The Sunday Times - UK (2021-11-28)

BASE

PRIMERS

A primer is a tough sell. Does it really

do anything? Some of you are not

convinced, but ask a make-up artist and

the answer is unanimous. “Primers allow

foundation to adhere like Velcro to your

skin. They really do help your foundation

last a lot longer than usual,” says Caroline

Barnes, who can be found on YouTube

giving useful tips for real women’s

make-up — no scary contouring in sight.

If dryness is the concern and your

make-up looks flakey or cakey an hour in,

you need to rethink your base and use

something like Bobbi Brown Vitamin

Enriched Face Base (£46.50), which

smooths, hydrates and preps.

Smashbox primers are ideal for dealing

with different concerns. They have one for

every issue: mattifying, blurring and

evening out skin tone and redness. Try its

Photo Finish Reduce Redness Primer

(£28) for excellent make-up anchoring.

WHAT THE PRO SAYS

“If you have oily to combination skin or

find that your make-up doesn’t last well,

try Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer

[£34]. It helps to smooth your skin and is

a silicone-free primer that instantly

mattifies and controls shine,” says Adeola

Gboyega, a make-up artist renowned for

her achievable how-to-glow hacks.

FOR AN ALL-NIGHT GLOW

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless

Filter (£34) Is it a primer? Is it a highlighter?

Or is it an all-over glow tint? Your call. We all

agree that it’s that slightly indescribable

thing that is more than the sum of its parts

and always makes your face look amazing.

Dab it on to cheekbones or mix it in with

your usual foundation.

WHAT THE PRO SAYS

“The Makeup by Mario Master Metallics

Eyeshadow Palette [£47] is full of glorious

pressed-glitter pigments that can be used

over a smoky eye to elevate your look or

swept over the entire lid for a sparkly eye of

joy. When using glitter, do your eyes first so

that you can wipe away any fallout without

ruining your base. If there are any pesky bits

remaining, use a bit of Sellotape to remove

them,” says Lisa Potter-Dixon, a make-up

artist renowned for her easy-to-follow

Instagram make-up tutorials. She even

makes glitter look wearable.

A PRIMER FOR OILY LIDS

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

(£19.50) If you don’t have oily lids you can

skip this, but if your eyeshadow travels and

creases, then an undercoat of this is your

secret weapon for keeping shadow in place.

BROWS

FILLING IN THE GAPS

Benefit Brow Microfilling Pen (£22.50)

The best thing about this three-pronged

pen is how easy it is to use. Brush upwards

through your brows to comb into place and

fill in any spaces between your hairs. You’ll

have fuller, fluffier brows in seconds.

WHAT THE PRO SAYS

“I recently used the Refy Brow Sculpt [£16]

on Bel Powley for a red carpet event. It gives

that natural, fluffy, laminated brow effect

and holds every hair in place all night

without making the brows look full of

product,” says Alex Reader, a red carpet

make-up artist who has also worked with

Natalie Dormer and Zara Larsson.

FOUNDATIONS

MATTE — BUT NOT FLAT

Full-coverage foundation used to mean

piling on the cake. Now formulas can blur

imperfections without the heavy mask.

Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Foundation

(£66) does just that. One coat achieves

a seamless canvas without ever looking

dry or heavy.

SHEER — BUT STILL COVERS

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

(£44) is a glow-giving yet long-lasting base

that has a slew of celebrity fans, including

the Duchess of Sussex, Kim Kardashian and

Cate Blanchett. Extra fact: dermatologists

rave about it for acne-prone skin as it

doesn’t clog pores.

WHAT THE PRO SAYS

“Whether it’s a red carpet or a live event,

the foundation I reach for every time is

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation [£35].

I call it my holy glowy grail and use it on

countless clients, including Zara Larsson,

to create a fresh, hydrated glow and a

natural finish,” Alex Reader says.

CONCEALERS

THE EYE-BAG BUSTER

Uoma Stay Woke Concealer (£21) — the

dark-circle bulldozer. Use your fingers to

press it in to minimise discolouration

around the eyes — and dust setting powder

on top to help keep it in place.

THE UNDER-EYE BRIGHTENER

Rodial Banana Lowlighter (£38) This

“complexion enhancer” is part concealer,

part highlighter, making it perfect for

evening out your skin tone while also

boosting brightness. I particularly love it as

it’s one of the few that doesn’t sink into lines.

BEL POWLEY

The Sunday Times Style • 41