I’m a little dubious about this category too. While pigment technology is advancing all the time, and pigments can to a certain extent be tricked up so as to be flattering to a few skintones, I think most of the current skintone-adjusting pigment talk is clever marketing. Think about it - if technology had come up with a pigment that was truly able to adjust to all skintones, there would only be one shade of foundation available in that range.

Take the Revlon Beyond Natural Skin-Matching Makeup ($29.95, from pharmacies), for example. There are fewer shades available in this range than for many foundations, true, but that’s because it’s a lighter coverage, akin to a tinted moisturiser, where one shade can stretch over several skintones. The way it works is that it comes out white but then morphs into a skin-hued tone. What’s really happening is that the pigment is bursting on contact with skin and mixing into the rest of the formulation. If you choose the light shade, you’ll get a light-toned look; if you go darker, you’ll end up looking darker.

Having said that, I think there are some blushes and lip tints that work well as a one-shade-suits-all. They work according to the skin’s pH and with the circulation, adjusting in tone to create a flattering flush of colour. Case in point: Smashbox O-Glow, $44, and O-Gloss, $39, from Adore Beauty.

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