Shopping for the perfect foundation is difficult.

The seemingly endless onslaught of brands launching new formulas that boast an array of different benefits – from Charlotte Tilbury and Revolution to Fenty and Pat McGrath – means it’s easier than ever to feel incredibly overwhelmed.    

But, much like shopping for a new pair of jeans, when you stumble across a foundation so incredible that it ticks every box, including affordability and an extensive range of shades, you have to cling onto it for dear life.

And that’s exactly what the Stylist beauty team has done with NYX Professional Makeup’s newest launch. Born To Glow foundation, which launched nationwide this week, costs just £10, comes in an impressive 45 diverse shades and offers a glow so natural that compliments will roll in. Obviously we were all immediately obsessed. 

Hanna Ibraheem, beauty writer, has written about her struggles to find the perfect foundation shade (she wears shade 14 Golden Honey in Born To Glow) but it was easy to find a match thanks to the swatches shown on the NYX website. 

“I’m usually between medium and deep shades so to see four different categories of shades, each shown on different skin tones, was really helpful,” she says. “Plus, finding a match in high street formulas is often quite hard for me because some brands don’t always consider different undertones, but this one does. I’ve also found it stays true-to-colour once applied.” 

Junior beauty writer Ava Welsing-Kitcher – who wears shade 10.3 Neutral Buff – agrees, adding, “It’s rare to find an affordable option that shows off my freckles but gives enough coverage elsewhere. It brings my complexion to life, doesn’t look ashy or make my skin look dull.”

Meanwhile, beauty editor Lucy Partington (who is shade 05 Light Ivory) has been wearing it most days for over a month and it’s fast become one of her favourites. “I like a glow – but nothing too shiny – and this really delivers. It evens out my sometimes-patchy, rosacea-prone skin and it doesn’t require continuous top-ups throughout the day,” she says.

The lightweight formula gives medium coverage but is entirely buildable, plus it blends easily and quickly into skin no matter what tool you use. For reference, Lucy and Ava used dense foundation brushes while Hanna used her fail-safe Beautyblender.

If you’re popping into Boots any time soon, give it a go. We promise it’s worth more than its £10 price tag.

Images: NYX / Hanna Ibraheem / Ava Welsing-Kitcher / Lucy Partington