Mascara to make your lashes grow

. . . and foundation that blitzes spots. The new make-up miracle workers

THeY look like your average cosmetic staples, but t hey ma k e startling claims. There’s a blusher that promises to plump cheeks, a foundation that heals spots and even a mascara that promises to help your lashes grow.

So-called ‘medicinal make-up’ is t he beauty i ndustry’s l atest innovation: products that have many of the benefits of skincare, while working well as cosmetics.

Here, we put them to the test, and asked consultant dermatologist Dr Justine Hextall for her opinion on how well they do what they claim...

MASCARA TO MAKE LASHES GROW Code VLM volumising lengthening mascara, £19.95, code-beautiful.com

I love the idea that using mascara might help make your lashes longer. This mascara contains ‘waxes and vitamins to encourage lash growth’, but makes no actual promises, so it may just be hope in a tube, but at least it is a fabulous mascara.

I followed their ‘wriggle and roll’ technique to push the product right into the roots (where the vitamins might work) and it looked terrific.

The colour is the darkest black and the formula gets top marks for not smudging as the day went on. JUSTINE SAYS: The conditioning ingredients in this will protect lashes and reduce breakage, so you may lose fewer lashes, making them appear more full. However, I’m not convinced they will make l ashes grow l onger. There are products that can aid the growth, but they’re usually serious medication, for example, eye drops to treat the eye condition glaucoma can stimulate lash growth.

FOUNDATION THAT BATTLES SPOTS Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation Acne Control, £55, cultbeauty.co.uk

Acne sufferers will know foundation can be a f alse f riend. Yes, it may cover blemishes, but i t can make skin worse.

This new foundation contains the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial ingredient salicylic acid, along wi t h other healing ingredients and SPF 25 for sun protection.

It’s really nice to use — and my goodness it has staying power! Usually I find foundation rubs off during the day, but this was still there at bedtime. JUSTINE SAYS: Salicylic acid is a well known anti- acne ingredient as it prevents pores from blocking with oil and so reduces the f ormation of spots. My only concern is that any foundation could irritate sensitive skin if it is worn all day.

GLOSS TO PROTECT FROM SUN Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sheer Tint SPF15, £20, elizabetharden.co.uk.

THIS i s billed as Arden’s famous eight-hour cream for the lips. It is definitely a lip tint rather than a lipstick, but the red one gives a good, even colour. It’s lovely to use and has a nice shine, too. It smells strongly of eighthour cream, so as long as you like that aroma, you’ll be fine. J USTINE SAYS: SPF is always a good idea and lips often get forgotten even though they are a common site for sunburn. As with all SPFs, you need to re-apply it frequently during the day to prevent sun damage.

LIPSTICK THAT PLUMPS LIPS Lancome Shine Lover lipstick, £21, lancome.co.uk

lIPSTIcK that dries out is supremely unflattering, so this one, which contains moisturi sing hyaluronic acid and s oftening r ose - bush oi l , sounds promising, particularly for older, drier lips.

It goes on smoothly, though it’s not as shiny as I expected and the colour is very light (because it looked bright red in the tube, I was surprised that it came out deep pink on the lips). It feels lovely and moisturising, though it rubs off easily when you are eating and drinking. JUSTINE SAYS: Hyaluronic acid i s good f or moisturising because it attracts moisture to the skin and keeps skin cells plumped.

Hydrated skin reflects light better and appears more youthful. The oil here will also protect the skin barrier and reduce water loss.

ANTI-AGEING BLUSHER Studio 10 Plumping Blush Glow-Plexion, £24, studio10beauty.co.uk

THIS brand’s philosophy makes every product work hard by boosting the formulas with anti-ageing and beautifying ingredients. This ‘complexion pick-me-up’ in coral/ peach is pretty and flattering.

Its active ingredient is the skin-plumping Adipofill — but I use so little of the product that I can’t believe it will make any difference.

JUSTINE SAYS: This i s an excellent range, though I agree that the amount of blusher you need isn’t going to put enough of any active ingredient on the skin to make a dramatic difference.