6 Best NARS Foundations UK 2024 | Sheer Glow, Natural Radiant Longwear and More

There are four main skin types and certain formulas will suit some complexions better than others. With this in mind, you should identify your skin type before you start shopping.

• Dry skin: can be prone to large flaky patches which are tricky to cover. A liquid foundation or tinted moisturiser is best for this skin type, as it will replace the lipids that your complexion is missing as a result of lack of sebum. Powder foundations, on the other hand, may cause irritation and make your skin look even drier.

If you suffer from a dehydrated complexion, check out these moisturisers for dry skin.

When selecting a foundation shade, you should consider your undertone as well as your overall skin tone. One way to work out your undertone if you have a light to medium skin tone is to have a look at the veins on your wrist when in natural light. If they look purple or blue then you probably have a cool undertone, whereas people with green veins have a warm undertone and those with a mix of colours have a neutral undertone.

Alternatively, if you have a darker skin tone and less visible veins, you can try looking at which colours generally suit you. Blue or purple clothing and silver jewellery tend to suit people with a cool undertone, while yellow or orange shades and gold jewellery look better on those with a warm undertone.

If you have neutral undertones, you should steer away from a foundation with too much pink and orange in the base and look for a shade with more peachy tones. Those with a cool undertone should opt for a pink or red base, whereas those with a warm undertone will suit a more yellow or beige base.

You should also think about which level of coverage and finish will best suit your skin and style. A foundation that offers sheer coverage will allow your skin to breathe but won't hide every flaw, so you might want to use a concealer too. On the other hand, a product with full coverage can benefit those who have acne and wish to cover larger areas of blemishes.

Foundations with a classic matte finish tend to offer more coverage and can help to absorb some of the excess sebum if you have oily skin. Powder foundations are those that generally offer the best matte finish as they don't contain much moisture.

If you'd prefer a dewy, natural-looking complexion, try a liquid foundation or tinted moisturiser. While this type of foundation will give you a lovely glow, it's not ideal for oily skin as you'll likely already have plenty of shine to contend with.

Add a little colour to your foundation base with one of these blushers.

To keep your morning routine as simple as possible, why not try a foundation with added SPF? This is a great idea if you plan to spend a bit of time outside and want to keep your skin protected against UV rays.

Just be aware that the SPF factor in makeup might not be particularly high. So, if you intend to spend the whole day in the sun then a separate sunscreen that you can re-apply every few hours might be a better choice. Otherwise, you might end up with a very cakey complexion!

Prefer to keep your SPF separate? Here are our recommended sunscreens for sensitive skin.