What do you look for in a foundation? Chances are, you've been using the same one for years. Or, maybe you favour a tinted moisturiser over heavier textures. Whatever your preference, you may be interested to know that foundation is changing. Now, it's not enough to provide even coverage and a smooth finish – there's a whole new generation of products that are combining skincare with make-up. Revolutionary? Maybe.
In August this year, Charlotte Tilbury unveiled one of its biggest launches to date – the new Airbrush Flawless Foundation, £34. Charlotte Tilbury herself, in fact, referred to it as her 'life's work' and it had a waiting list of 17,000 before it even went on sale. That's because it's not your average base – instead, Tilbury worked for years to develop an excellent foundation, available in 44 shades, which also uses some of skincare's most advanced science to offer other benefits, too. As well as promising to hydrate skin, the Airbrush Flawless Foundation states that it will reduce the appearance of wrinkles by up to 22%.
Tilbury isn't the only one to have combined make-up with skincare, however. L'Orèal Paris has recently relaunched its True Match Foundation, £9.99, revamping the formula to include Glycerin – particularly good for oily skin – Hyaluronic Acid – for super hydration – and calming Aloe Vera.
Elisabeth Bouhadana, the brand's Global Scientific Communications Director, said: 'Hybrid formulae are the future of cosmetics and our laboratories have stepped up to the challenge with True Match. The skin-enhancing formula actually contains 80% moisturising cream to improve your skin quality day by day.'
Similarly, Fenty Beauty has decided to combine hydration with coverage, launching the Pro Filt'r Hydrating Foundation, £27. Like Airbrush Flawless and True Match, Fenty's foundation is a longwear formula, infused with Grape Seed Oil and Sodium Hyaluronate 'to give skin the nourishing hydration it needs to stay comfortable all day,' according to the brand.
Clarins has recently launched its new Everlasting Youth Fluid, £35, a foundation which contains extracts of chicory and red jania, both intended to help boost the overall look of your skin, ultimately making it look more 'radiant'. So far, it has sold out in multiple stockists.
It makes sense. More and more of us are turning to multi-tasking products that will deliver great results, and skincare is more popular than ever before. The fact that brands are incorporating the science behind skincare into what is, for so many, the most important element of their make-up bag, just seems like good business.
SHOP: The Best Foundations With Bonus Skincare
SHOP: The Best Foundations With Bonus Skincare
1 of 8Fenty Beauty, Pro Filt'r Hydrating Foundation, £27
Born of consumer demand, Fenty Beauty's latest foundation marries longwear coverage with noteworthy hydration levels. Thirsty skin's dream, in other words. Available in 50 shades.
2 of 8Clarins, Everlasting Youth Fluid, £35
Available in 24 shades, Clarins' foundation has proven to be a sell-out success so far. This may be down to its promise to deliver instant radiance, thanks to the addition of chicory.
3 of 8Charlotte Tilbury, Airbrush Flawless Foundation
This foundation has some of the most advanced skincare of all the hybrid products. Not only does it promise 24 hours of hydration, it contains what Charlotte herself refers to as Magic Replexium, which during clinical trials was shown to reduce the visible signs of ageing by 22 per cent over an eight week period. Available in 44 shades.
4 of 8L'Oreal Paris, True Match Liquid Foundation with SPF & Hyaluronic Acid, £9.99
L'Oreal's beloved True Match has had a revamp and now blends advanced skincare with the same, even coverage and lightweight formula as before. One of the best things about this new version, available in 44 shades, is the addition of hyaluronic acid, which means your skin will feel super moisturised all day long.
5 of 8Sisley, Phyto-Teint Ultra Éclat, £66
Sisley's high-science skincare in foundation form, this makes a hero of buckwheat seed extract, which is an anti-pollution powerhouse ingredient that promises to leave skin with a lovely glow. If there's one downside, it's that it's only currently available in 14 different shades.
6 of 8No.7, Protect & Perfect Advanced All In One Foundation, £17
One of the jewels in No.7's eye, this foundation has a beautifully blendable formula with an impressive SPF 50+. A great choice if you're looking for added protection against daily UV damage. Again, it's sadly only available in 14 shades at the moment.
7 of 8Smashbox Studio Skin Full Coverage 24 Hour Foundation, £29.50
If you have oily skin and/or you are in the market for really high coverage, this one's for you. Smashbox's foundation is formulated specifically to control shininess and oil thanks to Bamboo Powder and Kaolin Clay. As well as that, there's added Vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, which will leave skin feeling generally healthy and nourished. There are 40 shades available, too.
8 of 8Max Factor, Facefinity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 Foundation, £12.99
A primer, concealer and foundation all in one product, Facefinity is super lightweight but still offers great, even coverage. It also offers SPF20 protection, making it one of the best all-rounders on the market.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Foundations For Mature Skin