Incredible makeup starts with a good base. But, with over 100 foundations on the Escentual website, where do you start? With the Escentual Beauty team’s favourites, of course.

Myself, Chelsey, Lis, and Ceryn are used to testing all the newest releases, so you can trust, if we’re willing to stay monogamous to one, they must be good. Here are the four foundations we’re committed to…

#1 The High-end Heartbreaker

Keavy’s Pick: GUERLAIN Parure Gold

Coverage: Full
Finish: Luminous
Texture: Liquid
Longevity: 24 hours It is still flawless and glowy after my sweaty, evening gym session.
Values: Non-comedogenic
Best for: Ageing skin, full coverage

GUERLAIN Parure Gold Foundation has to be one of the best foundations I’ve tried – and I’ve tried a lot. I discovered this little gem last year, and I haven’t looked back since. The luxurious gold bottle is always the first thing to catch my eye amongst the big beauty names in my makeup bag. And, it’s always my go-to when I want to up my makeup game for a special event.

Glowy and full coverage, it’s everything that I want in a foundation. One of my most luxurious beauty buys in my makeup collection it comes in at £56.70. And, it’s worth every penny; it has an ultra-creamy formula infused with flecks of real 24-carat gold pigments, light-reflecting pearlisers, and it has a delicate fruity-floral scent. The results? Well, the before and after shots speak for themselves, but I think my skin looks luminous and flawless.

#2 The Coverage Confidant

Chelsey’s Pick: Vichy Dermablend

Coverage: Medium-full
Finish: Satin
Texture: Liquid
Longevity: 16 hours
Values: Hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic, fragrance-free, paraben-free
Best For: Sensitive and blemish-prone skin
Shades: See the swatches

Dermablend is one of those foundations I can always rely on; our relationship is pretty platonic. Its high-coverage finish acts like a best friend; in seconds, it can boost your confidence and stop you being conscious; it’s always there for you, at times when you need it most, i.e. breakouts and men.

What I love about this base is how hard it works with minimal effort. Every day when I reach for it, I know my skin is going to look the best it can look, all day long, as it’s been proven to last up to 16 hours.

You’ll match with this foundation if you have imperfections you want to cover, but not mask. Healthy and natural – Dermablend has a demi-matte finish, but if you like to be shine-free, you can instantly mattify with a sweep of the Dermablend Setting Powder. If you suffer from breakouts or acne, it’s worth discovering Dermablend 3D; not only does it conceal spots and marks well, it also works with your skin to limit oil production and prevent blemishes from appearing.

#3 The Perfect Partner

Ceryn’s Pick: GUERLAIN L’Essentiel

Coverage: Light-medium
Finish: Glow
Texture: Liquid
Longevity: 16 hours
Values: Dermatologically tested, tested on sensitive skin, non-comedogenic
Best For: Dull, and sensitive skin

Why do I love L’Essentiel? Why wouldn’t I; it has a 97% natural formula, feels like nothing on the skin, and makes my skin look naturally gorgeous and glowy.

If you’re an avid reader of Escentual’s blog, you’ll know I have eczema (it always pops up in an article somehow or another), and because of that, I have very high standards when it comes to the products I put on my skin. L’Essentiel’s formula doesn’t sting or cling to my flaky patches; instead, it makes my dry skin type look plump, hydrated and as if it doesn’t have eczema. I couldn’t want more from a foundation. I’ve been using it as my everyday base for six months now, and haven’t cheated once! You’ll love this if you want a base that allows your skin to breathe, looks real (freckles will peak through) and luminous (not shiny).

#4 The Long-term Love

Elisabeth’s Pick: DIOR Forever Skin Glow

Coverage: Medium-full
Finish: Dewy
Texture: Liquid
Longevity: 24 hours Lis needed to touch up after 8 hours.
Best For: Dry skin, combination skin, or those seeking a radiant finish.
Shades: See the swatches

I will always love trying new foundations; there’s just something that always draws me in about the promise of an innovative formula. However, that said, DIOR Forever Skin Glow foundation has been my go-to since its release last year. My skin is dry but tends to get greasy throughout the day, so I need something that’s going to give me a fresh, healthy glow while being long-lasting and dependable. Skin Glow ticks all those boxes; I love the way it effortlessly smoothes my face and leaves it with a shine-free glow.

This glowy foundation contains skin-enhancing and protective ingredients, which is another reason I haven’t strayed! It has an SPF 35 broad-spectrum sunscreen included in the formula as well as a pansy extract that acts as a hydration booster – a must for my parched complexion! It’s easy to pick your shade too with the DIOR Forever Shade Finder.

Discover More:

• 3 Glow Foundations for Every Budget
• We Tried 4 Of The Best Long-Lasting Foundations…