You can’t go wrong with a tinted moisturiser. They’re now often called something fancier these days like Tint or Blur, but essentially this is something that will give you a bit of coverage, hopefully moisturise your skin a bit rather than suck the moisture out of it, and preferably gives you a bit of a glow. Some have SPF coverage, usually minimal, but not enough to rely on for a full day outdoors (though better than nothing). Honestly, most are very similar and whether they’re made by Ayu or Urban Decay they’re based on much the same ingredients. Here I’ve picked five that I’ve worn and reckon are worth talking about … plus a couple I’m not buying into.

1 Estee Lauder Futurist Hydra Rescue Moisturising Makeup SPF45, €42 (35ml) at counters nationwide, in 28 shades. To be honest, I haven’t used Lauder make-up for some time; there are too many exciting new brands vying for attention. But I’m finding this a really useful one-stop product that isn’t too heavy on the skin and genuinely feels moisturising rather than drying. One pump will cover your whole face and the more I use it, the more useful I think it is as a quick face fix. You feel more polished without feeling made-up. In sun-protection terms, you’re always advised to use a separate SPF as the final part of your skincare routine – but when you’re in a hurry, this does several things for your face, fast.

2 Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation, €50 (30ml), at counters nationwide. If I had to pick just one tinted moisturiser to wear now it would be Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation, launched last autumn. It’s light enough to quality as a tinted moisturiser, in my book, though it lasts longer, and is one of the few to really lend you a glow, including on ages 50+. It’s an improvement on the previous version which contained SPF, and is very light and lovely to blend in.

3 Vichy MineralBlend Fluid Foundation, €18.95 (30ml) at Boots.ie. For a quick liquid tint that lasts well, I go back to this Vichy pharmacy option. It’s the best bet from the L’Oreal stable (over Garnier, Urban Decay and the rest), in my opinion, working as well as more expensive options – it reminds me of a Sisley one – with its light, non-drying finish.

4 Glowish by Huda Beauty Multidew Skin Tint, €37 (40ml). This new launch from Huda Kattan, whose previous make-up has been about full coverage, aims to be more natural-looking – in their words, “to empower you to embrace your own uniqueness with mindful products that complement your own inner glow”. It’s not a bad product, but for me it’s diminished by overblown claims. The whole “clean” label is such a misleading one in skincare and make-up generally – it means nothing. There are lots of silicones (typically ending in “one” or “ane” on ingredients lists) in here (and in the accompanying bronzing powder), which may be “naturally derived” from sand (quartz) in the first instance, before hitting the lab, but they are not “natural”. Such silicones are very commonly used, you’ll find them in all the formulas mentioned here and they are not harmful to the skin in themselves – they help create a silky texture rather than do anything active or beneficial. But the overstated “natural/clean” claims just don’t stand up here, in my opinion – it’s marketing. Vegan is one thing, but the odd drop of rose flower water does not make a skincare product “natural”. Just so you’re clear what you’re buying.

5 Shiseido Sports BB SPF50+, €34 (12g) at SpaceNK and counters nationwide. I was never into the ranges of make-up marketed as gym-wear. I mean, if you want to wear make-up to the gym, suit yourself – each to their own. But the CliniqueFit Workout Makeup, lanched in 2018, has been “phased out”, so perhaps we aren’t actually that committed to making up to work out. Having said that, I do find the Shiseido Sports BB Compact SPF50+ handy for outdoor sports or walks – it’s a neat, robust compact with mirror that you can throw into a sports bag. Light yet waterproof, it’s a practical option.

6 A final thought on what NOT to add to basket. My first port of call always used to be ByTerry Sheer-Expert (the dream) or Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser which I wore for my wedding a hundred years ago. It was the best if you didn’t like wearing foundation. But as a brand Mercier now seem to focus a lot on expensive celebrity faces while the formulas look a bit too silicone-heavy for my preference. The latest iteration of the Tinted Moisturiser, an oil-free version with SPF20, comes in 20 shades. I really object to the euro mark-up (€49.50 compared with £36stg). There’s no good reason for this so I would avoid on principle (as well as for the irritating marketing line: “key to the seemingly unattainable French Girl Skin”).