Her World Beauty Awards 2023: Best base makeup

Best Anti-Ageing Foundation: No.1 De Chanel Revitalizing Foundation, $115

1/15

Why it won: Its light to medium texture delivers a fresh finish that makes skin look oh-so-natural and glowy. The No.1 De Chanel Revitalizing Foundation is infused with red camellia oil together with moisturising actives to provide skin with all-day comfort ensuring that you still look like yourself, just better.

“One of the best foundations for our weather and it’s perfect for almost all skin types. It lasted a whole day with minimal touch-up. I’ve even recommended it to many of my clients, and they love it. A little goes a long way thanks to its buildable coverage.” – Sha Shamsi, makeup artist

Best Brightening Foundation: Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation, $77

2/15

Why it won: A skin-loving base, the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Skin Foundation imbues the skin with hyaluronic acid to keep skin supple all day. In addition, it also contains active ingredients like Bix’Active to reduce excess shine and sebum production as well as Hyalurosmooth to keep skin smooth and fresh. A beauty filter for your skin, it leaves complexion radiant and youthful-looking. Comes in 16 shades.

“I loved the packaging – light and comes in a tube, making it hygienic. It delivered a nice coverage and left skin looking beautiful and healthy. It also lasted a good eight hours, even with Singapore’s heat and humidity.” – Lasalle Lee, makeup artist

Best Foundation for Combi/Oily Skins: Make Up For Ever HD Skin Foundation, $72

3/15

Why it won: Ideal for oilier skins, the Make Up For Ever HD Skin Foundation delivers a semi-matte and flawless finish, while blurring out imperfections for up to 24 hours. In addition, its buildable coverage allows you to take it from second-skin to something heavier, achieving the look your desire with ease. More importantly, it features a micro-skin system that ensures a smooth and even coverage, leaving no dry patches or cracks. Comes in 40 shades.

“A little went a long way, and the finish is quite flawless and smooth. It really did live up to its long-lasting reputation. I wore it for more than eight hours and was quite impressed that the colour and texture still looked and felt good. Great as an everyday foundation.” – Tay Ying, actress

Best Second-Skin Finish: Hermes Plein Air Natural Enhancing Complexion Balm, $154

4/15

Why it won: Instantly evening out skin tone and blurring away imperfections with ease, the Hermes Plein Air Natural Enhancing Complexion Balm is the perfect companion in achieving that flawless second skin finish. It also contains skin-loving actives of hyaluronic acid complex, evening primrose oil, Baikal skullcap and white mulberry to keep skin well-moisturised and protected against pollution. Comes in 12 shades.

“The texture was like a light cream and applied like a dream, smoothing out easily and instantly blurring imperfections for a beautiful second-skin finish. My complexion looked instantly fresher, more luminous and even-toned. There was also a pleasant scent that added to the sensorial experience of using this base.” – Letty Seah, associate beauty editor

Best Cushion Foundation: Decorte The Skin Cushion Foundation Fresh, $70

5/15

Why it won: Adapting to your skin, the Decorte The Skin Cushion Foundation Fresh transforms dull skin into fresh, soft luminosity. It uses a unique “Skin Fusion Powder” that radiates pure light while suppressing ‘yellow’ tones. The result: an even-toned and radiant complexion. The formula also includes jasmine, damask rose and lemon extracts together with squalane to keep skin well-hydrated. Comes in seven shades.

“Comfortable and lightweight, it delivered a medium coverage with a natural, slightly dewy finish. The application was super speedy and a must-have for days when you’re rushing out the door. It wasn’t oily, was easily buildable and lasted well.” – Letty Seah, associate beauty editor

Best Powder Foundation: Dior Forever Natural Velvet, $116

6/15

Why it won: Bringing powder foundation back, the Dior Forever Natural Velvet offers finely milled powders that delivers a soft matte finish yet never leaves skin looking cakey. In addition, the use of iris, rose and wild pansy extracts help keep skin hydrated and comforted for up to 24 hours. Comes in eight shades.

“It gave a beautiful natural matte finish. It also left my complexion looking smoother. It helped refine the skin texture, reducing the appearance of enlarged pores. But most of all, it didn’t even cake despite midday touch-ups.” – Lasalle Lee, makeup artist

Best Concealer (tie): Cle de Peau Beaute The Concealer, $115

7/15

Why it won: Just a little goes a long way with the Cle de Peau Beaute The Concealer. It blends seamlessly into the skin, taking care of post-acne marks, dark circles and blemishes with ease. Plus, its combination of makeup and skincare properties, including the brand’s exclusive Light-Empowering Treatment Powder helps improve skin’s radiance while maintaining its condition too. Comes in seven shades.

“This covered well, and most importantly, did so without looking cakey. The creamy texture also applied easily on the skin – you just need to glide it across and blend it afterwards.” – Sha Shamsi, makeup artist

Best Concealer (tie): Dior Backstage Face & Body Flash Perfector Concealer, $54

8/15

Why it won: Inspired by the makeup artists who work tirelessly at the Dior fashion shows, the Dior Backstage Face & Body Flash Perfector Concealer covers post-acne spots, pigmentation, dark circles and blemishes instantly. In addition to its high concentration of colour pigments (at 22 per cent), it also contains pearlescent micro-pigments to blur imperfections and brighten the complexion, as well as caffeine to reduce puffiness, especially needed for the under-eye area. Plus, it even offers waterproof wear, which makes it perfect for long days. Comes in 22 shades.

