When ELLE's beauty director told me recently that 2010 was set to be all about the flawless base and finding your perfect powder I was filled with dread. I haven’t carried powder in my make-up bag since I was 16-years-old and am more than apprehensive about the idea. But she reassures me the new generation of powders have really moved on - so I’m happy to give Clinique’s new Superbalanced Powder Make-Up with a mineral rich formula and SPF 15 a try.

Trust American brand Maybelline to come up trumps with yet another reasonably priced must-have. Its Pure Foundation comes in a screw-top pot with a handy filter and a small round brush. (The brush as you would expect isn’t the best quality so swap for your own for a better application).
Mineral foundations are never going to be the best choice for those who like their make-up to be portable, as loose powder is messy and must be applied with care. Powder is brushed on in sweeping circular motions until an even coverage is achieved, at first it appears matte and chalky, but soon works with your skin’s natural oils to blend in and become dewy and super even. This takes around 30 minutes. You can build up as many layers as you like to create as little or as much coverage as you need.
You won’t need a concealer with this foundation and even on a hot day you’ll rarely need to re apply, making Maybelline’s Pure foundation fantastic value for money.

One of the few mineral foundations that comes as a pressed rather than loose powder, we’re big fans of Jane Iredale’s mineral foundation for its time saving and portable beauty benefits (not to mention its high SPF 20).
Use the compact with a sponge or a brush to create a great even base that’s sheer and subtle, applying more to any oily areas like the T-zone (mineral make up works with the skins natural oils so more is needed when more oil is produced).
This is a light coverage product, but its portability means re applying during the day is not a problem. In particular this one is not ideal for super oily skin, but works really well for normal and combination skin and is one of the few suited to older complexions.

Beneath this unassuming packaging, this product packs a real punch. The price tag (for such a small amount of product) is perhaps more reflective of its quality – it’s reassuringly expensive, but if you consider that it does the job of a concealer, foundation and powder all in one, the cost is actually pretty good value. There is also little need to re apply during the day as this is a good quality product that seems to last.
The foundation feels incredibly light on the skin and the initial powdery texture soon works with your skin’s natural oils to give you natural looking coverage that is hard to beat. Even dark under-eye circles are banished, although if you’re skin is creased and wrinkled in this area it would be best to ask to test this product before you invest.

i.d bareMinerals’ plain and simple packaging reflects this brand’s message which is all about a natural approach to skin. They already have an impressive list of celebrity fans including Jennifer Aniston and Christy Turlington who, lets face it, both look radiant at all times – a great endorsement if ever we saw one.
Like most mineral make-up, i.d.bareminerals is best applied in light layers, building up to your desired amount of coverage. Once you have this bit mastered, an impressive, even and matte coverage which looks very natural can be easily achieved. Unlike other types of foundation, mineral products need time to settle. For the best results we advise that you apply 30 minutes before you leave the house.