My daytime makeup essentials

Makeup is a great tool, isn’t it? Hides the bits we’re not so keen on and highlights our best features. I have loved makeup pretty much all my life, since I was very little, my mum never encouraged it but I was always drawn to it. I’m a sucker for luxury products that really pimp up your makeup bag but I’m partial to high street beauty buys too.

I used to spend a long time carefully applying makeup before I had children but these days I usually do my makeup in the car, I am a school run cliché. I’ve got my routine down to a handful of products that I enjoy using and are long lasting so all I need to do is reapply lipstick throughout the day. I can do it in 5 minutes flat My makeup bag is now open to you for a good rummage at my daytime makeup essentials.

Face

Laura Mercier Blemishless Foundation Primer – I used Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer for a very long time and I was devoted to it but I got out of the habit of using it, though I’m not sure why – I probably just ran out and forgot to replace it! I digress, I got a tester size of Blemishless in the goody bag at Stylist Live last year and I have been hooked ever since. My shiny t-zone is a thing of the past and my foundation stays put all day, the formulation is light and silky which works well for my skin type. There are other primers in the range promising hydration and radiance  if you have dry or dull skin.

Estée Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation – I love this foundation, it offers good coverage and stays put ALL DAY – I buy the light formulation which is more suited to my combination skin. I’ve been using it for a couple of years now and I haven’t been tempted by other brands yet. There may well be better foundations out there but I’m really happy with this one so I’m sticking to it.

Next up, Collection Illuminating Touch highlighter and concealer – I am a long time fan of Touche Éclat and it is one of my makeup bag essentials but I picked one of these up in Superdrug while I was stocking up on shampoo and in my opinion – and this is just my humble opinion – there isn’t vast amount of difference between the two – I know, shock horror! but in a blind test I honestly don’t think I could tell. Then again, I don’t suffer with dark circles under the eyes so light coverage and a bit of illumination is all I need. If your needs are similar to mine then you might want to road test this one before you invest in Touche Éclat which is fabulous of course!

I use loose powder to set my foundation and again I return to Estée Lauder for the Perfecting Loose Powder in Medium, I apply it with a chunky brush and I’m good to go. For quick touch ups while I am out and about I like to use Rimmel’s Stay MattePressed Powder or Pixi’s Flawless Beauty Powder which are much more handbag friendly.

Cheeks, eyes & lips

Blusher is one of my dessert island beauty products, I always apply too much. I’ll be that 80 year old lady with far too much rouge on her face and a G&T in her hand! I can’t help it, I love having rosy cheeks. I have tried many blushers over the years but I always return to Bobbi Brown in Pale Pink – the colour looks alarming in its packaging but I promise that it gives your cheeks a gorgeous healthy glow. I have it in both cream and powder format. The cream – Pot  Rouge – is good for the summer when you want a more dewy look and perhaps haven’t bothered with foundation, I like the powder the rest of the year.

I keep my eyes really simple because I am always pushed for time so unless it’s a big night out, it’s a case of a taming the brows and a quick lick of mascara. I have tried and reviewed all manner of brow products but for me a brown eye shadow like this one in Mahogany and a simple brow brush is most effective.  Mascara is not something I’m very fussy about either because I have got quite long and thick lashes so anything looks pretty much ok, though I love this Givenchy mascara that I am using at the moment – it elongates and separates lashes to great effect. I’m just as happy with this one from Rimmel mind you though it isn’t quite so good.

Finally, lips. I don’t like to go without lipstick, it’s my other desert island product. As I get older my lips have become paler and I feel washed out without it so a bit of rouge on the lip and cheeks makes all the difference to how I look and feel. Something neutral like Bobbi Brown’s Lip Colour in Sandwash Pink is perfect for daytime, its a creamy formulation that isn’t scented – I really don’t like scented lipsticks! – so my lips don’t feel dry. Quick spritz of Jo Malone or Aqua Di Parma and I’m all set.

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Care to share your makeup bag secrets?

Antonia