Illamasqua has an impressive range in pale shades. For very fair skin, there are four shades of the Skin Base Foundation, $42, which goes on relatively sheer when applied correctly, layers well for heavier coverage and dries quickly into a matte finish. Shades 2 and 3.5 pair well with pink/blue undertones; shades 3 and 4.5 are a smidge yellow.

Color me shocked: The Sensual Skin Enhancer, $48, comes in a shade that is too light for me. At last! Contouring and highlighting, here I come!. SX 01 is a true ivory, so it's a touch on the cool side. SX 02 is very, very light with a hint of warmth, and SX 03 is a shade darker with neutral undertones. These foundations come in a tiny pot that will last forever, because it only takes a couple of dots to cover your face -- and I mean that literally. Sheer coverage this is not. This foundation has tons of pigment for medium to full coverage and a thick consistency that, surprisingly, doesn't feel heavy.

Bobbi Brown, master of the no-makeup look, has three shades of liquid foundation that are fitting for supremely fair ladies. I balked a little at being labeled a shade 00 Alabaster (seriously, double zeros? Like one zero doesn't convey how pale I am?), but it's hard to argue with the fact that it's a very pretty, very light shade that skews slightly pink. 0 Porcelain is the most neutral of the bunch, and 1 Warm Ivory is a pale, slightly yellow shade. If you're a tinted moisturizer kind of gal, the tinted moisturizer, $42, in Alabaster is the fairest I've come across.

Drew Barrymore's cruelty-free line boasts some ultra-pale foundation shades. The About Face liquid foundation, $13.98, is quite dewy, but the coverage is nice, and with a dusting of setting powder it lasts and lasts. Plus, shades LF1, LF2 and LF3 are fair enough for even the palest of skin tones.

When Eve Lom Radiance Lift Foundation, $60, found its way onto my desk, I experienced the kind of excited heart flutters that I get when unwrapping Christmas presents. Having been recently inducted into the Eve Lom-loving cult (its cleanser is a new favorite), I couldn't wait to test out the foundation, which also has ingredients like skin-lifting flower extracts and anti-aging antioxidants. The brand knows a thing or two about anti-aging; its Age Defying Smoothing Treatment is a 2014 TotalBeauty.com Award winner.

The foundation goes on easily and offers buildable, medium-to-full coverage that doesn't look cakey. This formula manages to be hydrating while giving skin a matte appearance, resulting in a natural-looking glow that lasts the entire workday. The three lightest shades in the line are Alabaster (for those with yellow undertones), Ivory (for those with pink undertones) and Ecru (a slightly darker option for those with yellow undertones).