Beauty: Tinted moisturisers

Many women just don't get tinted moisturiser – with less moisture than face cream and less coverage than foundation, it suggests neither use nor ornament. But make it your weekend staple and I promise you'll never go back. It's true that a tinted cream won't cover spots and is hardly ever rich enough to replace your usual day cream (packaging lies), but a good tinted moisturiser, smoothed over the top, will make skin glow with health. You'll look like you've just necked a wheatgrass smoothie and jogged out for the paper with no make-up on (and who, but Nancy Dell'Olio , wants to wear foundation with a tracksuit?). The key is to get a lotion or cream with subtle, light-reflecting particles – a flattering effect that's a bit like stretching some nylons over a camera lens. This is the one time you can ignore accepted wisdom that base should match your skin tone exactly – the forgiving sheer finish means that roughly one shade darker will still look natural and give your skin a healthy-looking boost. Just tap a little concealer over any blemishes or dark patches still poking through. I went foundation-less for a fortnight, to find the best six. Chantecaille Just Skin Anti-Smog Tinted Moisturizer SPF15 in Alabaster, £55, spacenk.com A subtle shade for very fair complexions, it has antioxidants and a hefty SPF. Perricone MD Active Tinted Moisturizer SPF15 in Medium, £49 Creamy and weightless. The non-chemical SPF is perfect for sensitive skins. Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF20 in Bare Radiance, £32, Selfridges, 0800 123400 I don't know what to say except, "Buy it." My desert island product. Nivea Visage Daily Essentials Tinted Moisturising Day Cream, £4.07 A cut above the rest of the chemist brands. It went on smoothly and lasted well. Estée Lauder DayWear Sheer Tint Release Anti-Oxidant Moisturizer SPF15, £32 The one-shade-suits-all was miraculously adaptive. Top holiday buy. Origins VitaZing SPF15, £25 I love this. A natural colour and, of those tested, it best fulfilled the moisture half of the bargain. I was able to apply it over my serum and go.