“The texture was fabulous and the finish wasn’t cakey at all. And it looked matte even without setting, staying for about six to eight hours without touching up too. It concealed well, especially spot concealing, and was easy to remove at the end of the day.” – Sha Shamsi, makeup artist

Best Loose Powder: Orce Come Closer Perfect Setting Powder, $69

9/15

Why it won: With its finely milled powder, the Orce Come Closer Perfect Setting Powder mattifies by absorbing excess shine and blurs out the appearance of pores and fine lines giving complexion a soft-focus filter IRL. Plus, its talc-free formula means it won’t clog pores or cause caking.

“Been using this since I got it, and a little goes a long way. Face stayed matte and flawless. The finish was a little bit heavier than normal, but I still loved it.” – Anda (@Andathesea), content creator

Best Pressed Powder: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Brightening Flawless Finish Powder, $79

10/15

Why it won: Fuss-free and easy-to-use, the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Brightening Flawless Finish Powder brightens, blurs imperfection and even gives a lifting effect. The secret? Its Light-Bounce technology that uses finely milled pearl pigments that bounce the light for to boost a more radiant and smoother looking complexion.

“One of the best powders, this gave great coverage and an airbrushed finish with ease. It looked incredible on my skin and was great for touch-ups as well. It’s definitely top of my list and a new must-have.” – Melvin Tseng (@melvin_tseng), content creator

Best Radiance Boosting Makeup Primer: Cle de Peau Beaute Brightening Enhancer Veil, $110

11/15

Why it won: Boost skin’s luminousity for that flawless glass skin look with the Cle de Peau Beaute Brightening Enhancer Veil. The key lies in its use of exclusive actives – Light-Empowering Enhancer and Skin-Empowering Illuminator to amplify that glow. But that’s not all. It also contains the group’s iconic 4MSK to reduce the appearance of dark spots and uneven skin tone with time.

“It left a beautiful finish and enhanced the longevity of the makeup too. Plus, it brightened, hydrated and even blurred out imperfections on the skin, like dark spots. It has become a must-have in my makeup kit.” – Lasalle Lee, makeup artist

Best Anti-Shine/Mattifying Makeup Primer: Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional: Lite Primer, $59

12/15

Why it won: Banish excess shine and sebum with the Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional: Lite Primer. Its ultra-lightweight texture glides on the skin like a dream while its blend of pore-blurring powders instantly blur and refine the look of unsightly enlarged pores for a smooth finish. The best bit? Makeup stays put for up to 12 hours.

“While the texture was a little thick, it applied easily after some warming from your hands. It was perfect for blurring out the appearance of the pores while leaving complexion matte and flawless. Plus, it could even withstand sweat and lasted about seven hours. Ideal for oily prone complexions. And unlike other mattifying primers, this wasn’t drying at all.” – Mary Victor (@maryvictorofficial), makeup artist and body neutrality advocate

[Reader’s Choice] Best Primer: Shiseido Future Solution LX Infinite Treatment Primer, $100

13/15

Why it won: The Shiseido Future Solution LX Infinite Treatment Primer pulls double-duty as a makeup primer and skincare booster as it revitalises the look of dull skin, reducing the appearance of large pores, evening out skin tone and texture while also helping makeup last all day. Plus, it even protects against UV and external environmental aggressors like pollution and fine dust.

“Loved how it hydrated and brightened my dull looking complexion. It’s a new must-have in my makeup kit. And it also offered good sun protection yet you don’t feel any tacky or heaviness from it.” – Lasalle Lee, makeup artist

Best Blush: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush (new shade extensions), $39

14/15

Why it won: A blush that truly lasts, the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush is ideal in achieving a lasting, soft and healthy flush. The colour payoff is intense, so a little goes a long way with it. Plus, its buildable colour allows you to go as natural or pigmented as you desire. Now in extra shade extensions available in matte and dewy finishes.

“Its staying power was impressive. When blended out, it lasted a whole day. And while the texture might be light, a little does a long way.” – Sha Shamsi, makeup artist

[Reader’s Choice] Best Blush: Benefit Cosmetics Wanderful World Blush Collection, $53

15/15

Why it won: With its buildable colour in a range of easy-to-use shades from soft corals to deep pinks, the Benefit Cosmetics Wanderful World Blush Collection has something for everyone. In addition, it also gives cheeks a delicate glow and airbrushed effect thanks to the use of freshwater pearl and synthetic sapphire.

“The colour payoff was surprisingly quite impressive. It gave a natural flush to the cheeks when applied with the provided brush. And switching to a denser brush achieved a more intense colour, which I really loved. It’s versatile and will allow you to easily play up your look.” – Letty Seah, associate beauty editor