It doesn't seem weird at all that you're new to foundation! I think it is really *great* (I am almost 42).
When I was younger and wearing more makeup, I used to buy my makeup from Prescriptives and from MAC (they were just a tiny, baby Canadian company at the time!). Over the past 15 years or so I've stopped wearing most makeup, but this past summer I went looking for a foundation with the same specifications as you are looking for...after much searching and testing, I ended up choosing one from Prescriptives.
The one I chose that I think is just excellent is Prescriptives "Traceless: skin responsive tint". They carry other really nice ones, but this was the lightest weight one, and I don't care for a "made up" look on myself (doesn't suit my lifestyle). Also, the technicians are extremely well trained on colour matching -- this is why I started buying Prescriptives decades ago. I've never been so happy with any other technicians in this respect.
If Prescriptives isn't available where you are, or if it is too pricey, No.7 (from Boots) makes a very similar one, though it doesn't go on nearly as smoothly or creamily, so it's not as easy to blend -- you have to be really quick. It's called "Intelligent Colour Foundation".
Both of these are liquids, and come in rectangular tubes. I put them on with my fingers, or with a dampened cosmetics sponge. Neither *ever* looks cakey, as they are very non-opaque formulas. I am a freak about looking natural (I drive cosmetics counter people to drink, I swear!

)
Cashmira