Fresh, luminous skin isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. We’re halfway through fashion month and the complexions of autumn/winter 2017 are looking glowier and more natural than ever (c.f. Victoria Beckham, J.W.Anderson, Simone Rocha). And while most of us still wouldn’t dare to bare, as the season changes we’re looking for lighter, dewier coverage. We want the healthy sheen of our reflection in the tube window, skin that looks like skin but better.

We’ve picked our favourite glow-giving foundations for every skin type and occasion; these are the coverage classics and the new bases on the block.

Le Métier de Beauté After Glow Foundation, 30ml, £71 from Space NK

No one was happier to hear of Le Métier de Beauté’s return to the UK, via Space NK, than us. Le Métier are particularly good at fusing skincare with makeup and this foundation is no exception: it’s hyaluronic- and vitamin e-infused, and fragrance free, so ideal for sensitive and dehydrated skins. It gives good medium to full coverage for a flawless finish leaving with you with a halo-like afterglow.

 

 

 

Armani Luminous Silk, 30ml, £40 from Selfridges

For the glowing skin shy who are seeking to wean themselves off of heavy, matte coverage this cult foundation by Armani is a happy halfway house. The clue is in the name: based on the smooth luminosity of silk it’s silken, lightweight and hydrating. It simply melts into the skin and can be built up for heavy coverage or kept light and summery when layered over a moisturiser. We’re thinking of it as make-up’s silk scarf: versatile, breezy and perfect for the winter to spring transition.

 

Suqqu Foundation, 30g, £63 from Selfridges

Suqqu create effective, no-fuss makeup in sleek and minimal packaging. This product is simply called “Foundation” which does no justice to this creamy dreamy product. It’s award-winning, loved by makeup artists like Mary Greenwell and Morag Ross, moisturising, luminous and buildable. It’s a simple product that gives results that are anything but.

Shiseido Synchro Skin Glow Luminising Fluid Foundation, 30ml, £34

Shiseido’s spring foundation launch is perfectly timed for when we want to get our glow on. This liquid foundation spreads on beautifully with a brush or fingers and, as the name would suggest, synchronises with the skin so that it moves where your skin moves – no caking or flaking here. Importantly, it’s SPF20 so you can wear it alone and know you’re being protected on the barest of skincare days. This is one for warm days in the city, when you want to appear like you barely put any effort into looking so healthy. It launches nationwide on 30 March 2017.

Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation, 30ml, £35 from Selfridges

As the old adage goes, everyone looks better in candlelight. Laura Mercier, ever the overachiever in the foundation stakes, has taken this idea and bottled it into a glow-giving potion of light to medium coverage. And while Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturiser graces the glowing hall-of-fame, we’re big fans of this warm, sheer fluid foundation as it contains a finely milled pearl mica to added the subtlest of shimmers. Available in 24 shades organised by cool, neutral and warm tones we’re obsessed – like moths to a, well, candle.

 

Chanel Sublimage Le Teint, 30g, £98 from Selfridges

First impressions: sumptuously whipped like a fluffy cloud of cream piled next to a serving of fresh strawberries. Chanel’s new anti-ageing infused Sublimage Le Teint comes in one of those glossy chunky pots with a chubby high-quality brush, not a foam sponge in sight, that make application more enjoyable. Infused with vanilla water, this foundation has a dewy finish that knocks back redness and dark circles providing a hydrating injection for tired skin.