Your skin type will influence the way you apply your foundation. Cheshire’s renowned celebrity make-up artist, Armand Beasley, explains why

Great British Life: Inika Organic - Certified Organic BB Cream, £30, amaranth-wellbeing.com; Smashbox Studio Skin Hydrating Foundation, £29.50 , boots.com; Urban Decay Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation, £31, urbandecay.co.ukInika Organic - Certified Organic BB Cream, £30, amaranth-wellbeing.com; Smashbox Studio Skin Hydrating Foundation, £29.50 , boots.com; Urban Decay Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation, £31, urbandecay.co.uk (Image: Archant)

As a makeup artist, I always stress the importance of looking after the skin: from good skincare and nutrition to drinking plenty of water. But a great foundation can make all the difference to how your skin looks and feels. Formulations have changed and developed over the years and thankfully there are certainly a lot more shades available for our diverse society.Application of your base is important, and there are three main ways: brush, fingers and sponge. For oily skin I use a flat foundation brush and not fingers, as fingers can be too oily. Combination skin, I use fingers or a buffing foundation brush, while for dry skins I use fingers and then blend in with a Beauty Blender. Whatever your skin type, start the application from the nose and blend outwards towards the hairline and jaw. Avoid putting foundation on the eye area, instead use a specific eye concealer for this delicate zone. People ask me about setting powders and if I use them. My answer is: only use what you need. So if you get exceptionally shiny, even after using a matte foundation, then apply Kryolan Setting Powder where needed. If you’re more of a combination skin, then blot with a pressed powder down the t-zone. For mature skins, I would just recommend you take a pressed powder out with you for touch-ups only, as it’s more flattering for skin to have a dewy finish rather than a flat, matte appearance. A mineral powder foundation can be a great to use on its own for a lightweight buildable base. I really like the Inika Organic Mineral Powder Foundation as it comes in quite a few shade options and has a SPF 25 - this is a great option for men too as it doesn’t look heavy but can effectively even out the skin tone. Here are three of my favourites: Urban Decay - Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation £31; Inika Organic - Certified Organic BB Cream , £30; and Smashbox Studio Skin Hydrating Foundation , £29.50. An alternative to manual foundation application is airbrushing. I use the Airbase Airbrush kit, which is exceptionally effective on brides or sensitive skins, or on clients who do not like skin-on-skin application. I travel a lot with my work and this option is also is very popular with some of my international clientele. The finish is a buildable full-coverage satin effect that’s incredibly long wearing plus, as an artist, I can custom blend the colour to any skin tone.

Handbag hero: Emani - HD Bamboo Setting Powder, £32, emanivegan.co.uk

A finely-milled, silky pressed powder that helps to eliminate shine and not look cakey. Honeysuckle, rosemary leaf and moringa seed oil ingredients help to create a weightless soft-focus effect to the skin.

Great British Life: Handbag Hero: Emani - HD Bamboo Setting Powder, £32, emanivegan.co.ukHandbag Hero: Emani - HD Bamboo Setting Powder, £32, emanivegan.co.uk (Image: Archant)

Simply blot on the T-zone to absorb any shine.