There’s no denying that over the past decade, beauty trends have been dominated by one thing: skin. And the last few years in particular have seen our obsession with sheer bases, pared-back routines, and an ever-present ‘clean girl’ aesthetic leaving our once treasured full-coverage foundations to gather dust. Of course, the allure of dewy skin and that elusive lit-from-within glow is understandable—minimalist make-up looks fresh and modern and feels like it’s a celebration of natural skin. But while this barely-there look might feel freeing to some, it can feel very different to those of us who are self-conscious about our skin.

Yes, as someone who has written extensively about having acne since I was a teenager, it has taken me a long time to get comfortable with stepping outside and letting my natural skin shine. And I have to admit, on days when I’m dealing with a particularly big breakout, there’s nothing freeing about slapping on a tinted moisturiser when what I need is a heavy-duty foundation. Leaving my real skin on show sounds empowering in theory, but in practice can leave me feeling self-conscious and exposed, especially as someone who writes about skin for a living. So, what’s the solution for those who want to embrace a clean girl make-up look but also want the safety blanket of some extra coverage?