Over the last few days the words ‘perfect match’ have been everywhere. Adverts, Valentine’s Day cards; you name it, matchmaking’s been the hot topic, and it gave me an idea: could I play matchmaker? Don’t worry I don’t plan on grabbing a bow and arrow and dressing up as Cupid, instead; I propose a matchmaking task I’m a little more qualified for, makeup matchmaking.
As a beauty editor, I try a lot of makeup (yes, I’m that girl wearing a different foundation every day). And as a result, I’d like to think I’m a good person to call upon for a beauty recommendation if you need one. So for this edit, I’ve put my expertise to the ultimate test by reaching out to Escentual’s wonderful social followers with one question: ‘What makeup item have you searched forever for and never found?’. Here’s what came through…
‘A long-lasting ‘work’ foundation for oily skin’
Christy on Instagram
Foundation is an important makeup item for many women, but for women with oily skin its the most important. And let me tell you, when they find one that’s good (and stays put), they’re loyal! The tricky part though is finding one that does what it says on the tin because believe me, there’s a lot out there that don’t.
For this recommendation, I called upon the expertise of my Co-Editor, Chelsey. She has oily skin and has tested every formula you can think of so there was no better person to ask. As soon as I muttered ‘oily skin foundation that really lasts?’ she said ‘YSL All Hours’ in an instant. And luckily I’ve tried this and love it so jumped at the chance to talk about it; it’s full coverage for 24 hours, oil-free, water-proof and transfer-resistant all without looking cakey at all; and you can take that from a girl who usually wears very natural light coverage foundations.
‘A concealer for undereye dark circles’
@_hr.u on Instagram
The most common beauty query I’ve had over the last few months, from friends and customers alike is: ‘how do I cover up dark circles?’. I think the dark mornings/evenings and the fact that modern life is all go-go-go doesn’t help.
What this concern calls for is a concealer that conceals (sorry to state the obvious) but also brightens too. My current go-to is none other than the MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Light Capturing Self-Setting Concealer, it’s definitely the most innovative on the market right now with its self-setting formula (no more powdering the under eyes) but it also gives great coverage and luminosity that doesn’t look cakey or unnatural. The longevity of this concealer is also worth noting, we’re talking a 12-hour crease-proof wear time, which is great for ensuring dark circles don’t creep through during the day.
‘A brow pencil that helps me cheat bigger brows’
Samantha on Twitter
Of all the makeup products to pin down, eyebrows are one of the hardest; especially if your brows are sparse. Because if your brows aren’t naturally thick, it can feel like only miracles (or micro-blading) will give you more prominent brows. This couldn’t be further from the truth though, all you need is a Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil and a little bit of practice – trust me, I’ve been there!
When I was 13, I went crazy with tweezers (who didn’t) and overplucked the inner corner of my eyebrows. Now, similarly to Samantha who sent in this request, I’m left with brows that are a little lacking in the centre. I counteract this by filling-in with the Precisely pencil; its ultra-thin tip makes it easy to draw hair-like strokes, and the creamy formula blends effortlessly to avoid any harshness. Another reason why I think this is a great option is that it comes in a great shade line-up with different undertones, so it’s easy to find the right shade for you. If you need an extra helping hand finding your shade though, use the Benefit Try On Tool.
‘A non-drying matte red lipstick’
Katie on Instagram
If there’s one thing I can recommend at the drop of a hat it’s red lipstick. So thank you, Katie, from Instagram for making my job easy! Red lipstick is my safety blanket, which may sound a little odd, but despite its vibrancy, a swipe of red lippy gives me an immediate confidence boost.
Katie hasn’t just asked for a red lipstick though, she’s asked for a matte lipstick that doesn’t dry out her lips. It’s as if Katie is shopping for me here; my lips are always chapped so there’s no way I can wear matte if it’s not hydrating. Because of this, I’ve tried an abundance of matte reds, some terrible, some briefly moisturising and a handful that are the perfect package, and the Shiseido ModernMatte Powder Lipstick is one of those. If Modern Matte was a person it would be an overachiever – there’s not much it doesn’t do – it has a non-drying formula thanks to a mix of waxes and oils, plus it has an angular bullet that doubles up as a lip liner. Really comfortable to wear and even more comfortable to apply, I’d own every shade if I could. But what is my red of choice you ask? Sling Back pictured above; it’s a bright cherry-pink red that’ll suit all skin tones!
‘A long-lasting super black eyeliner for the waterline’
Aimee from Instagram
On a recent shoot with Urban Decay, I was introduced to the 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion. The makeup artist’s words as she applied it to me were: ‘this is the blackest eyeliner we do’, and I’ll be honest I didn’t hold my breath. I have tried so many that apply grey or blue and fade within an hour, but this time it was different. Perversion is honestly so creamy and pigmented that it applied colour with the lightest touch, which is great for sensitive eyes like mine. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I was shocked at just how much drama this little pencil gave!
So, Aimee on Instagram, don’t overlook Perversion as I did. It’s really, really good and if you love a smudged-out liner look or tight-lining like I do you’ll love it even more!
