If you try one product, make it this light, glowy foundation

A bottle of Givenchy Prism Libre foundation on a black surface next to an image of beauty editor Fiona McKim with even skin and a pink dress on — (Image credit: Future / Fiona McKim)

I try to write about affordable products wherever possible, to keep things as democratic and useful as I can. It's a bit more compelling, don't you think? A surprisingly brilliant budget buy that I'd choose over expectedly good, shiny designer ones.

But now and then, I get my hands on a luxury product that's such an overachiever it deserves special dispensation - and I break my self-imposed rule. And one such luxury product is the subject of today's rousing recommendation, one of the best lightweight foundations I've tried in such a long time, Givenchy Prism Libre Glow Serum Foundation.

It's got a uniquely silky feel, overflows with skincare ingredients, and creates bang-on coverage, so my skin looks even and beautifully finished but also, weirdly, like it's not got foundation on it at all.

Why I had to tell you about this glow-giving serum foundation

Givenchy Beauty

Prisme Libre Glow Serum Foundation

Reader, this stuff is next level. The slippy texture spreads into a radiant glaze that gives light to medium coverage by my estimation, and if you want, a second helping will deliver a more flawless finish. It also contains skincare ingredients at levels that actually make a difference, namely ceramides and hydrating hyaluronic acid, at a tiny molecular weight that your skin drinks right in, leaving it plumped and juicy-looking.

Two close up images of beauty editor, Fiona McKim, side by side. In both she is wearing a pink top with long blonde hair and even skin wearing Givenchy Prism Libre foundation — My skin, after a good coating in Givenchy Prism Libre Serum Glow

A bit of context: I was invited to visit the Givenchy Beauty space in Harrods to meet senior national makeup artist Claire Mulleady. Access to experts is one of the best bits of my job. I learn more watching an artist at work and chatting away for ten minutes than I would from hours of social media scrolling.

The brilliant Claire glanced at me and just knew that Rose Perfecto in 118 was exactly my shade of lipstick, showed me how to apply Givenchy's pretty but confusing-looking pastel powder quads (not confusing at all: swirl and dust), and deftly painted on Prism Libre Glow Foundation.

Later, hopping off my packed train home (Givenchy to the southbound Windrush Line, my life in a nutshell), a mirror check revealed my polished yet skin-like complexion. Things I don't love - redness, large pores - were blurred, but things I do - little freckles - just showed through.

Feeling compelled to bend my budget-buys-preferred policy, I took some selfies right there at the station to justify my transgression - as you see above. This radiant, even effect continued until I took my face off before bed, with no shortage of reluctance because, honestly, could my skin ever look this banging again?

To defend advising you to buy a designer base that's kissing £50: I have said on the record in my best foundation guide that base is a) the most important element of your makeup routine and b) one of the only cosmetics where cost almost always correlates to greatness. So at least I am consistent in my inconsistency.

And if Givenchy anything is simply not within your means, that's ok - I'll be back shortly to recommend something that is.

As woman&home's Beauty Channel Editor, Fiona Mckim loves to share her 15+ years of industry intel on womanandhome.com and Instagram (@fionamckim if you like hair experiments and cute shih-tzus). After interning at ELLE, Fiona joined woman&home as Assistant Beauty Editor in 2013 under industry legend Jo GB, who taught her to understand ingredients and take a cynical approach to marketing claims. She has since covered every corner of the industry, interviewing dermatologists and celebrities from Davina McCall to Dame Joan Collins, reporting backstage at London Fashion Week and judging the w&h Beauty Awards.