Liquid foundation

Written by Lamyaa Aissi, professional makeup artist, Casablanca. Part of the Foundation & Base guide.

When to use it

The default for most skin types and most events, because the range of finishes means the formula can be matched to the skin rather than the other way round.

On Moroccan skin, in a Moroccan climate

In coastal humidity, choose matte or soft-matte; luminous liquids slide. Inland in summer the reverse applies — matte can read dry and flat.

The rule that runs through every product on this site: check undertone, not just depth. Most Moroccan skin is olive or golden, and a neutral or pink-based product greys within the hour however precisely the depth matches. And for any long event, set in thin successive passes rather than one heavy layer — accumulated product slides in coastal humidity, while product laid down thinly stays.

What it will not do

It will not control oil the way a powder does, and on very oily skin in humidity it needs powder over it regardless of the claims on the bottle.

The most common mistake

Applying more to increase coverage. Two thin layers cover better than one thick one and look like skin rather than product.