By Emine Ali

The superheroes of the foundation world can do anything - from controlling sebum secretion to plumping up wrinkles - but sometimes, the myriad special ingredients and fabulous functions on the market can be overwhelming. So how do you find your perfect fit?

Start by assessing your skin type.
Foundations have moved on from one-size-fits-all spackle - now they're made to complement your skincare regime. Dry skins should treat themselves to water-packed hydrating formulas while mature skins should look for ingredients such as complexion-plumping collagen.

DRY SKINS should try:
Bobbi Brown Luminous Moisturising Foundation £26
No 7 Instant Radiance Foundation, £13.25

OILY SKINS should try:
Laura Mercier Oil-Free formulas start at £32 for Tinted Moisturiser (spacenk.com) Maybelline Pure Minerals Foundation, £9.99 (boots.com)

NORMAL SKINS should try:
Rimmel Recover Foundation, £6.49 - great for pepping up post-party skin
Estée Lauder Doublewear Light Stay in Place Make-Up, £7.50

MATURE SKINS should try:
L'Oreal Age Re-Perfect Foundation, £12.99 (boots.com)
Bourjois Reboosting Collagen Foundation, £8.95 (boots.com)

Then, work out what texture and finish you want from your foundation. Do you want a velvety matte look or a sheer, luminous glow?

As a general rule, cream-to-powder compact foundations that go on with a sponge provide the greatest coverage, but thanks to new technology, the cakey formulas of yesteryear have been replaced with seamless, light-reflecting results. For those who simply want a subtle glow or just to even out a bit of redness, a tinted moisturiser is at the other end of the scale - although, once again, the new breeds can be built up to provide higher coverage, without looking heavy. Likewise, mineral foundations, which suit most skin types, can be layered up to provide more and more coverage - but remember, the more powder you puff onto your complexion, the more visible it will be to the naked eye. To get a really good result with mineral make-up, you'll also need to invest in a specific brush - often called a ‘kabuki' - that buffs product into the skin for a more natural look. Another golden rule is to start with the outer plains of the face and buff inward, leaving the nose, chin and forehead to the very end.

For FULL COVERAGE try:
Max Factor Miracle Touch Foundation, £11.95 (boots.com)
Avene Couvrance Compact Foundation, £13.50 (boots.com)

For MEDIUM COVERAGE try:
SK-II Signs Transform Compact, £65 (www.sk2.com) - great for mature skins
Jemma Kidd Light as Air Foundation, £15 (boots.com)

For LIGHT COVERAGE try:
Benefit Some Kind A Gorgeous, £19.50 (benefitcosmetics.com)
Clinique Almost Make-Up, £18.50 (clinique.co.uk)

Finally - see the light.
Never even think of parting with your hard-earned pennies until you have worn your base for the best part of a day in different lights. Most cosmetics counters provide samples to customers and some, including Estée Lauder, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, Prescriptives, Benefit and Space NK stores, will even get a pro artist to give you the once over before giving you a sample to take away.

The best bases will look seamless and make no difference whatsoever to the colour of your actual skin - so if you suddenly look like you've got a tan after applying base, you know something's seriously wrong. The best formulas will also stay true 24/7 - and won't end up darkening as the day wears on (be wary of 5 o'clock tidemarks!). So, once your base has passed it's 24-hour test - and looks as good stood on the train platform in the middle of the day as it does in a nightclub on Friday night - you can be sure you've found your perfect mate.