There are a couple of things to check first before giving foundation the flick altogether. First of all, how’s your skin? If it’s dry and flaky, even the best foundation won’t sit well. Make sure you’re exfoliating twice a week, followed by a ten-minute session with a hydrating mask – this will go far towards making skin smooth and supple, not to mention a better surface for foundation. You could also try applying a primer after your moisturiser and before foundation, which will create an even better canvas to paint on. Try Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer ($27.95 from pharmacies).

The next thing to look at is your application technique. Forget brushes and sponges in your case – instead, try applying foundation with your fingers only, and using with a massage-like motion. This warms foundation up and helps it to melt seamlessly into skin.

If none of the above works for you, perhaps you’re just not destined to wear foundation. In this case, I’d suggest using a pigment-dense concealer to camouflage any discolouration, from dark circles to red spots. M.A.C Select Cover Up ($32 from M.A.C) is perfect for this type of work.

If you need more skintone-evening help, try a facial fake tan (or just mix regular fake tan into your night cream) for an all-over complexion boost. Just be aware that you’ll need to also buy a concealer that matches your more tanned tone.

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