Beauty Clinic: Foundations for hot flushes

Q. Could you recommend a foundation that is resistant to 'power surges' (as I like to call hot flushes)? Also: I wonder if there is a particularly good moisturiser, should I use a primer – and what about powder or blotters? A. We are big fans of Bobbi Brown Long-Wear range. (Click on any of the product names to find on-line.) Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation SPF15/ £34, gives medium to full oil-free coverage and comes in 19 shades. The gel base gives a lightweight finish that, they promise, stays colour-true and lasts for up to 12 hours even in the most humid conditions. You can apply with a make-up sponge or brush – or, of course, your fingers but bear in mind that your fingers will carry warmth of their own so may make matters worse. (NB There are excellent tips on the Bobbi Brown website, and you can also book in with a make-up artist.)

The great thing about Bobbi’s foundations is that they’re formulated with a yellow undertone rather than a pink base so they tone down redness.

As Hannah Martin, Senior PRO Artist for the brand, explains: ‘Bobbi, herself a make-up artist, grew frustrated with foundations that didn't look like skin. So she set about creating formulas that are correct for skin tone.’

‘The yellow pigment cuts through any high colour and neutralises the skin tone, unlike pinky foundations that simply turn high colour a lighter shade of pink. Bobbi Brown foundations are superb for taking you through power surges.’

Hannah also recommends carrying the Retouching Wand ‘to add invisible coverage over the areas that flare up the most, usually the cheeks/£28 in nine shades.’ For fiery areas, try Pale Yellow Powder or the Yellow Retouching Powder.

To prep your skin Hannah suggests keeping it hydrated with a gel-based day cream like Bobbi Brown Hydrating Gel Cream/£42, then add a little Skin Smoothing Pore Perfector/£27, down the T-zone to mattify.  ‘Instead of blotting with powder, try using blotting papers; these will absorb any excess oil that may surface as your sebaceous glands produce oil when you perspire. This will ensure your makeup doesn’t become cake-y.’ Bobbi Brown Blotting Papers/£9 refill.

Finally, we suggest avoiding blusher for obvious reasons. If you want to warm up your cheeks then a subtle dusting of powder bronzer does the trick.