This is a veritable skincare/make-up hybrid: a tinted serum with a host of actives to improve your complexion while you’re wearing it. Its formula is rich in hydration-boosting hyaluronic acid as well as skin-loving peptides and squalane, with microencapsulated pigments to provide a subtly perfected, softly blurring finish. With it you can easily create that coveted no make-up make-up look, as perfected by brand founder Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

We first have to add a little caveat and stress that you shouldn’t rely solely on your foundation for your sun protection. But even if you do use a dedicated sunscreen year round, many of us just don’t apply adequate amounts of product – and we can even end up missing a few patches, so an extra layer of defence will never go amiss. Noting this risky tendency, SPF experts Ultra Violette have produced this gorgeous full-spectrum SPF 50 tinted serum that provides enough coverage to leave skin looking glossy and clear. 

Among beauty lovers Estée Lauder’s Double Wear is acclaimed for its staying power and ability to deftly conceal blemishes, scars and pigmentation; this is its sheerer sister that boasts the same longevity but with lighter coverage. Its oil-free, non-oxidising formulation means that you can set and forget your base without worrying about it smudging or changing colour. It also provides a cocktail of hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and watermelon, apple and litchi seed extracts, to keep dehydration at bay.

This foundation from trending brand Sculpted By Aimee is the type of product we have recommended to countless friends and family with a lot of success. A liquid mineral formulation, it provides medium coverage and a wonderfully luminous glow, which is particularly perfect in warmer months or after a day on the beach. For summer (and year round), we also love the fact that it has an SPF of 50 for enhanced UV protection over and above our layer of SPF.

Summer foundations can pose a problem for those with oilier complexions: you want a product that won’t transfer or look cakey even in the hottest of weather and for your skin to look like your real skin – not make-up. NARS have mastered the seemingly impossible with their aptly named Soft Matte foundation: a truly long-wearing formulation that suppresses shine but still looks natural and feels comfortable all day long.