Find your perfect summer foundation

It’s safe to say that summer is finally here, but with that brings a change in my make-up preferences, especially in my foundation choices. In warm weather, I favour lighter and more sheer textures to thinly veil the skin, even out tone and blur any blemishes. 

Foundations for darker skin tones have vastly improved over the last few years as more is being spent on technology and innovation. This means that whether you’re the colouring of Freida Pinto or Lupita Nyong’o, there's a foundation out there for you. This summer, I've done my due diligence – here are my favourite bases for women of colour.

1 Filorga BB Perfect, £35, M&S

A beauty balm that offers a natural dewy pay-off. It also has the added calming and healing benefits suitable for post sun exposure.  

2 Sleek CC Cream, £8.99, Sleek MakeUp

This moisturising foundation conceals, corrects and combats dullness. Its’ featherlight and hydrating too, making it ideal for hot summer days.

3 Cover FX Custom Cover Drops, £36, Urban Retreat

With innovative 'Flash Fusion Technology', you can mix these magical drops in with your skincare to make a customised foundation. From barely there to full-on coverage, this works well as an all-year-round option.

4 EX1 Pure Crushed Minerals, £13, LookFantastic 

If your skin is prone to shine, a matt finish may be just what you need. This talc-free mineral foundation doesn’t sit in pores or look ‘cakey'.

5 Fashion Fair True Finish Liquid Foundation, £23, feelunique.com

With colour-adjusting technology, this foundation goes the extra mile to match the various undertones of darker skin. A little goes a long way, so ensure you don't got too heavy by using a foundation brush to apply. 

6 RMK Liquid Foundation, £33, LookFantastic

For 'my skin but better' type coverage, this waterpoof foundation is a winner. Its dewiness mimics real skin and the pigment lightly covers any blemishes. 

7 Premae Mattifying Mousse Foundation, £29, Premae

The world’s first vegan mango butter-based foundation is also nut-, dairy-, gluten- and chemical-free. Melting on contact with skin, the whipped base is easy to apply, and blends seamlessly.  

8 Kiko Liquid Skin, £18.90, Kiko Milano

Enriched with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, this is a contender for skin that craves balance and extra moisture. It’s extremely light and dries to a matt finish. 

9 Illamasqua Skin Base, £32, Illamasqua

A hardworking multi-use foundation – it can be used to conceal, contour and highlight.

Buffed onto skin with a brush, it’s undetectable, which is exactly how foundation should be. And the 26 shades available mean that there is something available even for the deepest skin tones.

10 Make Up Forever Pro Bronze Fusion, £28, Debenhams

Technically not a foundation, but if you’re after the most subtle allover glow, then this lighy waterproof matte bronzing powder is just the ticket. 

For more about Dija, visit her website dijasworld.com

Photograph: iStock