With all the various stresses of the past few weeks (I won’t bore you with the details, but the Dexter Dog catastrophe has been only one of many worries!) my beauty routine has gone out of the window. I’ve been using whatever has been next to my sink, which has mostly been the three products below. Actually, I only got the Sunday Riley eye cream recently, so that’s a new addition, before that I was slathering on my Clarins Extra Firming eye cream. (Rich, buttery, great for dried-out and crinkly undereyes. You can find it online here.) But you get the gist, at any rate.
I can’t say that my skin has suffered, particularly, for the lack of umpteen ritualistic steps and hydrating serums and acid toners and AHA peels and deep cleansing masks, but there are definitely a couple of little rough patches that I can’t wait to iron out and I have missed steeping in the bath with a face mask on. But overall, this simple little three-product routine has kept my skin pretty balanced and calm and I’ve enjoyed stripping things back to basics. The smell of both the cleanser and moisturiser are gorgeous and I find them both to be brilliantly effective; the REN cleanser does remove all dirt and makeup but feels gentle and non-stripping, the MV Organic Skincare Rose Soothing and Protecting Moisturiser (here) adds just enough moisture to the skin without overloading it. Dry skin might need a little more, but for my combination skin it’s just perfect.
I wrote about the REN Rosa Centifolia cleansing balm not so long ago, you can read about it in the November Skincare Favourites (or find it online here); the MV moisturiser also featured recently but I just can’t give it enough air-time. It’s so clean-feeling and light on my skin, but incredibly nourishing at the same time. The £75 price-tag does initially seem frightening, but it’s a 70ml bottle making it no more pricey than the average cream from Estee Lauder or similar. It took me a while to love this; it’s an odd texture at first and isn’t the quickest to absorb, but it has become one of my most-used products of the year. Full details and ingredients list over on Cult Beauty.
The jury is still out on Start Over from Sunday Riley – I nabbed it out of the Cult Beauty gift-with-purchase I was photographing because I have really liked everything from Sunday Riley so far. (Take a look at this feature from earlier in the year.) It seems perfectly serviceable, but I haven’t been using it for long enough to give a proper verdict. So watch this space! (It’s worth noting that my 10ml sample (above) has a rather good stainless steel applicator that massages the undereye and cools it at the same time – the real, full-size one doesn’t seem to have this.)
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Comments Off on How To Get The Most Out Of Your Concealer (Plus A Quick Look At Benefit’s New Boi-ing Range!)
It’s always been the one product I was happy to splurge on; the one item in my makeup bag that wasn’t up for compromise, and the only thing I would genuinely be devastated about if it got discontinued. (Clinique circa 2010 I’m talking ’bout you.) Concealers for me are one of the best things about makeup, as they help to cover up a multitude of sins and give me the confidence I need – no matter the problem that day, and no matter my age. When I was a teen it was all about concealing those pimples and reducing the redness left by picking spots, in my twenties my priority flipped to minimising those under-eye circles caused by drinking on a school night, but in my thirties the focus is on creating a more uniform complexion and adding brightness to my under-eye area which is showing those first inevitable signs of ageing. Concealers are flipping awesome, but they’re also one of the most mis-used pieces of makeup – we have a tendency to just shove on as much as possible and hope for the best. Over the years I’ve learned so much about these little wonder pots, and how to get the most out of them, so if you need to hone your skillset then let me give you some tidbits of advice to hopefully help you on your way…
USE A TEXTURE THAT WORKS WITH YOUR SKIN TYPE
That concealer you’ve been using for the best part of ten years? It may no longer be the best for you. Our skin is constantly changing and we need products that work with it, not against it, so opting for a concealer that works with your skin type is the first battle to win. If your skin is dry or prone to fine lines, then opt for a hydrating or creamy base; if it’s oily or your makeup tends to slip throughout the day, then going oil-free is the best way forward. Benefit’s new range of Boi-ing includes textures that meet every skin need, so don’t feel like you just have to find your shade match and that’s it: investigate, try and test.
APPLY IN A V-SHAPE; DON’T COLOUR IN!
The biggest mistake I made as a teen was colouring in my under-eye area and focusing on creating a result that was three shades lighter; the contrast between this and the rest of your face is actually quite ageing and more obvious, leading the overall look to be a touch too much. Applying your concealer in a ‘V’ shape underneath the eye will enable you to blend the product more naturally, drawing the attention down towards the centre of the face and reflecting the light effectively. You need a fraction of the product too, so you save money in the long run!
