SKIN-GLOWING MAKEUP TRIED AND TESTED

A winter glow can be achieved via a sheer, luminous foundation (the secret recipe to naturally dewy skin), or highlighter drops that reflect the light at every angle and do all the hard work for you. Here’s what I found out when I dug a little deeper...

The right shade of eyeshadow has the power to lend your skin instant luminosity – thankfully, NYX Professional Makeup is bringing you 10 of those in one palette. The key, I found, to building up a glow was to prep with a lighter matte base shadow first. I then dusted the pigment all over my lids and up to the brow bone before applying the silky, rose-gold shadow using a blending brush for a subtle, but no less powerful, shine. 

NYX Professional Makeup Away We Glow Shadow Palette – Hooked On Glow, £18

It’s a little-known fact that sheer foundations keep skin supple and more radiant thanks to their super-lightweight fluid textures. NARS has long been a favourite of mine, and the hype for their iconic Sheer Glow Foundation didn’t disappoint. The texture is so light that I could apply with my fingers and still feel like I had full coverage throughout the day. Plus, my skin was glowing and hydrated thanks to the complexion-brightening formula.

 

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, £33

Created by east London-born Sleek, the peachy tones of the Barekissed Illuminator gave my face a really fresh, healthy glow (the kind you normally only get from weeks lounging under the sun). I applied the lightweight formula onto the top of the bridge of my nose right where the eyebrows meet, a touch on the cheeks and, finally, a little on the jawline. The texture is really creamy, making it buildable, so you can customise your coverage from a subtle glow to something more intense.

Sleek MakeUP Barekissed Illuminator – Cuba, £8.99

I decided to use Barry M’s metallic highlighter over my foundation, applying four small drops along my cheekbones (you can also mix it into your foundation for a more powerful effect). The liquid is really light, so it blends in quickly just by using your fingertips. I also used my ring finger to dab a touch onto my inner-eyes. The result? Intensely radiant, light-reflecting skin, perfect for parties and nights out.

Barry M Liquid Chrome Highlighter Drops, £6.99

We all know one of the keys to glowing skin is to create a healthy base for your foundation and concealer first. I was new to Korean skincare brand Blithe, but this glowing cream has since become part of my daily makeup prep. All I needed was a pea-sized amount to smooth over my skin (after moisturiser, before makeup). It acted more like a primer, creating a smooth glowing canvas for my foundation and allowing my makeup to stay put all day. 

Blithe Inbetween Instant Glowing Gel Cream, £36

Great for creating light and bone structure, Bobbi Brown’s warm pink Shimmer Brick Compact is the most natural-looking glow I’ve come across. It adds dimension to my face, but the superfine pigments mean it gives an effortlessly light, luminous finish. Using a fan brush, I targeted the high points of my face to ‘set up’ light: that's the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose and the cupid’s bow.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact – Bronze, £35.50

With too little shut-eye and darkness pre-4pm becoming the norm, it’s little wonder my skin’s looking lacklustre. That’s why the time has come to turn to TAN-LUXE’s hyped tanning drops. Enriched with raspberry seed oil, vitamin E and aloe vera, the drops didn’t dry my skin out and I was really pleased with the light tan I woke up to in the morning. Top tip: add a couple of drops into your night moisturiser to avoid any streaks.

TAN-LUXE Tanning Drops – coming soon