I tested the Cover FX Power Play Foundation in G70 and it was the first time I have tried any Cover FX product. The foundation claims to be long-wearing and buildable, giving medium to full coverage and a breathable finish. It promises to achieve this through a trio of ultra-fine powders to control shine and visibly blur perfections all day without dulling or drying your complexion.

The directions for use are so comprehensive they read like a legal disclaimer. They really did make me laugh. You are told to apply to well moisturised and primed skin with a foundation brush, sponge or fingertips and blend well. 

I tried this foundation with primer, without primer, applied with a sponge and applied with a brush. I didn’t use my fingers as that's not what I usually do. I don't like my foundation to be too heavy but I like that this one is buildable. One layer with a damp sponge provides medium coverage and one layer with a brush provides medium-full coverage.

It applies quickly and evenly with both the brush and the sponge. You could still see my freckles but they looked blurry (so a little bigger and fuzzy) and it evened out my skin tone. It dried to a velvety matte finish without looking dry.

The foundation felt very light on my skin but despite always moisturising, it settles into my smile lines which is something I really don’t want emphasised. This happens whether or not I use primer. I know I have dry skin but the foundation does says it does not dry the complexion. Clearly this is not the case if you are prone to dry skin, even if you moisturise.

The foundation easily lasts a full work-day, gives a subtle glow to the skin and provides a good base for the rest of my makeup. It is the only foundation I have used that has managed to keep my nose looking matte for most of the day without using powder, which made me very happy. Nothing else seems to work - it must be that special trio of ultra-fine powders within the liquid.

Shade G70 is for for medium to deeply tanned skin with golden undertones, I find this statement so irritating because medium to deeply tanned is not a skin tone. A tan is a state you get your skin into by being in the sun and is really just sun damage and I object to being called sun damaged. Anyway, believe me when I say that when my skin is deeply tanned, G70 is not going to be dark enough.

It's a shame this Cover FX Power Play Foundation settles in fine lines that I do not normally notice so for that reason I wouldn’t buy it. Perhaps it is best for people with normal or oily skin. Also, although the foundation comes in 40 shades in an attempt to be fully inclusive, calling black people "tanned" is not brownbeauty friendly.

Cover FX Power Play Foundation is priced at £38.00, and you can buy it at Cult Beauty.