Choosing the right shade of foundation is hard on your own, so go to a cosmetics counter and seek professional advice. They will let you try out a range of colours and advise on which suits your skin tone best.

To apply foundation, firstly dot some on your forehead, nose, chin and cheeks. Using a small cosmetic sponge dampened with a little water, blend in to your face, paying particular attention to your hairline and jaw line, as these are the areas where it is easy to spot foundation that has not been blended properly.

You also want to avoid the orange face, white neck effect, so make sure it is blended into your skin evenly.

After this, gently press the tips of your fingers over your face - the heat will help the blending process. Finally, check your application in natural lighting, as this will show up any problem areas best.

You might like to try patting a little face powder over it to help it set.

One thing to bear in mind is that if you have only light freckles, there is no point in trying to cover them up with a darker shade - it will not work! It is better to stick to a sheer foundation. If they are very dark and you want to cover them up a little, a cream foundation will balance your skin tones.