Beauty: new hybrid foundations

http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2014/sep/27/beauty-new-hybrid-fusion-foundations-sali-hughes

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I am afraid I'll be blathering on a lot about foundations this season, because there's scarcely a brand not launching a new one for autumn. I've tried somewhere in the region of 20, and while my skin type largely influences how I feel about each, I appreciate products that, while not quite right for me, are positively ideal for others.

"Hybrid" or "fusion" foundations are a case in point. These silicone and water mix bases really kicked off when Giorgio Armani released Maestro three years ago (which I still think is fantastic on oily and combination skins). Maestro proved such a game-changer that practically everyone ran off to try to better the original. YSL's Fusion Ink (£30.50) comes with perhaps the biggest fanfare (and Nasa technology, apparently). It certainly has excellent lasting power and an all-day matte finish for oilier types (on my dry skin, I prefer their excellent, but too dewy for some, Touche Eclat Foundation).

On the same tip as Fusion Ink and Maestro is Laura Mercier's new Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide (£34). Like all fusions, it needs to be shaken well before use, to mix the water and silicone. This one, to my eye, looks more natural than the YSL, and a smidge less dressy, so it's a matter of where you're wearing it and why. You can spot-apply it only where needed, and the colour range is commendable, from light to dark (I wish more brands would launch with 24 shades of base).

In truth, neither is for me, but if shine is your gripe, then they could prove just the ticket.

• Pretty Honest, by Sali Hughes, is published by Fourth Estate at £22. To order a copy for £17, with free p&p, go to theguardian.com/bookshop.

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