Written by Andrea Thorne

As you’ll soon find out that I love trying out new products so here are seven of my latest favourites that I’ve tried and tested and are inside my back-to-work-after-the-summer make-up bag (it’s a thing!) #backtoworkaftersummermakeupbag

Read on …

Let’s start with Foundation, and usually this comes with commitment. It means surety on colour, texture, application, season, finish and never mind the whole ‘do I apply with a brush, sponge or finger tips’ debate’. All of these decisions can leave some of us feeling a little apprehensive to try out a new one each season. I, on the other hand, have been a foundation slut for the better part of 15 years, and like a lot of woman, I’m still out to find the holy grail. (But I’ll leave that to an entirely dedicated post!)

For now, I can safely say my all-season but specifically for summer favourite has to be … Drum roll … Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturiser, oil free with SPF 20.
It has an silky texture and is super easy to apply – you don’t need any special blending techniques and it merges flawlessly with your skin tone. It leaves your skin with that healthy no make-up look. It leaves a hint of colour that evens the skintone but doesn’t totally hide the skin while leaving a polished-nude look. There are 15 shades, covering most complexions and allowing a little flexibility with going a little darker in summer and lighter in winter, one of the definite must-have beauty products for your make-up bag.

Next, you can use a powder or translucent fixer depending on your skin type to set your tinted moisturiser, which will help it last longer. I’ve just discovered 100 Finish Line Perfection Powder by Marc Jacobs (doesn’t the name just say it all?) It eliminates shine and leaves a silky texture to the skin, plus the best part is the gorgeous brush for a quick all-over application!

We’ve heard that it’s all about the eyes right, and if like me you have deep set eyelids that manage to create a serious trench with your shadow by the time you’ve had your second coffee of the day – then you need the best kept secret of all time, Too Faced Shadow insurance. It’s an anti-crease eyeshadow primer and my failsafe. Apply a little dollop over your eyelid after your foundation or tinted moisturiser application. Then apply your favourite cream or powder shadow, eeeasy! It can literally take me from 5am to 10pm without the shadow shifting a notch.

Talking of eyeshadow, you can’t beat a nude palette and with the MJ theme. The palette, aptly called 212 The Dreamer with 7 complementing eyeshadows, is another dreamboat product and it is super easy to slip into a handbag plus you won’t need a degree to apply these very straightforward nude shades.

I always recommend lash tinting in the summer as it just gives your lashes an added lift, but that doesn’t mean I don’t use mascara. I have found over the years we haven’t evolved with lash protection like we have with hair treatments and in my early pregnancy I felt my lashes took a serious dive – I was losing them in chunks. No surprise that this had me in a state of panic!
But then I discovered Terry Growth Booster mascara – not only does it deliver a luxe, full volume lash look, but my lashes were significantly longer and thicker in just 3 months of using it– lash crisis averted!

What about the cheeks you ask? I have to say I am in love with Giorgio Armani Cheek Fabric blush in Dolci 305. Part of a new colour range, it has a warm hue of light peach with a slight sheen which again makes it perfect for the summer months when we’re a little more bronzed. I especially love that the pigment is translucent so you can layer as much colour as you want.

And last but never least, the lips. You’ve gotta try the new MAC, Teen Dream lip Crayon. It’s high-impact, high-gloss and an easy one-step magic wand to complete the midsummer look. It’s a lip-pencil and gloss all in one (you can ditch the sharpener as it has a convenient twist-up applicator) and with 14 shades it’ll be hard not to go home with just one – don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Do you have a beauty question that needs to be answered or want some more must-have beauty products for your make-up bag? Drop a comment here and I’ll get back to you!
XO MWAH! Andrea.