Face the changes of lockdown with new trends for autumn
Pretty much everything about the way we shop now has changed. We research and shop online more than ever, and what we are buying is different, too. Sales are up in a vertical fashion in skincare, self-care and make-up for eyes and skin. To dig deeper into current trends I spoke with Fred Letailleur, YSL Beauty European make-up artist and regular visitor to Ireland.
Between March and August most of us abandoned our make-up bags. I asked Fred if he thinks we will return to the way we used to apply face products. He says: ‘Make-up has transformed but not truly left us. At the moment I see people responding to ‘no make-up’ make-up trends with added focus on skincare, touch-proof make-up resistant to wearing a face mask, and eye looks. I think the focus will be definitely enhanced towards face and eyes, however there is no better way to cheer yourself up than to buy a new lipstick.’
Caring for skin is becoming more important now and wearing face masks every day is throwing up new issues around oiliness and irritation caused by being covered up. To counteract these issues, Fred suggests: ‘Caring, protecting the skin and bringing extra hydration is still an essential more so than ever. My personal recommendation is to use the Night Reboot Serum to renew your skin overnight while you are sleeping, Instant Moisture Glow for its 72hour hydration during the day, and a gentle double cleansing routine after a day of work.’
Fred’s prediction for the biggest autumn trends are ‘matte long lasting touch-proof foundation, neutral smokey eyes that enhance the eyes and deep black volumising mascara.’
YSL is launching a new addition to The Slim lipstick collection for the new season. Fred explains: ‘We are adding a new concept of matte lip texture in the Rouge Pure Couture The Slim which I am very excited about. Slim Glow Matte is a natural embellishment for your lips in colours that enhance your natural lip colour, enriched with mallow extract to maintain the level of plumpness and hydration of the lips in a matte glow finish. No need to apply your favourite lipstick with a finger, you will be able to simply apply it directly from the bullet to simply enhance your natural lip colour.’
Even though we have adapted to online beauty buying, Fred expects we will return to stores. He says: ‘We have already successfully introduced virtual try-on services, and offer online professional advice and consultations. I strongly believe that even though the mood is to turn more digital and virtual, we will not be able to fully replace the human connection and the creativity that an artist can provide when looking at a face.’
KVD Vegan Beauty Shake Eyeshadow Primer €22, Boots
KVD Vegan Beauty has a very distinct USP, that of producing incredible longwear products from foundation to eye liner and makeup fixing sprays to mascara. They may have outdone themselves with this ingenious primer that suits every skin tone. The ‘shake it’ formula reveals a black liquid that becomes transparent on skin. Pop it on the eyelids before applying eye shadow or liner — the formula somehow retains the true colour of the eye products and keeps them locked down all day long.
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Face Primer €36, Boots exclusively
All of the products in the Ole Henriksen’s Banana Bright collection have a pale yellow tinge, hence the name — no bananas are actually involved. Banana powder pigments give skin a sunny tint that naturally brightens and looks more even coloured. They are used extensively in photography. This new primer contains Vitamin C to improve skin brightness and it has a blurring effect on pores, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Primer €40, Space NK
Healthy skin is hydrated skin. For dry to very dry skin that isn’t always so easy to achieve and an extra layer of moisture is needed. To get all the blurring and smoothing effects of a primer with extra hydration, a skin care/make-up hybrid like this is ideal. The Sensual Skin Primer contains a blend of antioxidants, botanical extracts and hyaluronic acid to protect, plump, and hydrate skin. It works like a primer and a layer of hydration to make your foundation stay in place from day to night.
There is no better way to cheer yourself up than to buy a new lipstick
M•A•C Makers with Sam and Nic Chapman Limited Edition Lipstick €22 each, Brown Thomas
M•A•C is famous for its many collaborations, from Disney films to cartoon characters, pop stars and YouTubers. This new team-up is with sisters and make-up artists Sam and Nic Chapman. The brand has created a bespoke Cremesheen lipstick shade for each, housed in Modinspired casing. Nic has opted for a very wearable pink nude shade, while Sam has chosen a screen siren red with perfect blue undertones that make it a classic red. The shades are great, the packaging makes them very collectible.
CND Polish in Cherry Apple €14.95, CND Salons nationwide
Orchard-inspired for fireside fashionable nails, CND’s new collection for autumn has warm, rich tones including a crisp green and foliage shades. Cherry Apple is a rich red that works with every skin tone and nail length. Red in the latter seasons of the year usually veer between berry shades in autumn and pillar box red for the Christmas season. This is quite a different red, it has brown undertones that play down the red tones, making the nail polish a more sophisticated, wearable shade.
Urban Decay Lash Freak Mascara €23.50, Arnotts Beauty Hall
Mascara is a multi-billion dollar industry, maybe more so now that we live in an era of wearing face masks. Since the lockdown began, sales of lash serums, dye and mascara has soared and shows no sign of stopping. Mascara that promises great volume, length and long wear durability are top of the most-wanted list and it’s definitely what you’ll get from Urban Decay’s new Lash Freak. A three-way brush design works to give volume, lift, and definition in one. The lash formula has 20 hours’ wear.