Throw in the trowel and let your real skin shine through
In case you hadn’t noticed, our desire for perfect make-up has been replaced by a yearning for utterly perfect skin. Words such as ‘radiant’, ‘flawless’ and ‘glowy’ jump out from product packaging, adverts and social media channels – we are obsessed with ‘fixing’ every so-called defect.
But perfection is just not possible. So give yourself a break and ditch flawless for simple and attainable: think the healthy flush at Simone Rocha S/S 18. Mac Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation (£27.50, maccosmetics.co.uk) is the go-to for a juicy, transparent skin boost rather than outdated full coverage.
Perfection is just not possible. So give yourself a break and ditch flawless for simple and attainable: think the healthy flush at Simone Rocha S/S 18
Using Zoeva Rose Golden Buffer Brush Vol 2 (right), I have taken to buffing Nude by Nature Touch of Glow Highlight Stick in Rose (left) over my cheeks while my foundation is still tacky
Using Zoeva Rose Golden Buffer Brush Vol 2 (£14.50, zoevacosmetics.com), I have taken to buffing Nude by Nature Touch of Glow Highlight Stick in Rose (£18, debenhams.com) over my cheeks while my foundation is still tacky – applied in lieu of powder blush, it’s less ‘make-upy’.
Play down lips and mascara – but give eyes twinkle à la Peter Pilotto S/S 18 with INC.redible’s fabulous You Glow Girl jelly in bronzy Showglow or opalescent Cosmic Blur (far right, £10 each, nailsinc.com/incredible, from 29 March) and let’s leave ‘perfect’ aside, shall we?
Play down lips and mascara – but give eyes twinkle à la Peter Pilotto S/S 18
Can we talk about chapped lips? Dry, flaky and impossible to resist picking – which then leaves your lipstick looking all bumpy and uneven.
Help is at hand with Bybi’s new sugar, strawberry extract and hydrating sweet almond oil Buffer Lip Scrub. Buff on gently then apply balm, balm and more balm. £9, bybi.com.
If you’ve always played Goldilocks with your shampoo and conditioner – trying and trying to find the one that’s just right – US brand Function of Beauty might float your boat. Land on its site and select your hair type (straight, wavy, curly, etc), your goals (condition, strengthen, fight frizz – you get the picture), then pick a fragrance such as Feeling (F)ineapple or Hibis(kiss). An algorithm will then analyse your results and one of ‘12 billion formulas’ will be created to suit you, root to tip. It’ll even put your name on the bottle. From £36 for a small shampoo and conditioner set, functionofbeauty.com, from 1 April.
This week we’re… wearing Essie’s 511 Congrats silver-pink glitter nail polish (£7.99, boots.com) on our toes. Because it’s nearly spring!
Essie’s 511 Congrats silver-pink glitter nail polish (£7.99, boots.com)