9 of the best lightweight foundations for a skin-like finish

This oil free, uber-illuminating foundation gives a light coverage (but also buildable for medium coverage too) and leaves skin not only looking healthy, but with SPF25, it will shield from damaging UV rays during trips to the park. It’s not just your little one who needs protecting from the sun, remember!

Air-light, with a very natural, glowy finish (never sparkly or shimmery), Light Wonder is a savior for knackered skin. It illuminates, smooths and hydrates, while diminishing the appearance of pores and wrinkles, without a full on finish. Win!

If you’re looking for a lightweight foundation at a purse friendly price, then Bourjois Happy Light is a great option. The velvety formula contains translucent pigments, which means your skin will look bright without any unnecessary masking – great for sleep-deprived mums whose skin is lacking its usual luminous loveliness.

For a texture as light and delicate as water, Aqua Vitalumiere is perfect. If you are an occasional or virgin foundation wearer (who knew those sleepless nights would affect your skin this much?), this soft and ultra-fine liquid smooths on to re-energise and refresh skin in the subtlest of ways.

For busy mums looking for an age-defying foundation with skin benefits, Light Expert the perfect lightweight base. With added age-defying antioxidants and hyaluronic acid filling spheres (they cleverly plump up dehydrated skin), this giant brush-on foundation pen can be applied on the run (or even with one hand whilst juggling your baby).

A compact, cream texture foundation can work wonders on thirsty, lustre-lacking skin. With vitamin E and pro-vitamin B5, No7 Stay Perfect Compact Foundation will take care of your skin and well as cover it throughout the day.

If an uneven skin tone is your main concern, but you hate disguising it with heavy foundation, this fragrance-free, non-clogging formula will do the trick, without irritating your skin or blocking pores. The sheer (but buildable) coverage will ensure your skin is super-soft and radiant, and the added antioxidants will protect and improve skin tone too. A great buy if you’re a normal to dry skin type.

Looking for the lightest of light foundations? Say hello to BareMinerals – your new best friend. You will barely notice this powder formula on your skin and avoid tell-tale foundation tide lines too. Swirl a brush into the powder and apply sparingly for daytime, or layer up for more coverage at night, for flawless, silky skin. If you usually wear powder, but feel it’s not giving the coverage you need these days, switch to this to get your skin back in shape.

For those months when the cost of nappies is just too much, make GOSH’s Natural Touch Foundation your go-to budget-buy. Deliciously creamy, it effortlessly smooths on and sinks in, for an ultra-natural look. The velvety texture will leave your skin so soft, applying makeup will feel much more like a pamper than a burden.