BEAUTY THERAPY: My subtle gleam team, brilliant buys for brighter-looking skin

Brilliant buys for brighter-looking skin – without a shimmer in sight   

After the omnipresent ‘G’ word in beauty – glow – the second most overused term must surely be illuminate. If you’re 25 years old or under and want a career on Instagram, then layering on products until you resemble Blackpool’s most overlit attractions will certainly have its appeal. But for most of us, and certainly those of us over 40, getting illumination right can be a tricky line to tread. So many of the products designed for the task – illuminators and highlighters – can be too shimmery or just too much. Worse, they can often emphasise wrinkles.

But here’s the good news. I’ve found three products that really are the business and have garnered spontaneous compliments about how amazing my complexion is looking (note, not my make-up, as these are subtle yet incredibly effective finishes).

First is Stila One Step Correct (£26, stila.co.uk). The candyfloss-style twists of pigmented serum – green, lavender and pink – help to colour-correct your skin before make-up. This is no cover-all – you will still see freckles and suchlike – but it helps to cancel out redness and add brightness to the face. Plus, unusually for a primer, it’s hydrating and did not leave my skin feeling or looking parched at the end of the day.

My next essential is Nars Super Radiant Booster (£25, cultbeauty.co.uk). In the tube this may look like a potential metallic overload, but it is the opposite. A light application all over the face – on top of the Stila corrector but before foundation – gave me the perfect level of healthy, happy illumination. I would not be without this.

Finally, the new Glossier Play Niteshine highlighter concentrate in Platinum Rose (£17, glossier.com) is definitely one that I can get on board with. It helps to accentuate the cheekbones and generally lift the complexion, but also looks natural.

For fat lashes fast…   

Max Factor’s new Rise & Shine (£12.99, boots.com), Shiseido Controlled Chaos Mascara Ink (£25, feelunique.com)

Here come two high-performing mascaras offering lift and volume, both with hourglass-shaped wands to help create the effect. Max Factor’s new Rise & Shine (£12.99, boots.com) grabs even small lashes and ramps things up. Shiseido Controlled Chaos Mascara Ink (£25, feelunique.com from 1 April) gives buildable oomph without stiffness. I love it in violet, but it also comes in navy, green and black.  

Work magic with wands

Justine Jenkins’ Instagram post

Want to upcycle your mascara brushes? Recently, I regrammed a post from ethical make-up artist Justine Jenkins about The New Arc Wildlife & Animal Rescue Centre, which uses wands to clean mites, larvae, etc, from small creatures. 

Here are the details: wash the wands in soapy water, put in a sealed container then send to The New Arc, Nether Auquhadlie, Auchnagatt, Ellon, Aberdeenshire AB41 8UW. They’ve now launched Operation Wand on their Facebook page, which provides details of other centres which could benefit.