makeup

I have a thing for multi-tasking products. Maybe it’s the freelancer in me—I mean, why do one thing when you can do two to three at the same time? It’s probably why I love tinted moisturisers so much. They help you on your way to even tone but also keep skin moisturised and glowy all day. It also leans towards the more natural side of the makeup spectrum, which is what I prefer on a day-to-day basis. Like an ever-so-slightly elevated version of myself. There are a lot of non-foundation bases available now but if you’re specifically looking for a hint of coverage but a lot of hydration, a tinted moisturiser is your best option. BB creams, while very similar are a little heavier in coverage, more like a foundation with a bit of hydration. And CC creams are even close to foundations on t...

As I write this, I’m trying to remember the last time I wore a proper foundation. With the non-stop heatwave that was this summer, I pretty much ditched base products all together and opted to show off my sun-kissed skin, enhancing it with a little bronzer and cream blush. When it’s hot, the idea of wearing a foundation all day felt almost oppressive but now as summer winds down I’m looking for a soft introduction back to bases to subtly enhance my complexion as all the summer glow slowly drains away. Enter Hourglass’s new Ambient Soft Glow Foundation.  There’s no doubt, Hourglass are a brand known for their glow. Their Ambient Lighting Powder set the standard for setting powders that kept makeup in place, but are luminising rather than matte and cakey. Even the brand’s high coverage&...

Before he was working with some of the biggest celeb names, Sam Visser’s creativity and unique take on makeup caught the eye of Kris Jenner when he was just a teenager, which helped catapult him to fame. Now, the L.A.-based makeup artist is heavily in-demand, landing a coveted deal as a Dior U.S. makeup artist ambassador, and he is on speed dial for the celebrity set, including A-listers Bella Hadid, Kaia Gerber, and Lily-Rose Depp. Whether he’s jetting off to Cannes to craft buzzy red carpet looks or behind the scenes for the latest cover shoot lensed by Inez and Vinoodh, his makeup is designed to look flawless in photos. I recently had a chance to sit down with Visser and was curious about his approach to creating the ultimate photo-ready beauty look. Not ...

As we begin planning our autumn/winter outfits, it’s only natural that we turn to autumnal makeup trends that will see us through to winter. While it’s still technically summertime, the new season is fast approaching. We’re already seeing people wear some seriously chic autumn/winter makeup trends and if you are seeking some beauty inspiration, then you are in the right place.  While in summertime we tend to lean towards lightweight formulations and melt-proof makeup (no thanks to the several heatwaves this year), autumn and winter really pave the way for experimentation in your makeup bag. Your skin may favour a heavier, skin-nourishing base as the weather turns (with no risk it sweating off), and who doesn’t adore wearing a glistening eyeshadow ...

There is no denying it, Chanel know how to do foundation. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Makeup SPF15 and Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation are both incredible, but now comes a new foundation, the Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh Complexion Touch. For me, foundation can make or break your whole makeup look, from a cakey mess to a ghastly oxidized finish, foundation is at the root of it all. One brand I have always been able to rely on is Chanel, and boy does it know how to create a great base product, and so when they released the Chanel Les Beiges Water Fresh Complexion Touch foundation, it went straight into my basket. “The Les Beiges Water-fresh Complexion Touch sits somewhere between a foundation and a concealer. I pump the formula onto the back of ...

There is a new eye makeup trend in town and it’s the best one yet. An evolution of the traditional classics, the smokey eye and the cat eye, the siren eye makeup trend is our latest obsession. With over 440 million views on the hashtag #sireneyes, and an increase of over 300% on Google search, it’s definitely proving to be popular. But what exactly is the siren eye look, coined by beauty creator Danielle Marcan? It’s a way to effectively draw on a seductive, mysterious and feminine siren energy.  Super impressive, yet so simple to recreate, it’s all about elongated flicks of eyeliner, along both the inner and outer corners of the eyes. “It is a great look to try out, because you can shape your eyes using just a few products and it suits a lot of people,” says professional makeup ...

As far as TikTok goes, there seems to be a new trending aesthetic every month. Soft girl, cottagecore, clean girl… the list goes on, but I’m not complaining. Although no doubt fuelled by Gen-Z, these trends tend to transcend age and location and there’s a way to tap into any trend and mould it into your own take. Plus, there are so many that really, you’re bound to come across one that suits your soul. One trend that I never thought I would be interested in though was the messy French-girl aesthetic. I’m not a fan of anything too contrived and the idea of emulating this felt a bit cringe to me. But then I got stuck on the messy French girl aesthetic algorithm and quickly realised that like with most Francophile trends, it’s more about the vibe then emulating a specific look itself. If...

When a fellow editor friend of mine messaged me a few weeks ago in a panic over her upcoming wedding makeup trial, I felt like I was at a bit of a loss over what to say to her. “I just want something natural-looking, fresh and glowy—what products do I need for that?” she asked. While I know exactly the sorts of products I would turn to for such a look, I’m no makeup artist and have no idea how certain formulas work with her skin. Typically, I’m full of makeup recommendations for those who want to emulate a soft, glowing makeup look, but when it comes to someone’s wedding day, I don’t want to be held responsible for any wrong decisions. To dodge the issue entirely, I told her to scroll the Instagram pages of some ce...

As a journalist, I have put a lot of effort into trying to get some time in with the French makeup artist-turned-brand-founder, wanting to pick her brains on anything and everything makeup. Having followed her for years on Instagram, barely a working day has gone by that hasn’t involved me fawning over her low-key, but impossibly chic, makeup looks. However, being one of the most in-demand people in beauty, pencilling any sort of time in with her appeared so difficult that I had almost given up. But when news broke in the beauty world that Violette had been appointed Creative Director of Makeup at Guerlain (a French beauty powerhouse, no less), not only was I excited for what this meant for one of my all-time favourite beauty brands, I also kne...

Being the makeup- and beauty-obsessed child and preteen that I was, I used to comb through my monthly magazine subscriptions—think Allure, Cosmo, InStyle, and more—and cut out every last product recommendation and piece of advice from the most elite makeup artists. Said cutouts would then be pasted into a precociously detailed scrapbook/binder situation, and eventually, I’d refer to them the next time I begged my mom to take me to Sephora. (Clearly, I’ve found the right career path.) Well, pinch me, because I now get to meet and interview all of those legendary makeup artists I used to read about and worship, and sometimes, I even get to be a fly on the wall as they work their magic and prep A-list clientele before events and red carpets. While I no longer have that a...

If there’s one thing I have learned as a beauty editor, it’s that making your hair/makeup/glowing complexion look effortless is easier said than done. And this is something that pains me to admit considering it’s the sort of beauty aesthetic I long for. It doesn’t help either that I am a low-maintenance sort of girl when it comes to my beauty routine. I want thing to look effortless and genuinely be effortless too. While makeup artists, hair stylists and skin experts spend hours on making their celebrity clientele’s beauty looks appear as though they have taken no time at all (like it’s just their genes or something?!), I have made it my mission to achieve such natural-looking, effortless looks in less than five minutes. It’s so...

You see, Bourjois products have always had a talent for working with whatever situation they find themselves in. Looking for a glowy foundation suitable for everyday wear? Bourjois has got you. The perfect red lipstick? No stress. A blush that breathes a bit of life into your skin without dulling your complexion? Tick, tick and tick. And it makes sense that the brand produces products that speak to those who have an affinity for natural-looking, easy to use makeup products—it’s French.  Having considered a number of Bourjois’s iconic products everyday essentials for a number of years, it’s safe to say that I was devastated when news broke that the brand was ceasing operations in the UK. And I know a huge number of fellow beauty editors the felt si...