The clocks have changed, late afternoon darkness is upon us, and it is only a matter of weeks before your skin will start to look tired and sickly, even if you’re mainlining as many vitamins as I am. You surely know what I’m talking about: that sort of exhausted pallor that descends come winter, seeping through your bronzer, adding a hint of grey, a touch of Colin from The Secret Garden to the proceedings.
We all know that, in an ideal world, said loss of glow would be tackled at the root, with exercise and lots of veg and maybe a lovely holiday in the Caribbean where the only thing to do is recline and read a good book, but the soggy sad fact of the matter is that sometimes popping on some reliable make-up is the only option. And maybe, just maybe, looking better will act as a placebo, prompting a little natural radiance thanks to the reassurance of looking less peaky. Even if it doesn’t, at least nobody will ask if you’re in need of a lie-down.
Here are the ones I rely on when the lustre I love is being elusive. I've given them a glow rating out of ten (1 = flat and matte, 10 = sheeny-shiny as can be) to help you navigate the products.
Suqqu The Liquid Foundation
Glow rating: 7
This feels like a silky serum, instantly adding a healthy — but not greasy — sheen. This makes sense, given that it is a skincare-foundation hybrid, containing hydrolysed collagen and Hyaluronic acid to look after the skin while wearing it. I like to apply it with my fingers only where needed for a really natural, not-quite-wearing-foundation finish.
Suqqu The Liquid Foundation, £71, Selfridges.com.
Kosas Revealer Foundation SPF 25
Glow rating: 8This had my beauty editor friends in quite a state of excitement thanks to the buildable, plumping formula that spreads across the skin and then holds firm, adding both glow and coverage that really lasts. You can of course buy this online, but I’d recommend going into a shop to be colour-matched if possible as they have such a vast range of shades.
Kosas Revealer Foundation SPF 25, £35, spacenk.com.
U Beauty SUPER Tinted Hydrator
Glow rating: 10
If you love the look of a glossy skincare finish, but fancy adding a hint of coverage in the mix, this is the one for you. It is sheer and gives healthy-supermodel-on-holiday once applied thanks to its mix of hydrating and bolstering ingredients.
U Beauty SUPER Tinted Hydrator, £98, theubeauty.co.uk.
Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Foundation
Glow Rating: 5
There are times when hyper glow is not what you want — perhaps you are prone to grease, for instance. This skin-smoothing, velvety foundation is the answer. It builds from medium to full coverage like a dream, so is also ideal if you like to go back and add some more foundation to cover problem areas.
Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Foundation, £44, lisaeldridge.com.
DCYPHER My Custom Coverage Drops
Glow rating: whatever you want them to be
This is a very clever product. First, you let DCYPHER's tech scan your skin tone through the screen to make your perfect shade (I've done this three times and it's aced it every time), then you choose whether you'd like the foundation or the custom drops. I think the latter is perfect for upping the dew level of skin, because you can drop between 1-4 drops into a serum or half serum, half highlighter combination to give you the precise amount of glow you'd like.
DCYPHER My Custom Coverage Drops, £35, dcypher.me.
Rose Inc Softlight Skin-Smoothing Liquid Foundation
Glow rating: 6
Think healthy skin lit by candlelight, and you've got the gist of how this one looks on skin. Rather than relying on a matte finish to achieve it, it adds plumpness and a little optical blur to make the skin look glowing.
Rose Inc Softlight Skin-Smoothing Liquid Foundation, £42, cultbeauty.co.uk.
Shiseido Synchro Skin Radiant Lifting Foundation SPF 30
Glow Rating: 8
Want glow that sticks around? Buy this. It is in many make-up artists' kit bags because it really delivers on both fronts. In case, like me, you're curious about precisely how it stays so radiant over the course of a day: it's not just the skincare ingredients, but also the addition of micro-crystals which light up the skin.
