Complexion

This is the base-makeup view within MakeUp — corrected here from the tracker's listed parent of Skin, since the live page and site navigation both confirm this sits under MakeUp, not Skin (see the flag at the end). If you're building the base of a makeup look before moving on to eyes, lips or brows, this is the starting point. Getting the base right generally matters more to how a whole look reads than any single product further along in the routine, which is why it's worth the extra attention.

What's Included

Concealer & Corrector covers targeted coverage for specific areas — dark circles, blemishes, discolouration — rather than the whole face. Contouring covers shaping products used to add or reduce definition. Foundation covers the main base product, in liquid, cream or powder form depending on the finish. Powder covers setting and touch-up products, often used to reduce shine through the day or lock a foundation in place.

How to Choose the Right Base Products

A few starting points before comparing individual products:

1. Start with undertone, not shade depth — undertones are generally described as warm, cool or neutral, and getting this right tends to matter more for how natural a base looks than the shade number alone.
2. Decide on coverage before finish — light coverage lets more natural skin show through, medium evens things out while still looking like skin, full coverage conceals the most.
3. Concealer and corrector aren't quite the same thing — a colour corrector neutralises tone (green for redness, peach for dark circles, for instance) while a concealer covers more directly; some people need one, others benefit from both layered together.
4. Contouring works with your face shape, not against it — a shade too far from your natural skin tone can look obviously applied rather than sculpted.
5. Setting powder isn't only for oily skin — even a dry-skin routine can benefit from powder in specific areas prone to shine, like the T-zone, without powdering the whole face.

None of this is a fixed rule — it's a starting point if you're not sure where to begin narrowing the range down.

Building a Base Routine

Most routines apply Complexion products in a rough order: concealer or corrector first on specific areas, foundation next for overall coverage, contouring to add definition, then powder to set everything in place. Skipping a step is common and fine — not every look needs all four — but understanding the order helps when a finish isn't coming out the way you expected.

Why Skin Prep Matters First

Base makeup generally performs better on well-prepped skin — a moisturised, evenly hydrated face takes foundation more smoothly than dry or flaking skin, regardless of how good the product itself is. This isn't a claim about any specific product here; it's a reason to treat complexion products as the second step in a routine, after skin care, rather than the first thing applied to bare skin.

Shop Complexion and More

For the rest of a makeup look once the base is done, the wider MakeUp department covers eyes, lips, brows and nails. For application tools specifically, Makeup Brushes covers brushes suited to base products as well as the rest of the face.

Common Questions

What's the difference between a concealer and a corrector?

 A corrector neutralises tone (green for redness, peach for dark circles), while a concealer covers more directly — some routines use one, others layer both.

Do I need setting powder if I have dry skin?

 Not necessarily all over — many people with dry skin still use it in specific shine-prone areas like the T-zone rather than the whole face.

What order should I apply base products in?

 Generally concealer or corrector first, then foundation, contouring, then powder to set — though not every look needs all four steps.

How do I find my foundation undertone?

 Warm, cool or neutral are the three broad categories — testing a shade along the jawline in natural light is generally more reliable than testing on the hand or wrist.