These lighter products combine skin-perfecting coverage with skincare ingredients
I think the reason people ask so frequently about my foundation is that I’m committed to skin that looks like skin. I’ve never really been someone who likes heavy, mask-like make-up, and lighter formulas have generally been my favourite.
Having said that, I definitely need more coverage at 43 than I did at 23. Redness and spots of hyperpigmentation mean I need my product to deliver coverage without compromising on a natural finish or my skin’s natural glow.
In my view, serum foundations are ideal for achieving this. These products combine skin-perfecting coverage with skincare ingredients, meaning the formulas are generally nourishing and comfortable. Here are some of my favourites:
Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Serum Foundation
Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Serum Foundation (€45.58 via cultbeauty.com) – I love this product from make-up artist and innovator Danessa Myricks. Infused with squalane and hyaluronic acid, this keeps the skin plump and hydrated, but also beautifully evens the skin tone, leaving you glowing, but not shiny. A little goes a long way with this one, which comes in a refillable, squeezable tube which cuts down on mess and waste. It’s a 10 for me.
Clarins Double Serum Foundation
Clarins Double Serum Foundation (€55 via clarins.ie) – This formula combines Clarins’s iconic double serum with foundation to deliver coverage and skincare simultaneously. The applicator turns, allowing you to customise the ratio of serum to foundation, so you can find what works best for your skin. Obviously, the more serum you use, the lighter the coverage, but this is a medium-to-full-coverage product.
L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum
L’Oréal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum (€19.99 via boots.ie) – I recommend this over and over again to women of all ages. It’s affordable, and performs just as well as, if not better than, many high-end options. While the formula is sheer, it is buildable and can easily achieve medium coverage. This product perfects the skin beautifully, leaving it looking healthy and glowing. I wish the packaging was different, as the dropper is messy, but we can’t have everything.
Sculpted by Aimee Hydra Tint
Sculpted by Aimee Hydra Tint (€28 via sculptedbyaimee.com) – It’s no surprise that Aimee Connolly’s serum foundation is excellent given the consistently high standard of products across the brand. This delivers sheer but buildable coverage along with hyaluronic acid, ceramides and SPF to ensure your skin is cared for while you wear it. This is a great, light product for summer or holidays.
Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation
Clinique Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation (€48 via arnotts.ie) – This is a great option for those with oily skin. The formula combines skincare ingredients like vitamin C, salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid with SPF20, but also delivers full, matte coverage which lasts the day.
Lost in translation
Gua sha brushes are all the rage these days as brand after brand launches them alongside new products. Essentially, these are dense brushes with a curve which act as a lymphatic drainage tool. I’m not entirely sold on these as the brush needs to be really stiff to actually achieve any sort of drainage, but there’s no doubt that they feel pleasant on the face as the brush follows its natural curve. Do you absolutely need one? I don’t think so.
Something old…
Q&A Hyaluronic Acid Post-Shower Moisturiser
I don’t often get all the way through a body moisturiser, if I’m honest. I tend to use about half, and then, once I’ve decided what I think about it, I move on to trialling something else (in the name of research for this column and, let’s be honest, wanting the dopamine hit of trying something new). Q&A Hyaluronic Acid Post-Shower Moisturiser (€2.50 via boots.ie) is an exception. It’s a dream body moisturiser in my opinion, as it can be applied to the body immediately after the shower. No waiting for your skin to dry, which often leads to me entirely forgetting to apply a moisturiser at all. Instead, you can get the boost of hyaluronic acid, as well as nutrient-rich avocado oil and hazelnut oil.
Something new…
Saltair’s HA Body Hydrator
If you are someone who manages to maintain a body routine, you’re also probably someone who wishes their body products came in larger bottles. Daily use of a product on the body’s surface will result in bottles emptying fairly quickly. Saltair’s HA Body Hydrator (€28.75 via spacenk.com) comes in a big bottle with a pump, which is easy to use even if your hands are damp after the shower. You can apply this product which is rich in hyaluronic acid to damp skin, either on its own or as a base layer under a richer cream. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, which makes it ideal for use on damp skin, as it attracts and retains moisture. Light, and quickly absorbing, I can see this becoming a regular in my post-shower routine.
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