Foundation Wardrobing

The Clinique foundation wardrobe.

Different foundations can work for different looks.

Here are four Clinique formulas to add to your rotation.

The Clinique foundation wardrobe.

Different foundations can work for different looks.

Here are four Clinique formulas to add to your rotation.

If you have a browse through your wardrobe, you’ll likely find a few different versions of the same item. Coats, jeans, little black dresses – all (or most) of which serve their own purpose. You might have something for everyday wear, something for special occasions, something for warmer weather – but have you thought about applying the same principle to your makeup collection? This is the ethos behind foundation wardrobing, the process of building up a capsule collection of two, three or four great foundations to use in rotation.

Intrigued? Let us break it down for you...

Best for: a barely-there, lit-from-within radiance.

Sitting between a skin tint and foundation, this is your everyday, low-maintenance base that’ll give you that flawless, skin-like finish. It might be the one you reach for at the weekend, it might be your summer go-to, or perhaps it’s your favourite for working from home. This one is all about sheer, weightless coverage and a radiant, healthy-looking finish – and we’ve got the perfect option for you. Ticking all the boxes, our NEW Even Better Clinical™ Vitamin Makeup Foundation SPF 50 is a weightless, oil-free foundation that delivers buildable sheer coverage with a beautifully radiant finish. Skin looks even, smooth and radiant, never greasy or shiny. The dermatologist-tested formula is infused with vitamins B3, C and E to help support skin’s natural energy for more radiant, healthy-looking bare skin, with the added bonus of SPF 50 protection too.

Available in 26 shades, which stretch across a broad range of skin tones owing to the sheer finish, it blends effortlessly and melts into skin seamlessly. It truly feels like nothing on the skin and is built with hydrating ingredients to ensure it feels comfortable all day, without ever caking or settling.

Best for: flawless full coverage.

A full-coverage, long-lasting base is another essential. It’s as useful for a long day of meetings as it is for a glam night out, and our award-winning full-coverage foundation is perfect for both. Plus, it’s actually good for your skin too – a real win-win. Even Better Clinical™ Serum Foundation SPF20 delivers weightless satin-matte coverage that immediately blurs out imperfections and lasts 24 hours. It’s built with three-serum technology, including hyaluronic acid, vitamin C and salicylic acid, to help improve the look of your skin with every wear.

The coverage is easily buildable – start with just a half-pump for a flawless base – or you can spot apply it, like you would concealer, to create a lighter, more natural finish. Our top tip? Preparation is the key to seamless application, so we recommend preparing skin with a lightweight, smoothing moisturiser like Moisture Surge™ 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator to plump up and hydrate the skin.

Best for: multitasking.

Consider this one the oversized blazer of your foundation wardrobe – you can wear it just about everywhere, and whether you glam it up or keep it understated, you can always count on it to look great. Our failsafe, do-it-all foundation? Even Better™ Makeup SPF15. The dermatologist-developed, oil-free formula delivers flawless moderate coverage with 24-hour, colour-true wear and SPF 15 protection.

Available in 39 shades, our bestselling foundation has a creamy formula that hydrates and smooths, leaving skin with a natural finish and all-day, second-skin comfort. The moisturising formula makes this a great foundation for mature skin, too. As before, we recommend preparing your skin with Moisture Surge™ 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator to hydrate, plump and prime for smooth application.

Best for: quick, easy application.

Picture this: you’re on holiday, the sun’s beating down and you’re getting ready to head out for the day. You’ll want something quick and lightweight to layer over your SPF 50 – a weightless veil of coverage that won’t melt in the heat. This is where a great powder foundation comes into its own. Almost Powder Makeup SPF 15 delivers a natural matte finish with a mineral-enriched formula and SPF 15.

If you want more coverage, you can apply a touch of concealer first, or go straight in with a light dusting of your favourite Clinique powder foundation using a soft brush (our handbag-size Bronzer Brush also works well.) A little goes a long way, plus you can pop it in your bag for on-the-go touch ups.

Not sure which shade to choose? We’ve got you covered. Get shade matched on your phone with Virtual Try On, book in for our Foundation Fundamentals Skin School session, or chat with one of our expert Consultants via the live chat bubble on the bottom right of your screen. If you're looking for a specific summertime foundation, read our guide to the best lightweight foundations for summer.

What’s more, if you buy it, try it and don’t love it, you can return it for free.

Words by Shona Wallace, March 2023.

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