Full makeup may be in fashion right now, as the filthy rich “yakuza wife” trend is all the rage. Think lined lips, deep blush, and smoky eyes. But it’s not makeup for everyone. As a beauty editor and someone who doesn’t want to look like a gangster’s wife, I still believe that the true luxury of beauty comes from subtle enhancements.
As any makeup artist will attest, creating a soft-defined “no makeup” look is much more artistic than troweling on a thick base and layering mascara. There are certain tricks to making it look like your product is complimenting your face rather than covering it completely. But for years, more elegant makeup looks often resulted in expensive formulas that came with equally hefty price tags. The good news is that many high street beauty brands are now just as impressive as many of their more expensive counterparts. Learn how to save weight in your makeup bag with a proven formula.
perfect preparation
Because primer is applied before the rest of your makeup, it’s often considered an unnecessary extra rather than a makeup essential. do It makes all the difference. An effective makeup primer enhances the appearance of the products you apply on top. Makeup artist Lan Nguyen Grealis believes these are essential before makeup to “even out skin tone, create a smooth base, and fill in pores and fine lines.”
Two of the best we’ve tried are Beauty Pie’s The Brightening Primer (£13.50) and ELF Power Grip Primer (£10). The former, as the name suggests, enhances the radiance of the skin beneath your foundation, adding a radiance that makes you glow from within. The latter holds makeup well without adding stickiness to the skin. Since its release last year, it has sold out.