I have become much more selective about base makeup because adding more products does not always make my skin look better. Some mornings I want a polished finish, while on others I only need a little smoothing and colour.

These four products ended up filling very different roles in my routine, which made testing them more interesting than simply comparing coverage.

1. Huda Beauty Liquid Complexion Product

This Huda Beauty product was the one I reached for when I wanted my base to look more even without immediately building several layers. The exact product name is not fully visible in the photo, so I would rather not guess, but the liquid texture feels like the kind of formula I prefer applying in thin amounts. I usually start around the centre of my face and blend outwards, adding more only where I feel I need it. What I liked most was having enough control to keep the finish looking like skin rather than covering everything automatically.

2. Smashbox Photo Finish Primer

Smashbox Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Primer is one of those products that makes the most sense to me on days when texture is bothering me more than coverage. I tend to use a small amount around areas where makeup can sit unevenly, rather than spreading a thick layer everywhere. The texture feels smooth and easy to work with, and I like giving it a moment before applying foundation. For me, primer works best when I almost forget it is there; I want the next product to glide over it without feeling like I have added another obvious layer.

3. Rare Beauty Dual-Ended Product

The Rare Beauty product caught my attention mainly because of its double-ended format. I am naturally drawn to makeup that saves space and gives me more than one option without making my routine longer. Since the exact product name is not visible, I would not want to invent what each end is meant to do, but I enjoyed the practical format. I tend to apply stick products directly in small amounts and then blend with my fingers or a brush. That gives me much more control than drawing several heavy lines onto the face at once.

4. Huda Beauty Cushion Base

The cushion format is probably the quickest of the four when I want to get ready without thinking too much. I like pressing the puff lightly into the product and building coverage gradually rather than loading it up immediately. Cushion bases are especially useful to me when I want a neat, even finish but still want the makeup to feel flexible. What surprised me was how much difference application pressure makes: lighter tapping usually gives me the softer result I prefer.

Testing these side by side reminded me that I do not really need one base product to do everything. I prefer choosing between smoothing, quick coverage and precise application depending on how my skin looks that day.