Product watch: The best of autumn’s foundation launches

Too Faced Born This Way Absolute Perfection Foundation, €39

Do not be fooled by Too Faced’s cutesy packaging and quirky product names, as beneath them you will often find sophisticated formulas, wearable colours and flattering finishes. Born This Way is a full-coverage foundation that works well on normal-to-dry skin.

“Absolute perfection” refers to the way the light-reflecting and colour-pigment content helps to completely conceal imperfections, though some women may feel this makes them look too made-up.

The shade range is very natural, with no weird pink or orange undertones. It is especially important to ensure a full-coverage foundation matches your skin, as otherwise the contrast between your neck and décolletage will be dramatic and unflattering.

Makeup is meant to enhance natural skin, never to give it a more tanned appearance.

Born This Way, unlike many foundations, is emollient enough for dry skin, stays put for hours and resists creasing or caking.

This makeup will be a great one for toning down chapped cheeks and red noses when it gets colder, so keep it in mind for October if you don’t feel like putting your BB cream away just yet.

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation, €42 @ www.debenhams.ie 

Make Up For Ever makes foundations that look wonderfully skin-like and available in exceptionally wide shade-ranges (this one has 40 graduations), so you’re bound to find the ideal base for a no-makeup look on their shelves.

Whether it is part of this new collection depends on your texture and finish requirements. The Ultra HD formula contains hydrating hyaluronic acid and has enough slip to blend easily but not so much that it doesn’t stay out after setting.

As an “Ultra HD” foundation, it photographs beautifully and conceals pigmentation, hides pores, and minimises blemishes (though you will need more camouflage for spots).

The ingredients list shows a small amount of fragrance but nothing sensitive types should worry about.

As this is a medium-to-full coverage foundation, finding your exact colour match is vital to ensuring a polished, natural look. The satin finish is very pretty in daylight.

Clinique Beyond Perfecting Powder Foundation + Concealer, €32

Good powder foundations for dry skin are hard to find. Most cake and wind up highlighting parched patches, and touch-ups just make things worse.

Clinique launched the liquid version of the Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in February. Those who’ve tried it can attest to the extremely opaque, all-over concealer-like coverage it provides, even when applied with a light hand.

The powder version allows application in silky, murumuru butter-infused layers. It feels comforting and more breathable than its liquid counterpart but still neutralises imperfections effectively. The double-sided, teardrop-shaped applicator supports sheer application with the sponge side and fuller coverage with the flocked side.

A great buy for normal-to-dry and sensitive skin.

MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation SPF30, €36.50

MAC is somewhat tardy to the serum-foundation party with this one, most of the big makeup brands launched their take on the trend at the beginning of the year.

It is not a trend that I am fond of because so many companies get on board by using pure or denatured alcohol to thin foundations to a light, serum-like texture.

Alcohol-rich formulas sensitise even the healthiest skin from first application, encouraging collagen breakdown and increasing vulnerability to UV damage.

The best serums are free from non-fatty alcohol, as are their makeup equivalents. I’m happy to report MAC Studio Waterweight Foundation joins their ranks this week.

This is pitched as a super-lightweight moisturising foundation. It is very light and quite hydrating, though dry skin will still need something extra underneath. Oily and combination types can wear it without fear of greasy shine and the high concentration of colour-pigments tones down spots and redness.

The formula’s best feature is broad-spectrum SPF30, though you will need to apply a substantial layer (i.e. no sheering it out with a damp sponge) if makeup is your sole UV protection.

Tom Ford Flawless Powder Foundation, €75

Tom Ford’s radiant new powder-makeup provides flattering light-to-medium coverage for oily and normal skin.

Those who need more moisturising makeup can use it as a brightening pressed powder. The seven-shade range is very natural and the silky fibers sheer out to a second-skin finish.

Tired eyes and other trouble spots will need additional concealer. Otherwise, this creates a glowing, modern look without masking skin’s natural texture.

Flawless is exceptionally costly but powder foundations can last 2-3 years, so it’s not such a short-term investment.

Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation SPF20, €10.29

Rimmel is relaunching its bestselling foundation with increased sun protection and a more hydrating formula.

True Match’s strong points remain the same: It conceals large pores, dark circles and other irregularities well.

Reflective pigments diffuse light in a manner that makes lines less noticeable and makes skin look generally brighter.

The shade range is surprisingly small, particularly for a foundation sold on its colour-match properties.

If you do not find that one of the seven available match your skin tone, it will be very obvious you’re wearing full-coverage makeup.

If you do find true “match perfection,” you’re laughing! This really is a bargain for normal-to-dry skin.

It doesn’t cake or crease as the day progresses. My favourite things about it are the irritant-free ingredients list and strong broad-spectrum sun protection.

The formula is very moisturising and will likely need some pressed powder to stay looking fresh all day.