Beauty Clinic: Face-waking make-up and skin tips
Q. I need a simple, quick and effective skin wakener and brightener routine for the mornings, plus a bit of make-up advice. I have enough sleep and feel okay but my usually good skin is going through a ‘meh’ phase.
A. Start the night before with a thorough cleanse, then repeat that in the morning. And really massage your face with the cleanser, whether that’s a cream or lotion, or a wash off. You want to make sure the surface of your skin is as clear and clean as possible. A very gentle facial scrub twice a week can help. See our Beauty Bible Award Winners here.
Come morning, a face mist helps wake up your complexion. Jurlique Herbal Recovery Signature Mist/£32, features nasturtium as its hero ingredient, which they claim improves skin tone and texture. We just know it feels lovely as a skin waker-upper and adds a bit of hydration. We are fans of the matching serum for nighttime, too.
Now for a bit of magic! French/Korean brand Erborian offers Glow Crème/£37 for 45 ml, which the label describes as an illuminating face cream with ultra-radiant effect. It’s a true multi-action product, moisturising, smoothing, slightly blurring lines and blemishes, and adding a pearly glow. You might just come over all Victor Meldrew and really not believe it. But please take it from us, it works.
With make up for a tired face, the key is to keep it as clean as possible: a light foundation, then matte concealer on any stubborn blemishes, and light-reflecting concealer round your eye area, particularly in the dark corners either side of your nose. We’re impressed by new Max Factor Radiant Lift concealer/£8.99, which comes in four shades; we mix two together to get the right tone. There’s a matching foundation in 18 shades, priced £9.99.
Tidy your brows and apply mascara but avoid a smoky eye look – it just emphasises a fatigued face. Our make up mentor Bobbi Brown always directed a ‘pop of blusher’ to brighten up your eyes and indeed whole face. To keep the glow, try a gel cream or cream to powder, such as Look Fabulous Forever Real Radiance Blush/£19, in warm-toned Peach Cream or cooler Rosy Glow.
Finally, give your lips a crisp outline with a pencil. We love Nude by Nature’s new range of lip colours, including a Defining Lip Pencil, £14, in six shades – 02 is our bag and we think would suit pretty well everyone. Unlike many lip pencils, this glides over your lips to provide a lasting base for lipstick. The same brand’s Moisture Shine Lipstick/£20, is gorgeous, by the way.