LAYER INSTEAD OF OVERDOING IT
For me, the perfect base is all about enhancing my natural complexion rather than covering it up and creating a whole new one. I’ve learned to use only a small amount of product at a time, layering it up to get the result I want rather than trying to blend the biggest blob of concealer into my skin. The professionals always use the smallest amount of product, but apply it in a natural and effective way – so that should tell you something.
SWAP YOUR FINGER FOR A BLENDING SPONGE
It may have taken me nearly fifteen years of applying concealer to swap my finger for a blending sponge, but blooming heck it makes such a difference! I wish I’d learned this so many years before, as it really does help to create a flawless finish – particularly if you have fine lines around the eye area, or pimples that you want to conceal. Patting in product from the back of your hand to the skin helps it to layer beautifully and provide a much more precise look, plus it’s way more hygenic.
KEEP IT IN PLACE ALL DAY LONG
Translucent powder may be one of the most scary things in beauty (because often it’s associated with heavy looks or old-fashioned finishes,) but it really is a fab tool for keeping your product in place all day long. I use it to lightly dust over my concealer and foundation, locking it in place and preventing transference; if you apply too much it can cause those fine lines and pimples to look worse, so the trick is to only use a little and only apply where you need it. A big fluffy brush and a finely milled powder is all you need.
With the re-launch of Benefit’s iconic Boi-ing concealer, and a couple of new additions, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to get to know them a little better – now you’re armed with all the skills you need to get the most from the formulas.
Benefit Boi-ing Industrial-Strength Concealer (£17.50) Hard working, super pigmented and all about colour correction, this is the ultimate concealer for those that have serious issues to cover (or those that favour high coverage.) I do love the pigment and how it effortlessly covers my super dark circles, but it’s definitely one I’d reach for when I wanted a heavy makeup look or had a really bad night’s sleep. It’s a touch drying if you have dry skin or fine lines, so make sure you apply it delicately and in layers to prevent caking. The ‘classic’ concealer formulation if you will…
Benefit Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer (£17.50) This super lightweight concealer is perfect if you just need a little touch-up and don’t want to overload the skin. It’s not as pigmented as the Industrial-Strength version, but it’s great for layering onto skin if you don’t want to faff around with twenty layers of slap. It’s great for younger skin, or those of you that are blessed with a beautiful complexion, but it may not be enough if you like your concealers high performance.
Benefit Boi-ing Hydrating Concealer (£17.50) When this first launched I didn’t get on with it very well, the surrounding balm mixing badly with my base and causing too much moisture – but a few years later, my skin has changed and this is perfect for my needs. It’s great for the under-eye area and the added moisture balm helps to hydrate this often dehydrated area of the face, adding radiance and luminosity while delicately concealing under-eye darkness. This is the kind of product you could totally use on its own, with a BB Cream or when you want an understated summer glow. A new fave.
Benefit Boi-ing Brighten Concealer (£17.50) Rather strangely the colour of the concealer is so much lighter when you get beneath the top layer, so make sure you swatch rather than just looking. However, this really does help to brighten without overloading the skin with too much product; it’s almost like a solid version of Touche Eclat! This may be my personal favourite of the line-up, as it offers everything I want (pigment, brightening qualities, a creamy and non-drying texture) without caking too. A universal texture and finish that I’m sure you’ll love.
Which of the four would you choose to pop in your makeup bag? Do you struggle with finding your perfect concealer, or get confused how best you should be using it?
1) This week saw me sustain what must be the first cheese-related injury in history. No joke! I took the dog to dog-training and cut my thumb open on a piece of Manchego! You may ask what I was doing thumbing about with a piece of Manchego in dog-training, well: you have to take “highly salient” treats and I didn’t have anything particularly suitable. The trainer suggested tiny bits of cheese. Yes I KNOW they’re not supposed to have cheese, and I never give it, but it was an emergency situation. And given that this dog regularly has things in his poo that I can’t even fathom, I couldn’t really see how one piece of cheese could kill him. At any rate, cheese never made it to dog because the bloody stuff was so hard I couldn’t break it up! And then the rind shot down beneath my nail and cut my thumb and then there was blood.
