THE STYLISH STUFF: IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BASE

14th November 2016

How to create a flawless face?

It’s an appealing proposition is it not? I for one, certainly strive to achieve just that every morning when I sit in front of my ruthlessly honest magnifying mirror. However, without layers and layers of make up, or products that just simply feel too heavy on my skin, I really struggle. When The Stylish Stuff’s Beauty Director, acclaimed magazine Beauty Journalist and author, Jo Glanville Blackburn suggested this as her first contribution to the site, well, I almost snapped her perfectly manicured fingers off. It seems it’s not as unachievable as I thought. Without further ado, over to Jo for the science bit…(oh and yes, it’s all natural and cruelty free).

“A naturally, flawless complexion is surely the holy grail of beauty. That gleaming, lit-from-within, ethereal (with an emphasis on the ‘real’ please) glow to your skin that just looks like you were born that way: who doesn’t want that right? Hyper-real, stylishly covered and concealed, yet still looks like you; I promise it’s not complicated. What it should be however is beautifully employed just to ensure everyone is admiring ‘your skin’ and not ‘your makeup’.

Prep your skin. Never underestimate the importance of a regular skincare regime if you want great looking makeup. They definitely don’t backstage, where makeup artists always start off a model’s makeup with a mask and a firm face massage to help boost circulation and get the skin glowing naturally. Personally, I love to pop on Skyn Iceland Fresh Start Mask, £25, a 10-minute super skin reviving clay mask with fruit acids to help brighten and smooth the surface, followed by a face oil. Tata Harper Replenishing Nutrient Complex, £39, is a serum-oil blend that suits all skin types, massages in beautifully and works well either under makeup or mixed with foundation to make any formula just a bit more glowy and sheer.

Black blouse £165, Ghost

Prime time. I’m not really into makeup primers myself as a rule as it’s an extra step that, if I’ve been religious with my skincare, I don’t feel I need to fret about. However, if your skin tends to need more coverage making you need your base to stay in place for the day, primers can be a bit like Spanx under your clothes, helping to smooth, blur, flatter, conceal and hold things in place, so that everything you put on top looks even better. One of my favourites that I do wear is at Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream, £27 that comes in 16 shades and is basically the equivalent of a BB and CC cream, plus tinted moisturiser in one and makes pores look almost invisible. For some, this might be enough of a base, for others you may need to apply a slightly more covering foundation over the top, such as Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup, £24.30; the fab NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, £31, or one of my budget favourites Gosh Foundation Drops, £12.99, that has an incredibly light texture.

Apricot blouse £120, apricot velvet trousers £195, both Ghost. Earring, vintage.

Now perfect. This bit is totally individual. If your skin is looking pretty darned gorgeous right now, opt just for a bit of concealer where you need help to even out areas such as darkness under the inner corners of the eyes, redness around the sides of the nose, a blemish, an unwanted freckle (is it ever unwanted I love them so) or dark spots. Try RMS Un-Coverup Concealer, £28, and apply using a fine brush for tight areas such as Illamasqua Concealer Brush IL135, £19.50, or hey, I’m a fan of the baby finger for all base application. That’s one reason I love Eve Lom Light Illusion Concealer, £25, as the neat spongy brush tip was actually designed to match the size of your baby pinky.

Off-the-shoulder floral printed blouse, £145 Ghost.

Last touch. For that final gleam that makes all skin types of any age look fresh and pretty, this step is essential! Take a creamy highlighter, such as RMS Living Luminser, £30, and just with your fingers, blend a tiny amount into your skin so it seems as if it’s you and nothing else, over your cheekbones, either side of the temples, down the bridge of your nose and on the Cupid’s bow of your lips.

The modern smoky party eye. Regardless of whatever eyeshadow you use to smoke and sculpt the shape of your eye, the way to wear it right now is with a three-dimensional gleam! So grab a black kohl (Hourglass Mechanical Gel Eye Liner, £16) and work it into the waterline (top and bottom) and in between the lashes. Then take a tiny amount of clear gloss (your highlighter will do) and just dab it lightly at the outer corners of your eyes for this beautiful surreal twist on a classic makeup.”