Sarah's Winter Loves...
For my Winter Loves, I’ve chosen the make up categories that make a real difference to me every day and name-checked my favourite products. (We’d love to hear what YOUR must have categories are so do email us. Don’t forget by the way that you can write to Beauty Clinic if there’s anything we can help with – just click here. )
FOUNDATION My bare skin is fairly good – as in no blemishes except age spots - but evening out the tones with a little bit of foundation really helps. My new discovery is Madara Skin Equal Foundation, which calls itself ‘Soft Glow Foundation’ – and that’s so true. A featherlight mineral foundation that pulls off that most desirable of tricks: looking barely made up, but giving a nearly flawless coverage. The directions suggest spreading a small drop all over the face for ‘airy’ coverage then increasing the amount – another drop or two – for fuller coverage. I dot it on the dark shadows by the corners of my nose then pat and blend, which works as concealer. It suits my dry mature skin beautifully and – just inspecting here – the finish is glow-y (rather than dewy), and absolutely not cakey or powdery. Fabulous.
£33 for 30ml (9 shades from very fair to dark Mocha) – buy here
EYELID SMOOTHER The product I never knew I needed until I tried Perricone No Makeup Eyeshadow, which I wear every day. It says it gives a pearlised effect but it’s amazingly subtle, certainly no shimmer. I just think it’s the most gorgeous natural dusty nude. I’ve finally run out after maybe ten months so the price is good value – about 9p a day if my maths is right.
£29 for 10ml – buy here
EYELINER I haven’t worn mascara since the first lockdown and my lashes are definitely healthier. I compensate with eyeliner right down at the base of my top lashes and dotted along the lower outside corner where my bottom lashes are sparse. For beauty steals, you can’t beat e.l.f. eyeliners from Superdrug: as a born again barn girl (we’ve moved to the country full-time) I like the e.l.f Waterproof Eye Liner Pen/£3, which only comes in Black. For more eye pencil options, see our Beauty Bible Award winners led by Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘n’ Kohl Eyeliner/£19, which comes in six shades – love the Midnight Blue and Velvet Violet for evenings.
BROW COLOUR looking at my sparse brows I wish someone had told my 12-year old self having horrors about my mono brow to go easy! A gas oven explosion in my face didn't help either – my lashes grew back but my brows never quite recovered. I’m too squeamish to do anything except brow pencil but it’s a must. Over the years, I’ve relied on Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel, in 10 shades, which colours and fills with teeny microfibers. Genius.
£22.50 – buy here
Blush: the legendary Bobbi Brown always said a ‘pop of blusher’ brightens your eyes and lifts your face. I still have an old translucent pot from umm last summer I think, which is fine though tends to need touching up through the day. For more staying power I whisk on Dr.Hauschka Blush Duo, in Apricot and Rose, which you can combine or use separately to contour.
£21 – buy here
LIP COLOUR For daytime year round, every pocket has a Lanolips Tinted Balm SPF30, a real steal at £8.99 to keep lips soft with a hint of a pretty tint. My favourite is Perfect Nude. For going out (not necessary under a mask obvs…), I have a wardrobe of L’Occitane Fruity Lipsticks /£18, with Niomi Smart Sweet Rosé coming out tops for soft colour and longlasting wear (up to eight hours, they say).
