Like it or not, cakey or streaky makeup become major considerations when you hit your late twenties or early thirties. You may leave the house looking perfectly made-up - but by the time you reach the office, your foundation is settling into those emerging fine lines around your eyes and mouth, making you look tired, haggard and old before your time.

Finding a good foundation that evens out your skin tone, camouflages old acne scars, and lasts throughout the day without caking can be an all-consuming affair. Some women forgo foundation altogether, but this leaves their faces exposed to the elements - no matter how good their skincare regime may be.

Recently, AsiaOne Just Woman discovered a little-known Italian makeup brand that just might be the solution to some of these makeup woes. While we are aware that there is no single product that suits every single woman under the sun, the items we tested recently were certainly noteworthy for us to highlight.

Pascal Firenze, created by award-winning Italian makeup artist Pascal Frese in 1978, is reowned in Europe for its range of water-resistant foundations which purportedly soften the look of lines and wrinkles. Created 30 years ago, the Lifting Color range is still one of the brand's best-selling lines today. An array of Pascal Firenze products is now available for the first time in Singapore, and the AsiaOne Just Woman team was keen to see if the products live up to the hype.

We did not particularly fancy the rather dated packaging, but the blue plastic casings belie some noteworthy products.

Here's our take on their base makeup:

Lifting Color foundation ($89, right)
This powder-based foundation's unusual name comes from its patented formula which does not sink down into the skin as the day progresses. As a result, fine lines look less obvious. One of its main ingredients is jojoba oil which helps to protect and moisturise the skin.

We found that this foundation lived up to the hype. The lightweight product looks and feels virtually invisible on your skin if you apply it on a bare face, yet it softens the look of lines around the mouth and eyes and tones down minor dark eye rings. Caking around laugh lines was also dramatically reduced - one tester has even proclaimed this her Holy Grail of foundations as it did not cake even after an entire workday, while all her previous foundations floundered within an hour.

Touch-ups are also largely unnecessary with this long-lasting product, which is also water-resistant and does not streak easily in our tropical climate. While we found that the face can feel slightly sticky when we were out of doors, the stickiness vanished once we returned to an air-conditioned environment, without having to blot or touch up.

However, we also found that applying moisturiser and sunblock before using this product can compromise its staying power. Also, applying too much of the product can cause it to cake as well, so use sparingly. According to makeup artist Gisella Huang, one compact foundation can last from six to nine months.

Verdict: This is pricey, but at least one reviewer thinks it is worth every cent. Great for those who want a natural-looking foundation which shields the skin with sun filters while lessening the look of fine lines. Works great on both oily and normal skin types - just remember to apply it on bare skin, or use only sunblock or cream that have natural oils.

If you want heavier coverage, try the cream-to-powder version of Lifting Color, called Lifting Cover ($98). We found that this product effectively covers the redness caused by acne. It is formulated with Vitamins A, E and F, and its richer texture makes it more suitable for people who have dry, dehydrated skin.

Hydrid Concealer ($39, not pictured)
We like the brush-tip applicator on this concealer which helps to camouflage dark eye rings and redness around the nose. The cream texture is easy to blend and hides both undereye circles and redness around the nose well. It covers and heals, thanks to Vitamin E which moisturises and works as an anti-oxidant.

Verdict: Great for the undereye area - the creamy formula moisturises the delicate skin there and allows for easy application with virtually no tugging or pulling.

Magic Loose Powder ($26 for 5g, $55 for 15g, right)
This ultra-fine loose powder comes in a cute tub that makes touching up a breeze - simply sprinkle a little powder on clean fingers and pat onto your face. We like the smooth feel of the powder, which contains silk dust.

When applied over Lifting Color or Lifting Cover, it enhances the staying power of both foundations. This also has a mattifying effect on oilier skin types and can keep makeup fresh for longer if used as a finishing touch on your base makeup.

There is also a version that contains crushed pearls ($27 for 5g) which give the powder a faint, subtle shimmer - great for nights out! However, one reviewer felt that this powder felt a little less silky than the original version, probably due to the addition of the pearls. If you are not a big fan of shimmer, we recommend that you try the original version instead.

Verdict: Definitely worth buying - the smooth texture and convenient packaging makes this a must-have in every woman's handbag.

Pascal Firenze products are available at The Make-Up Chain at #01-09 Capitol Building, 11 Stamford Road. Tel: 8123 7131.