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Beauty Bible Beauty Clinic
Welcome to our new weekly column on the YOU magazine website, www.you.co.uk Below you will find the current question and our advice, with a list of where to source the products mentioned. To look at past columns, click here. And for lots more solutions to your beauty dilemmas, visit Q&A, just click here.
April 5th, 2009: Make-up for damaged skin
Q I am 23 and very self-conscious about my skin. An ill-advised course of micro-dermabrasion to clear acne scars from my teens has left me with very sensitive skin, broken veins and redness. I refuse to leave my house without make-up but have yet to find a foundation and concealer that don't look too heavy but provide good coverage. Some days I just despair. Can you help?
A We are so sorry you have had such a beastly time but cheer up! This is just what make-up is for. We turned to top make-up artist Jenny Jordan (tel: 020 7483 2222, www.jennyjordan.com) for her advice. Here’s what she recommends:
‘Apply moisturiser and leave for a few minutes to sink in before starting to apply foundation (aka base). Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream is a fabulous light gel moisturiser, £24.10 for 50ml.
‘To get your base looking really dewy and natural, either mix it with a tad of moisturiser, or primer – or spritz your face with an alcohol-free toner. I love Dr Hauschka Facial Toner, £21 for 100ml, which contains plant extracts (anthyllis and witch hazel) which improve and maintain skin’s elasticity, while kidney vetch stimulates the skin’s natural moisturising process.
‘Face Fabric by Giorgio Armani cosmetics, £28 for 40ml, can make your skin look breathtakingly amazing. Do go to the counter at a big store and get one of the Armani make-up artists to do your face for you: they are invariably charming, gentle and artistic! One warning: the lighting in stores is often misleading so do get a little pot to take home and play with before investing. You may find you get a too pale (or too dark) shade. [Sarah had exactly this problem after buying an Armani base in Harrods where the lighting is truly dreadful…] MAC Face and Body Foundation, £22.51 for 120ml, is also a great choice; it’s water-based and water-resistant (which makes it long lasting) and comes in lots of shades. It gives good coverage and improves skin tone and texture but isn’t at all heavy or cakey.
‘Apply tiny amounts of base to the heart-shaped area beneath your eyes to your chin because this is where most of the problem usually lies. Leaving your forehead and jawline more or less nude will prevent the dreaded mask look.
“For a really good finish and coverage, I suggest using a foundation brush. These medium-sized brushes with a rounded wedge shaped head really help you get the best coverage. The guys on the counter will show you how to hold the brush at 45 degrees, slide the end into the base and then build up coverage a teeny bit at a time. Most of the major brands now do them, so there are lots of options including Celia Birtwell Foundation Brush £7.83 and Benefit Foundation Brush £17.50, both from Boots. Clever Bourjois Brush Foundation £11.73, (also at Boots) incorporates a brush in the foundation stick. Using the brush very slightly damp, or mixing your base with a spot of moisturiser or primer, will dilute the foundation and make it look dewy natural. You can, of course, apply it with your fingers (or a damp make up sponge) but on rosy areas, particularly cheeks, you risk making them look more red by rubbing them with fingertips.
“Before you invest in a concealer, try using two or three very light layers of foundation on the areas that need it. You may find that gives plenty of coverage. If you do need more, apply concealer after base. Good brands include MAC Select Cover-Up, £10.77 for 10ml, and Cosmetics a la Carte Under Cover, £20 for 3g.
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Leighton Denny Nail Polish, in Butterfly Wings, £9.79 for 12 ml. Nail guru Leighton’s polishes are smooth, durable, and come in 60 stunning classic and catwalk-inspired shades. But we think this is prettiest of all: a soft, iridescent peachy pink which, if you move your fingers (and we defy you to stop admiring them!) gives little hints of gold in its pearly depths. The perfect this-time-of-year shade (and gorgeous as part of a French manicure, too).
WHERE TO FIND PRODUCTS:
Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream, £24.10 for 50ml available online from www.dermalogica.com
Dr Hauschka Facial Toner, £21 for 100ml, available online from www.drhauschka.co.uk
Face Fabric by Giorgio Armani cosmetics, £28 for 40ml, available online and available from Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Harrods and other leading department stores: 020 7318 2486
MAC Face and Body Foundation, £22.51 for 120ml, available online from www.maccosmetics.co.uk
Celia Birtwell Foundation Brush, £7.83 available online and at Boots nationwide
Benefit Foundation Brush, £17.50 available online and at Boots natiownide
Bourjois Brush Foundation, £11.70 available online and at Boots nationwide
MAC Select Cover-Up, £10.77 for 10ml, available online from www.maccosmetics.co.uk
Cosmetics a la Carte Under Cover, £20 for 3g available online from www.cosmeticsalacarte.com
Beauty Bible Beauty Clinic - Archive
March 29th, 2009 - Are Sunbeds Safe?
March 22nd, 2009 - Weak, Flaking Nails
March 15th, 2009 - Puffy Eyes
March 8th, 2009 - Camouflaging Red Cheeks
March 1st, 2009 - Hair Colouring in Pregnancy
February 22nd, 2009 - Thinning Eyebrows
February 15th, 2009 - Acne |
