Favourite non-foundation bases

As much as I am both thrilled and intrigued by the plethora of foundations on the market, the truth is I don't really wear foundation that often.

I generally like my skin to look natural (except red lips, obviously) and glowing, so most of the time when I go out in public I reach for a base that offers some coverage, but isn't quite a foundation. BB Creams, Tinted Moisturisers and pigment-blurring potions are my friends and I use them all year round. They are just nice, low maintenance alternatives to full-blown foundations and every single one that I'm about to talk about blends away easily using just fingertips, so they're handbag-perfect and especially handy when you're in a rush.

BareMinerals Complexion Rescue*

I love pretty much everything about Complexion Rescue. From the mousse like texture through to the cooling effect on the skin, this is one seriously good skincare/makeup hybrid. The coverage of Complexion Rescue is definitely sheer- it just adds a bit of a tint to the skin and evens out skin tone for a nice natural finish. I wear shade Buttercream which is slightly yellow toned and gives my face a lovely glow throughout all four seasons- I just add a bit of bronzer in summer and it does the trick nicely. SPF 30.

MAC Prep + Prime Beauty Balm

I bought the Prep + Prime Beauty balm after using the Prep + Prime BB compact  and, whilst being impressed overall, felt the need for a little more hydration. Designed to be used as a primer or on its own, Prep + Prime creates a nice, even base that covers blemishes, pigmentation and dark circles without making you look too 'made up'. The coverage is heavier than Complexion Rescue and can leave me looking a tiny bit ghostly so I rarely use it completely on its own- for me, a pop of blush or bronzer is best. It's a thick, creamy texture that blends seamlessly and is a perfect foundation replacement on days when you don't feel like wearing a full face or simply can't be arsed. SPF 35. 

Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturising Balm

This citrus-scented pot of tinted hydration is my absolute favourite when the weather is really, really cold. I think I initially became interested in it because I'm irrationally drawn to any beauty product with the word 'balm' in the title. It's ridiculous, I know. The Tinted Moisturising Balm is one of my 'precious' products, which is probably due to the £35.50 price tag as well as the fact that it just feels so darn luxurious. Ultra rich, the emollient formula of the tinted moisturiser makes it very good for dry skins and not so great for oily complexions, which is why I only really use it when it's cold. In terms of coverage, this is in a similar league to complexion rescue- it just enhances and evens out the complexion rather than masks anything. If you live in a super freezing climate, have dry skin, or spend a lot of time in the alps, you need this in your makeup bag, stat. SPF 25.

Dermalogica Sheer Tint*

This one is extra special to me- it's the only base I took with me to Sardinia for my 30th last September. Not only did the Dermalogica Sheer Tint preserve my skin and stop me from getting horribly sunburnt, it made my skin look pretty good at the same time. I'm not a fan of wearing traditional sun cream on my face so this was a very good alternative that also gave my face a nice tint. I have the Sheer Tint in both Light and Medium shades so I can wear it all year round. The blend-ability of this one is particularly impressive, to the point that I could put it on while sitting on the beach using my phone camera as a mirror without looking weirdly patchy and not a tell tale tideline in sight. Success. SPF 20

What's your go-to non-foundation base? Let me know!

BareMinerals Complexion Rescue - Colour Match at Selfridges

When your boyfriend announces that your makeup looks 'really natural' and 'has a nice glow actually' you know that you're onto a good thing. Especially when said boyfriend is one of the most bluntly honest people on the planet. That's what happened last weekend when we visited Selfridges so I could try out BareMinerals' latest offering, Complexion Rescue.

A few different shades were tried out before it was agreed that no. 3 (Buttercream) was my match and it was blended seamlessly onto my skin while the very helpful sales assistant filled me in on what exactly makes Complexion Rescue so special. Essentially a BB, CC and Tinted Moisturiser in one (!) Complexion Rescue features a composition with pigment on the inside and water on the outside. 'Traditional' tinted moisturisers have pigment on the 'outside' and water on the 'inside'.
This sounds a little bit odd and confusing but basically, the way that Complexion Rescue is formulated means the water in the formula reaches your skin first, before the colour, giving it an instant hit of hydration. This is explained in more detail here.

Whatever the science behind it, I can declare that this stuff delivers. The finish is dewy, fresh and above all very natural. It's quite sheer so if you have freckles and you aint afraid to show them, this is the Spring base for you. If you have a little redness or minor blemishes that you'd like corrected or just want your complexion to look more even, you need to give it a go. If however you're after a heavier base, this won't cut the mustard, though I was told that Complexion Rescue can absolutely be worn under foundation for additional coverage and a dose of hydration.

Complexion Rescue has an RRP of £26 though I have found it on Look Fantastic where it is available for pre-order (released on April 22nd) for £20.50. I'm going to be creating a look using the Complexion Rescue sometime soon so keep an eye out for that!
What's your favourite BareMinerals product?
Images: Rich Godden