Much like shopping for jeans or the perfect white T-shirt, I’ve always found searching for the perfect foundation a bit of an arduous task. Mainly because I’m specific (read: fussy) about what I like. I have a ‘go-to’ daytime look: non-negotiable concealer, layers (and layers and layers) of bronzer and multiple coatings of black mascara. But if there’s something special going on, like an industry dinner, a birthday outing, date night or if I just fancy it, I really like to amp things up with thick eyeliner circling my eyes, blusher and a smoky eyeshadow look.

So, it’s important that the foundation I use can work with anything. I like something that feels lightweight but isn’t too light so as not to provide enough coverage on my hyperpigmentation. Something that delivers that coverage but also doesn’t feel cakey on skin. And something that, crucially, matches my skin properly.

Over the years, I’ve tested probably hundreds of base formulas in my decade-plus experience as a beauty journalist. One that became an ultimate must-have at first swipe was Huda Beauty’s #FauxFilter Foundation. When it was reformulated, I fell even deeper for it; so much so that during my wedding week – a time when organisation was not my strong point – I found myself trying everything to eke out every last drop for my Yemeni ghazal event.

So, when I received an email asking if I’d like to be one of the first to trial Huda Beauty’s latest foundation formulation prior to launch, the answer was a resounding ‘yes’. The brand, headed by entrepreneur Huda Kattan, is undergoing a total brand refresh, and with it comes Easy Blur Natural Airbrush Foundation.

Huda Beauty describes Easy Blur Foundation as an ‘ultra-blurring and smoothing’ formula that delivers ‘an easy airbrushed finish’. It adds that the foundation contains ‘blurring polymers’ that work to control excess oil, create a smooth texture and blur pores, along with 1.5% niacinamide.

The first thing I’m pleased to report is the shades and their names match up to #FauxFilter’s line-up, meaning if you’re already a fan, it’s easy to find yours. For me, that was Baklava 340G.

I dispensed a 5p coin-sized amount onto the back of my hand first to get a feel for the texture. I also prefer using the back of my hand to control the amount of product I’m applying to my face. The first thing I noticed was that it has a slightly runny consistency but isn’t too thin that it’ll drip off your hand. Using my fingers, I dotted the formula around my face and then blended it out on my cheek, watching as dark spots of hyperpigmentation began to slightly disappear and lighten with each swipe.

It provides a medium coverage at first but, unlike some other foundations I’ve tried, this one builds up really nicely. Once I’d covered my face, I applied a second layer, focusing on my cheeks and the redness on my nostrils (hey, varicose veins). While the first layer had already evened out the dark spots and redness, the second layer did a good job at covering it up more. It also blended nicely on top without shifting what sat underneath.

When I finished, I sat back to examine my handy work. The foundation not only gave my skin an even appearance, it also made my skin look smoother. Of course, no make-up product can ever get rid of texture completely and a little spot continued to poke through, but as somebody who views hyperpigmentation as their biggest skin ‘concern’, this really ticked all the boxes for me.

To bring some depth back to my face, I finished my make-up off with my normal eyebrow gel, concealer, bronzer, a slick of eyeliner and some mascara. I was a big fan of how it all came together and can instantly see how this formula would work for everyday wear as well as built up for a heavier, more glamorous look.

Perhaps most importantly, the foundation did a good job of lasting. This heat, plus an excessively oily T-zone, has meant that my base products have often failed at staying put through puddles of sweat. Not only did it remain in place, it also didn’t cake up during the day and the fading was minimal. And that’s after a commute on the London Underground’s boiling-hot Central line, which, really, is the biggest test of all, right?

Main image: Hanna Ibraheem; Huda Beauty