In this week’s Best Beauty Buys feature, I introduce you to my favourite foundations, concealers, bronzers and blushers. Foundation is the most important part of your makeup, because cakey, plastered skin, no matter how gorgeous your eyes and lips, will stick out like a sore thumb.
Foundation
I’m a big believer in having more than one foundation product in your beauty bag. Your skin feels different every day, and your day is also different, so why should you stick to one foundation type? In my makeup bag, I have four foundations that I use all the time:
My favourite foundation is Bobbi Brown Oil Free Compact Foundation (2) in “Natural”. It’s rich and creamy without being greasy and it leaves my skin feeling polished and perfect. I like using this foundation especially when I go out, because it lasts, feels good, plus it looks great in photos too.
Another foundation I like for night time, or just looking polished during the day is MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation (1) in NC25.
For days when I don’t feel like too much foundation, but still want to look polished, I like using Revlon Age Defying SPA Foundation (3) in “Light Medium”. It’s light and blends in perfecty, giving me a vale of flawless skin without looking as though I am wearing any foundation at all.
I only recently started using poweder foundations. I always hated how they made my skin look, but I guess I just had to find the right one. Maybelline Mineral Powder Natural Perfecting Foundation (4) in “Pure Beige” is a fabulous powder foundation that gives my skin a nice, even tone without any “cakey” buildup.
When it comes to applying foundation, nothing beats the MAC 190 Foundation Brush (5). It’s one of those brushes that makes all the difference and works with every creamy or liquid foundation product .
Concealers/ Correctors
Before I apply my foundation, I start with Bobbi Brown Corrector (7) in “Bisque”. It helps to tone down the discoloration under my eyes, creating a perfect canvas.
My next step is the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer (6) in “Warm Beige”. Applied on top of the Corrector, this product helps to brighten my eyes, plus the double pot includes a sheer finish loose powder to set the concealer.
Estee Lauder Disappear Smoothing Creme Concealer (7) in “Deep” is another favourite concealer of mine. I generally use this one for touch ups after applying my make up to hide any flaws.
When it comes to blushers, bronzers and highlighters, I’m a sucker for every single one of them! Finding your perfect match may take some time, but is well worth the search. These are my favourite ones:
For daytime I quite like Loreal True Match Blush (1) in “Precious Peach”. It gives my skin a subtle glow without looking too pink or drastic.
Another daytime favourite is Rimmel Powder Blush (2) in “Santa Rose”. This colour is almost like a dirty pinky-brown as is ideal for that bit of definition on the cheeks. I sometimes like to layer it with bronzer for a night time look.
For a pop of colour Estee Lauder Signature Silky Powder Blush (5) in “Tender Petal” is my favourite, especially for daytime.
For night time, I love MAC Mineralize Blush (3) in “Conjure up”. It provides my cheeks with a pop of colour with only one sweep and it lasts and lasts.
Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator (4) is great for highlighting above the cheek bones, the brow bones and to define your cupids bow (arch of your top lip). What I also like about this product is the pump action applicator, which means you can keep it in your handbag without getting messy product all over your Prada.
Finding the right bronzer is tricky because you don’t want to look as though you’ve applied a “fake tan” or heaven forbid, end up looking like an orange! My two favourite bronzers are Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder (6) in “Medium” as well as Benefit Dallas (7). Both of these go on really well and give you subtle bronzing that lasts and looks natural.