Beauty Clinic: Shine-proof SPF primer advice

Q. I’m a landscape architect and outside most of the day. I’m looking for a reasonably priced, mattifying primer with a high SPF to wear under foundation for days with clients and planners when I have to be in ‘smart’ mode. A. As you know from our e-mail correspondence, this has been a bit of a tricky product to source. However, La Roche-Posay, a French dermatological brand for sensitive skin, now offers an Anti-shine option in its Anthelios range.

Anthelios XL Anti-shine Non-perfumed Dry Touch Gel-cream has a new SPF50+/ £16.50 for 50 ml, which promises no white marks and would work well under make-up. It is also water-resistant. The SPF50 should give you the high protection you want, but if you felt the need to top it up, there is also an Anthelios Invisible fresh mist SPF50/£14 for 75 ml.

For days when you are not in ‘smart’ mode, you might like to try Anthelios XL Tinted Dry Touch Gel-cream SPF50+.

We know from friends and readers with very touchy skin that the Anthelios range is very unlikely indeed to cause any irritation or sensitivity.

Another product that comes highly recommended is award-winning Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF30. This is designed to blur and prime the skin with a matte finish, as well as acting as an anti-ageing treatment. However, it does constitute more of an investment product at £55 for 30 ml.