The barely there makeup trend

It’s a known fact that heavy makeup can be ageing in itself. Slapping on thick foundation can accentuate fine lines and wrinkles. Dark, multiple hues of eye colour can create a tiring look and thick, slippery lipstick can have more of a Cruella deVille effect than we hanker for. As such, barely there makeup remains the rage. Bright colours and fun shades are very much on-trend, but for day-to-day wear that is simple, easy to apply and extremely flattering, the just-out-of-bed look of our early years is the way to go.

Skincare

If the aim is to appear as though you look that good naturally, focused skincare has to be the basis. The secret to glowing skin is hydration. Drink as much water as you can stand to hydrate on the inside, and load up on good moisturizer from the outside. This will instantly take years off. Facials and steams are also a great way to keep that dewy look going while deeply cleaning out pores.

Primer

The science of skincare has made primers magical weapons. Estee Lauder’s Idealist is a favourite and will give you a perfect base on which to apply makeup that not only holds it in place, but takes years off your face in the process.

Concealer and powder

Choose a good-quality concealer rather than a heavy liquid foundation. Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Eclat is an industry classic and with good reason. A light diffuser rather than a heavy makeup, the trick is to dab it on (rather than rubbing in heavy amounts) until your skin absorbs the colour. Do this around the eyes, nose and chin where any discolourations may occur to give the impression of an even skin tone. Finish this off with a dash of light powder. Makeup professionals can help you to find the shade that matches your skin perfectly. Get the colour wrong and the results will be disastrous.

Blusher

Avoid heavy pinks and red on your cheeks. Strips of Adam Ant-style blusher are more drag queen than prom queen. Shades of coral and apricot are much more subtle and closely match the natural glow you achieve after a brisk walk in the fresh air.

Eye colour

Creamy eyeshadows are now made by almost every big-name brand. Opt for a colour closest to the natural shade of your lid. This will open the eye out (so you look less tired), diminish fine lines and leave a pretty sheen across your skin. Finish off, again, with a mascara closely linked to your natural lash colour. Black is great for a big night out, but browns can work really nicely at opening up the eye and not loading your lids down with too much dark shading.

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