Incidentally, the training went very well, thank you very much – Mr AMR did all of the proper work, I just handed slithers of chicken and stood there like a lemon, sucking my bloody thumb.
2) From one cheese to another… SMELL MY CHEESE! KISS MY FACE! AHA! Yes, I’m talking about Alan Partridge and, in particular, the fact that last Sunday I did actually kiss his face. Steve Coogan’s, if I’m being accurate, but he very kindly indulged me and slipped into “Alan” mode when I asked him to. What a sport. He probably gets asked “to be Alan” all the time, so: thank you Steve. You made my day. I have ticked one of my lifetime achievements from my to-do list! (Sad, but actually true.)
Comments Off on Weekly Window Shop: Five Under Five
Last week we had ten under ten, this week it’s five under five. Next week, who knows? Two under two? Ha! That’ll cut my workload down… Actually, it’s really quite unexpectedly hard to find good things online for less than a fiver, unless it’s all beauty stuff…
So first of all, the book that many of you have urged me not to read… I have to say, I’m sitting on the fence. Do I need lots of harrowing images floating around in my already morbid mind? If you fancy a long – but apparently incredible – read, then A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara is currently £3.85 at Amazon here.
I’ve recently discovered this nail polish from KIKO when I was judging nail products for a beauty awards and it’s just absolutely top-notch. Shiny, gel-like with an intense colour. Pro Power Nail Laquer from KIKO is £4.90 here.
I love the print on this A4 (ish) notebook from Ohh Deer. Very sultry and more than a bit House of Hackney, if you ask me… It’s a snip at £3.99 here.
The micellar water that’s cheap and cheerful and lives next to my desk, to be used liberally every time I do any sort of makeup testing. Garnier’s Skin Naturals water does the trick when it comes to speedy cleansing, though not on waterproof makeup – it’s available as an “add-on” item at Amazon for £2.66 here. You get a huge 400ml bottle for that price!
For an inexpensive treat that properly works (and I have to say that I greatly appreciate the humour that has been injected into this product!) the Dirty Works Cucumber Eye Pads from Sainsburys. Cool, refreshing and amusing Instagram fodder… £3
Comments Off on Weekly Window Shop: Rain, Rain, Go Away…
Some rain essentials for you, this week, seeing as though the UK is experiencing a seemingly relentless downpour. Man, I need a holiday…
Wading on in with an investment piece, first of all: the Kensington trench from Burberry. This needs to be the sort of investment you make for life, not just for a season – it’s prohibitively expensive – but a classic Burberry coat, luckily, will stand the test of time. You can find it online here – there’s also a monogramming service if you fancy splashing even more cash…
You may be wondering what’s going on in the picture above: brace yourselves, for this is something so genius and ridiculous in equal proportions that it might just take your breath away. It is a raincoat for your handbag. Yes, dear readers, a Handbag Raincoat. Why the hell haven’t I seen one of these before? I need one in my life. Imagine being able to cover up your luxury bag as soon as the first raindrops begin to fall – it’s like lovingly blanketing your vintage car when the frosts set in, or wrapping your palm tree trunk with bubble wrap in the winter. Or whatever it is that you’re supposed to do. I can only see a US website for this, so if anyone finds a UK stockist then let me know – prices start at $25.
For those without a handbag raincoat there’s always the faithful brolly. The Birdcage umbrellas from Fulton are always a good bet – you won’t catch these turning themselves inside out at the slightest hint of a breeze! Deep enough to protect your whole head and shoulders from even the most enthusiastic of showers, it’s handily see-through so that you don’t walk into walls/lampposts/other people. These people at Fulton, they think of everything… Find the Birdcage umbrella here – it’s £18.
Givenchy’s Noir Couture 4-in-1 Mascara has had a bit of a makeover, with special flowery-print packaging. A new overcoat, if you like. This mascara is seriously waterproof, to the point that you need a toolkit, complete with chisels and hacksaws, to remove it – it also boosts lash volume, lengthens and curls. Find it online here – it’s £25.
The internet is flooded with affordable wellies, but I still have a thing for a classic Hunter boot. This short version is really smart, I think, and is 40% off at The Outnet here – £45 instead of £75.
Right, that’s it – enough of this rain. Next week it’ll be shorts and t-shirts. Everyone send positive summery vibes!
