is perfect if you want a lightweight coverage on your skin – it’s the kind of tinted base I use in the summer, when I don’t want to be caked in make-up. It’s easy to apply with your fingertips, and blends in quickly to create a smooth, glowing complexion.

Guerlain Terracotta Skin Healthy Glow Foundation
Deliciously soft and velvety, this is another lightweight, moisturising base that’s perfect for smoothing out summer skin. It has enough strength to conceal imperfections yet is light enough to let your skin glow naturally.

Guerlain Parure Gold Compact Foundation
This matt powder-foundation is especially good for oily complexions. It banishes shine yet never looks too caked. It simply glides on, leaving a wonderfully even skin tone. It also contains light-reflecting gold particles, which add the subtlest shimmer and give your skin a soft, super-flattering glow.

bareMinerals All Over Face Colour
This is another base that’s particularly suited to oily or combination skin. Apply it with a buffing brush, dusting it all over your face and really working it into the skin. Mineral powders like this are also ideal for sensitive complexions as they contain natural pigments which won’t irritate the skin.

Clarins Skin Illusion Foundation
If you’re looking for light-to-medium coverage, this Clarins base will be a good fit. It’s a radiance foundation, giving your skin a healthy glowing finish, while disguising any imperfections. It has SPF10 sunscreen and is also great for sensitive skin as it contains gentle plant extracts and minerals in place of harsher chemicals.

Daniel Sandler Invisible Radiance Foundation and Concealer
Regular blog-readers will know I’m a big fan of this Daniel Sandler base. The foundation gives your skin a beautifully radiant, dewy glow. It will smooth out your skin tone without feeling too heavy, and, of course, if you need a little extra coverage for problem areas or dark shadows, you’ll find the perfect matching shade of concealer in the lid. Nifty!

Dior DiorSkin Airflash Spray Foundation
I absolutely love this Dior foundation. It comes in an aerosol can so you need to shake it before you spray it on. The formula is very light and silky but it still creates an absolutely flawless finish, and it’s so easy to use. I spray it over my face, neck and even my décolletage on important occasions, to ensure I have a perfectly smooth, even skin tone all over.

Dior DiorSkin Forever Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Foundation
Another great Dior base; this is a classic fluid foundation. It’s extremely long-lasting, giving you great all-day coverage, so is my first choice if I’m going out for hours – perhaps to a wedding, filming on set or partying all night! It blends beautifully into the skin, giving you a professional, air-brushed finish, and it suits all skin types.

Vichy Dermablend Dermasmooth Corrective Foundation
If you suffer from acne or problem skin, this is the perfect foundation as it provides really intensive coverage. It glides beautifully onto the skin, blends in easily, and conceals every blemish. Many foundations can feel too oily for sensitive or spot-prone skin, but this base has the perfect consistency.

Vichy Dermablend Ultra Corrective Cream Stick
This is the ultimate full-on, camouflage stick. It will conceal everything from spots and dark circles to tattoos. Obviously, you won’t need such intensive coverage on an everyday basis, but it works like a dream for skin emergencies. The base has a surprisingly lightweight feel but is extremely long-lasting, and can be used as a concealer or all over your face. It’s a great trouble-shooting foundation and the handy little stick is easy to carry with you.

I’ve suggested a base for pretty much every possible scenario today, so there’s no excuse for looking less than divine! Remember, real beauty may be more than skin deep, but a flawless complexion is a great place to start!

Stay gorgeous, love Binky xxxx