10 BEAUTY PRODUCTS I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT
I receive quite a lot of questions from people who want to know if I wear makeup. I’m totally comfortable to say that I do, and have been doing so since I was about 16 years old. I have always wanted to look the best version of myself and I realised early on that a little help from makeup goes a long way in achieving this. That being said, I have never wanted my makeup look to be obvious - instead I have always aimed to achieve a glowing, natural visage that looks youthful and dewy.
I thought that today I would share with you the 10 beauty products that I cannot live without. These are the staples in my makeup arsenal that I use on a daily basis - some of which I have been using for the last 15 years! I hope that you will enjoy this blog, I would love to hear some of the products you can’t live without in the comments.
1) LAURA MERCIER PURE CANVAS PRIMER - BLURRING
This primer is a relatively new product to my beauty regime but it is the very best I have ever used. It was introduced to me by one of my best friends after we were chatting about how to look our best on camera (Zoom anyone!)
This primer has really changed my life - especially now that I record weekly videos for YouTube and need to up my makeup game for the harsh cameras and lighting. It is not a primer I use every day, I use it for filming and if I am going to a special event.
It is difficult to explain how genuinely amazing this primer is. It kind of makes a mask like layer on your face which is as smooth as glass. Your foundation then glides over the top to give a flawless finish. I was truly surprised with how wonderful this is.
2) LAURA MERCIER PURE CANVAS PRIMER - HYDRATING
Now for a primer that I would recommend using on a daily basis - the Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer - Hydrating. I like my skin to look dewy and glowing - I can’t stand a matte, dull finish. This primer is the perfect place to begin to achieve the hydrated finish I aim for. Again, it glides over your skin and feels beautifully weightless so that you can apply the rest of your makeup over it to perfection.
3) RIMMEL LONDON SUN SHIMMER - LIGHT MATTE
Now this is one of those products that I’ve been using since I was sixteen years old. Back then I probably overused it and looked like I’d spent my weekends in St Tropez! This is such a nostalgic product for me - all my friends would gather at my house on a Friday evening and slather this on ready for a night on the tiles. It has been with me throughout my entire adult life, through the high’s and low’s giving me a flawless glow.
I use it after my primer and mix it with foundation to give me the faintest hint of a summer glow. My skin is very pale and as I wear sunscreen every single day, this helps to prevent me from looking too ghostly.
If it is new to you, tread carefully and practise! A little goes a long way and you will need to start with less than a pea-sized amount to avoid looking overly bronzed. This is such a great, bargain product that comes in gel form and is easy to use, once you know how.
4) CHANEL VITALUMIÈRE AQUA FOUNDATION
This is another product I’ve been using since my teens. I got my first part-time weekend job in a clothing store and a large chunk of my monthly salary was spent on this, but to me it was worth it!
This foundation is absolutely the best if you are looking for a no-makeup-look. It almost has the consistency of water and applies so beautifully on the skin to give a fresh, gorgeous finish.
The added bonus is that is also has an SPF 15, so if you forget to apply your sunscreen, this will provide a little protection.
5) NARS RADIANT CREAMY CONCEALER
It took me much trial and error to find an amazing concealer - I finally found ‘the one’ and I will never look back. For incredible coverage with no creasing I have yet to find a better concealer than this.
Again, a little goes a long way with this product. For everyday use I apply the tiniest dot and it manages to cover puffiness and tiredness whilst illuminating my under-eye area.
6) LAURA MERCIER TRANSLUCENT LOOSE SETTING POWDER
Once I have applied the concealer I then use the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder to make sure everything stays in place. Again - this is the best loose powder I have ever used. It is barely noticeable yet ensures that your concealer stays in place all day long. You can also use it over the entire face once you have applied your makeup.
7) GLOSSIER CLOUD PAINT SEAMLESS CHEEK COLOR - ‘PUFF’
The only thing I don’t really like about using foundation is that it can take away my natural glow. I have always had a rosy pigment to my face which I have embraced, so I need a product that will help to restore that once my face is covered with foundation. The Glossier Cloud Paint is a new discovery and one that I absolutely love. You only need a tiny dot of this and it spreads over your cheek to give the most beautiful ‘from within’ flushed look.
8) NYX PROFESSIONAL BROW PENCIL
My brows have always been a little weird - they are uneven and gappy with little bald patches. I am just thankful that for what I am lacking in brows, I make up for with the hair on my head!
To remedy this I use a brow pencil - it fills in gaps and helps to give a more polished and defined brow. It is quite astounding how much a good brow can lift the whole face.
With every brow pencil I have used, I find that they can make your eyebrows look flat and dead. To bring them back to life I use a tiny dot of vaseline and brush through with the brow brush.
9) MORPHE ‘FACE THE BEAT’ BRUSH SET
Unless you have the right tools, none of the above products mean anything. A good brush set will really enhance the way that your products work and help to apply your makeup in the best way possible. Morphe are really wonderful and affordable brushes that I’ve been using for a few years. They are long lasting and really bring out the best in my products.
10) OFFICINE UNIVERSELLE BULY PARIS MONOGRAMMED LIP BALM
I’ll be completely honest, the only reason I first purchased this lip balm was because I wanted the insanely chic case that they come in. Monogrammed to perfection, they are the perfect beauty products to display on your beauty counter. However, I actually do really love the lip balm itself. Non-sticky, not too heavy, and it gives my lips the loveliest sheen. A must-have!