I’m always trying out new foundations looking for the perfect match, consistency, coverage, multi tasker, and magic potion to flatter, moisturize, smooth, and well … hide my skin. When I stumbled upon the Fresh Store on San Francisco’s Sutter Street (415-248-0210), I actually wasn’t looking for a new foundation. I’d received Brown Sugar Body Polish by Fresh as a gift and loved it, so I thought I’d check out their prettily packaged soaps and candles. I loaded up with soaps that I will never open because their packaging is just too nice and when I caught a glimpse of my wan face in the mirror near the register, I impulsively asked to see the foundations.

I used to swear by Prescriptives’ custom-matched foundation cream, then one bad match made me lose interest. A glowing former coworker turned me onto Bare Escentuals mineral powders and I thought that I too glowed for a few months. But my enthusiasm dulled when the minerals started to bother my eyes, and then my cosmetic bag, every time I traveled with them. When the brushes started to lose hair, I lost patience. I may flirt again with Bare Escentuals because I like the idea of their product—maybe next time I’ll even watch the instructional video instead of just guessing how to use it.

Bare Escentuals is fresh out of luck for a while though. A quick, masterful sponge dab here and there, and my Fresh associate had me fresh as a brand new daisy. I squealed and grabbed the Freshface Foundation bottle ($42)—the perfect in-between light to medium coverage foundation base for me. It went on so smoothly, didn’t feel greasy or look caked on, and I loved the cute and easy to use pump bottle. It’s also SPF 20.

I asked to see the concealers too and the sales associate told me that I really didn’t need any as the foundation provided sufficient coverage. I was surprised that she wasn’t trying to push more products on me, especially after my past experiences with the pushy peeps at the Prescriptives counter, but I genuinely appreciated her honesty. She suggested instead that I treat myself to a new lip-gloss, and yet again, she steered me right. I purchased Fresh Sugar Fairy ($25), a pretty pink gloss that might look a little teenage Barbie in the tube, but applied, it is the perfect subtle hint of pink. I’d never have chosen this myself. It’s glossy but not gunky, and shiny but not sticky. It’s also packed with skin smoothing moisturizers and Vitamin E, as well as being SPF 15