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23 Jan
The best Harvey Nichols foundations, as chosen by Sali
I was delighted to be asked by Harvey Nichols to judge the Foundation category in their Holy Grail beauty project, an expert edit of the very best in beauty available in-store and online. Any regular reader will know that foundation is one of my greatest passions and I can honestly say I test every single one that comes through the letterbox. After weeks of sampling the wares of the Harvey Nichols beauty hall, this is the first of my final selection of five favourite foundations, all available in Harvey Nichols stores and harveynichols.com. Each Monday for the next five weeks, I’ll post another of my shortlist, with the winner announced next month. And so, without further ado and in no particular order…
Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation (shortlisted)
At a recent book event, an audience member asked me if I could recommend a foundation for someone who hated the look and feel of foundation. We laughed but I’d barely taken another breath before suggesting this, the multiple award winning, indisputable jewel in Chantecaille’s crown. It’s a unique creme-gel foundation with a cult following of women, many of whom will countenance no other base on their skin.
Future Skin is oil-free and generally wonderful on even very sensitive skins. Normal to dry types seem to love the moist, stable texture most, but there’s no reason why oilies can’t use it too (it won’t aggravate acne, nor look greasy). It has a refreshing, cooling gel feel that menopausal women will also appreciate and it remains at its station all day. But Future Skin doesn’t just feel different from most other foundations. It looks different, too. It’s the clarity of the pigment that, for me, makes it so special. Rather than seep into open pores and highlight their presence, it glides over them. It provides good medium coverage, but does so without chalkiness and with a dewy, healthy looking finish more common in sheer tints and tinted moisturisers. It has a slight plumping quality. It layers with any chosen concealer without peel, flake or streak (and you know how exacting I am about this).
A note on colour: The range here is pretty good. Most shades are either neutral or yellow-based. In general, I’d expect you to go one further down the spectrum than you might in another brand (I’m usually third or fourth from palest in most ranges. In Chantecaille I’m second, “Alabaster”).
I’ve loved reacquainting myself with this, a beauty classic, and discovering that despite its innovative texture and significant influence on rival foundations, there’s still nothing quite like Future Skin. And for that reason, it easily makes my top five.
Next Monday: My second shortlisted foundation. Do check out the results in other categories via the social channels of my fellow judges, including dear friend of SHB, makeup artist Mary Greenwell. Just search for the #HNHolyGrail hashtag on Twitter or Instagram for more posts.
Click here for more info on Harvey Nichols Beauty Holy Grail.
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