Fast fixes for winter-weary faces
Even those of us who are normally Duracell bunnies, energy-wise, can start to flag in these gloomy depths of winter. And sometimes, it's hard not to look as knackered as we're feeling, frankly, after battling viruses and winter storms. (There’s certainly not a morning we don’t give thanks for foundation and concealer, right now. But the beauty industry has put at our fingertips all manner of fast face-wakers, actually. Here are some of our favourites, which we were asked to share recently by Fenwick - the fab department stores which have so successfully hosted our recent book tours.
Oskia Renaissance Mask, £48.50 for 50 ml (also at Fenwick of Bond Street. We're massive fans of masks for restoring radiance to skin that’s tired and even grey-looking. From a small British brand, this is much-loved by our Beauty Bible testers: it features very gentle fruit acids and is infused with a beautiful rosy-posy scent; leave on for 5-10 minutes for an effective fast fix. Most of the year we'd use masks at night, in a long, hot bath – but desperate times call for desperate measures and we're using this right now after brushing teeth in the morning, a couple of times a week.
Foreo Luna, £145 (also at Fenwick of Bond Street). This intriguing rubbery gadget is generally used with a cleanser, but the vibrating bendy bristles of this sonic cleansing ‘brush’ work brilliantly to boost stimulation. Cleansing brushes are of course a big beauty buzz but we're finding this much easier than some of the bristle-headed brushes to keep clean.
Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow, £38.50 for 40 ml (also at Fenwick of Bond Street). This has become the go-to primer for US: just one of many fab discoveries we’ve made from Charlotte Tilbury’s make-up collection. (And we now never walk down Bond Street without nipping into Fenwick for a swoosh of Charlotte’s blusher or bronzer from the make-up pros!) Wonderglow goes on after moisturiser and before make-up, delivering an instant, lit-from-within glow; I use it under foundation and the luminosity makes even the weariest skin appear revived.
Clarins Super Restorative Wake-Me Up Lotion, £28 for 125 ml (at most Fenwick stores). Everyone knows that beauty classic Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, but this is a more recent innovation that’s a joy to use on a tired face, first thing. It goes on like a toner, swiped over skin with a cotton pad, featuring extracts of green coffee, hibiscus, oat sugars and more to help banish puffiness and sleep lines. A joy to use, too.
Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips & Cheeks, £19. The easiest-peasiest product in the world to use (and winner of the Psychologies Best Makeup for Older Women Award 2014, which says a lot in itself); in fact, you could pretty much put this on in the dark. Flip open the lid of this go-anywhere compact and just smoosh a touch of blusher onto the apples of your cheeks whenever you’ve glanced in the mirror and seen a wan spectre staring back at you.
www.fenwick.co.uk