Best foundation ever for flawless skin?

[NaturalBlondeYeahRight]

Right, my skin is ok'ish. I'm thirties but not too many wrinkles (yet) I'm very pale but my cheeks/nose turn red very easily and have quite large pores.

I'm fed up of spending money on mid range foundations that promise the earth but my skin looks no different (especially in photos)
Could someone point me in the right direction. I'm happy to spend a bit if it works.
TIA

I have Estee Lauder Double wear foundation which is good - but not when my cheeks are dry (winter) but great in summer, or mixed with a little bit of moisturiser.

Also YSL touche eclat foundation is lovely - I apply with a foundation brush from Body shop, lasts, coverage is great and if you pop into dept store the YSL people will try out colours and give you sample to try at home.

Summer time when I have a bit of colour on my skin I use Dermalogica Tinted Moisturiser in 2.

OOPS, link fail earlier. this is the stippling brush

I was really impressed with the Lancome Teint Idole for about a week and then noticed it was really drying out my normally oily skin. Still had my receipt so took it back to Boots and the SA couldn't argue with me and commented on how dry my skin looked so I got a full refund. You shouldn't be afraid to take something back if it's not worked for you.

I was liking the No7 Beautifully Matte for a while there but think that it changed colour a teeny bit on me so am back to trying Revlon Colourstay. Although it can be drying too, I'm mixing it with a little bit of Benefit High Beam so it doesn't look too dry and flat. And I use the RT brush too !

'Real Techniques' is the brand of the stippling brush. You can get it from Boots.

Ive just looked at the vid of how to use the stipling brush - it looks like it would give you quite a light coverage of foundation? Is that right??

Double wear light - I've tried others like the lancome teint idole but always come back to this one and if you apply it with a brush you can build it up

By a complete fluke I was in boots, remembered the YouTube video someone recommended and brought exactly that stippling brush. Quite excited to give it a go.
From what you guys have said, a lot of the counters will give me a sample to try. Just have to get to a decent sized dept store now (always feel quite pressured in the makeup halls)

I love max factor miracle touch. It is all in one (concealer etc) and really quick

I also treated myself to Clinique pore refiner

I've got the No 7 Perfect Match foundation and concealor. They actually stay on all day and the concealor is better than any I've ever used before, including dermablend, for the scar on my face. The foundation is not very thick, you'd need to do two layers for a really flawless finish but I like it as you can achieve a no make up look really easily. I think they were about £12 each I've got the translucent loose powder as well and I think it was 3 for the price of 2 at the time. The little skin reading machine really is magic, I've never had such a good match, I'm Cool Vanilla!

Sorry, I remembered there were several, I've had a look, I've got No 7 Stay Perfect Superlight Foundation and the concealer is No 7 Match Made concealer. The powder is No 7 Translucent Perfect Light Loose Powder. I chose this foundation out if the Match Made (colour matched) range specifically because I don't always want complete cover, there are others in the range you could try.

Max Factor whipped cream here too. It's bloody brilliant

So this morning, I've applied Laura Mercier Silk Creme foundation with the Real Techniques stippling brush and am v impressed so far. The coverage is even, it was easy to do and 'felt right'. My blusher sits really well on top of it. Let's see how it copes with a trip into London on the train, sweating cobs on the underground and a tricky 2 hour meeting in a hot room! Will report back. .

Laura Mercier Silk Creme wins for me.

ORIGINS gives excellent cover and caters for pale skin.
Armani is very good too, but their palest shade is quite dark (okay for evening wear).
Shu Uemura is fab too.