As August splinters into September each year, I experience a general change in mood, and I am not alone in this. Perhaps it is an annual performance, remembered and recreated by my body, of the grim resignation I felt at returning to school each autumn (I loathed school). Maybe it is a ritual mourning of the loss of light as the evenings push their way into the promise of afternoon.
Whatever it is, I know to seek comfort where I can find it and, along with thick tights and soft jumpers, make-up can indeed be a comfort.
The routine of applying it (if you enjoy it) is a morning meditation, and autumn, for all its sins, at least brings with its cold air and dismemberment of trees a fresh opportunity to play with colour and texture. The light changes, the lens placed upon the world gets bluer and a little less kindly, and our faces look different. Since autumn always saddens somewhat, I may have more to conceal, or feel the need for a slightly more robust layer between myself and the world, but I will generally opt for a slightly heavier or more matte foundation.
The technology behind these has vastly improved in recent years, and they feel less mask-like and more comfortable than ever.
Bobbi Brown Skin Longwear Weightless Foundation (€38 at Arnotts) is my favourite high-coverage foundation of last season, and will take you all the way through to next summer very comfortably. A light layer will give beautiful evenness to the skin and even a more generous application does not look artificial.
If you prefer something more ephemeral, Chanel CC Cream Correction Complète Super Active SPF 50 (€53 at Brown Thomas) is quite extraordinary. I would describe it as matte-ish, with excellent staying power and a second skin finish, but with a definite and very pretty glow to counteract drab lighting and weather.
Huda Beauty #Fauxfilter Foundation (€36 at Brown Thomas) is not a new addition to the beauty scene, but cannot be beaten on the coverage front. It does not produce a true skin finish unless used very sparingly, but it will cover anything – tattoos, birth marks, crimes. Since it sets quite quickly, almost like an eyeliner, buff it quickly into the skin, and do use a primer as it is as matte as a foundation gets, and can consequently be unflattering on an improperly prepared skin.
For similar effect with a little less intensity, Rimmel Lasting Finish Breathable Foundation (€10.99 at Boots) is perfect. Again, this works most comfortably with a good primer, as does BareMinerals Original Foundation SPF15 (€30 at Debenhams), which I recently rediscovered.
The expanded range of 30 shades now really does include everyone, including the palest and deepest skins, and it is a nice option for a matte with a glow base which is not labour intensive or overly complicated. Just buff a very small amount vigorously into the skin, and go, which makes it an excellent option for those who don’t want to work any harder than they absolutely have to on make-up in the morning.
