Pretty honest: Sali Hughes shares her foundation of the moment

If you’re looking for bias-free beauty tips, there’s no one more trusted than journalist, writer and broadcaster Sali Hughes. Known for her straight-talking and honest approach to product reviews, her beauty column for The Guardian is often the first point of call for anyone searching for insight into how a new makeup or skincare release really performs. 

Sali’s industry authority has been cemented by two myth-busting beauty books, Pretty Honest and Pretty Iconic, as well as a recent podcast in which she and her fellow insiders delve into thoughtful topics ranging from trans beauty standards to skincare during the menopause. So, when it comes to choosing a new foundation – arguably the cornerstone of any makeup kit – we couldn’t think of a better person to ask. Over to Sali…

I want a base that evens skin tone while retaining the appearance of good health. I want radiant glow but no shine, hydration without any grease; smooth, skincare-compatible application, and a lasting formula that still looks fresh come evening. I want a foundation that looks like real, living skin – only perfected. I’m infuriatingly picky.

People understandably obsess over finding the right shade, but all too often, comparatively little thought is given to skin type when it should be every bit as important. I frequently meet dry-skinned women wearing matte, oil-controlling foundations, for instance, when a hydrating, satin finish would be far more flattering, natural-looking and comfortable. I expect my foundation to work with my skin, not sit passively on top of it. Hydration is my number one priority and should be yours too. Better hydration is what gives skin a smoother, healthier, more vital appearance.

Futurist Hydra Rescue by Estée Lauder. It is peerlessly comfortable, high in sun protection, buildable from medium to full coverage, and applies smoothly and evenly to exactly the sort of finish I love – satiny and dewy. Most of all, it makes my dry and dehydrated skin look and feel radiant and moist. For months, I was lugging lab samples around with me, desperate to tell people what I was wearing. I truly love it.

Think about undertones, not just light versus dark. Are you golden (warm), pink (cool) or neutral (neither)? Take three shades in your general ballpark and apply in parallel stripes on your cheek. Step back from the mirror and squint – the stripe that disappears is your shade.

I must say that I’m most excited that people are finally acknowledging that some of the older, more traditional ingredients remain the best. I love that glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, squalane and retinol are so huge and fashionable, after years of more newsworthy and ultimately less impressive ingredients dominating.

These are the workhorses of skincare, and there’s a reason we in the industry never stopped using them on our own skins. They are now pivotal in modern, state-of-the-art formulas, and that’s hugely gratifying. And vitamin C, of course. It is a non-negotiable for me. I use it every day without fail to help keep my dullness-prone skin bright and even.

Clinically proven skincare combining the best of traditional ingredients, powerful actives, modern technologies and naturally derived botanicals. That’s always what I want, and the standard has never been higher. I think we are finally seeing a widespread shift from matte to dewy complexions, which I adore, and a focus on skin quality in makeup. I’m also excited about sustainability initiatives across the industry – smarter packaging, better sourcing and distribution. All of us have to do better.

Sali’s Estée Lauder favourites