Jane Iredale

Minerals, not fillers. The base of every jane iredale foundation is mica, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide: the pigments do the covering and the two sunscreen minerals do the protecting, so there is no talc or bulking powder to clog pores or sit in lines. Coverage builds in sheer layers rather than one heavy one.

Tested where it matters. Formulas are dermatologist tested and sensitivity tested, which is why clinics reach for them on skin that is reactive, post-procedure or acne-prone, and why the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the SPF bases.

Nothing that fades the result. The brand's own phrase is clean ingredients, skin-loving benefits and no-fade performance: long wear, a finish that looks like skin, and antioxidant extracts such as pomegranate and pine bark riding along in the powder.

Shade matching is the whole game. Mineral foundation shows undertone more honestly than liquids. Use the undertone guide on each product, and if in doubt ask us; we will match you from a photo or in clinic.

Refills need a compact. The PurePressed Base refill is the pressed powder alone; it clicks into the jane iredale compact, which is bought once and kept.

Makeup with SPF is not a sunscreen. SPF 20 in a foundation is a useful second layer over your morning sunscreen, not a replacement for it.