Sheer cheek (and eyes and lips)
It may sound counterintuitive, but when it’s cold, miserable and you haven’t seen the sun for five months, the best-looking beauty results, or so I’ve found, are to be had from going as sheer as possible – whatever your skin tone. There’s something particularly enticing about a juicy looking complexion when the central heating and other drying out menaces, are cranked up to maximum.
Obviously, the key to this is having healthy looking, clear skin. Scrupulous, gentle cleansing is crucial. I love Lixirskin, a range that launched at the end of last year, courtesy of doctorin-pharmacy Colette Hayden, who previously worked on Healgel, Ren and Aromatherapy Associates. And as if that track record wasn’t enough, she has a low threshold for beauty industry BS.
Three more compelling reasons to use this: it’s simple – there are only seven products in total, and you won’t need all of them. Secondly, it’s ingenious. The ultra-effective Vitamin C Paste alone (£32, victoriahealth.com) is an instant skin voila. Thirdly, it’s effective. Oh and, fourthly, though this isn’t meant to matter, the pale pink packaging and black sansserif type face looks very chic on your bathroom shelf.
Once the skin is sorted, you need a primer to hold everything in place. It’s hard to beat The Ordinary’s for price (£5.50, victoriahealth. com) or effectiveness but if it’s luxury you’re after, Sisley’s Instant Colour Corrector (£46, Sisley-paris.com) is gorgeous on its own, or under base.
As for foundation, keep it as light as possible. Glossier’s Perfecting Tint, £20, is terrific. Use on its own or with Niod’s Photography Fluid Opacity, 12 per cent (£20, victoriahealth. com) for extra luminosity. You can also use photograph fluid on its own, mixed with moisturiser for a subtle sheen.
Hourglass’s highlighters, in three shades, are lovely used above cheekbones and on the bridge of your nose and very subtle, but if the mere idea of iridescence alarms you, try an oil stick instead. These are relatively new in the West, but old favourites in Asia. Mac’s Prep and Prime Essential Oil stick (£21.50, maccosmetics.co.uk) or the Korean brand Neo Gen’s White Truffle (£18, amazon.com) are on permanent standby in The Daily Telegraph team’s make-up bags – gleam without a hint of snail trail.
For translucent colour, I love Bobbi Brown’s Cream Glow Highlighter in Pink Opal – on cheeks, lips… even the browbone. It’s gorgeous. And it’s hard to beat Nars’ eyeshadows for sheer but visible colour (£21 each, narscosmetics.co.uk).
I’m keeping my nails pale and translucent this winter, too – it’s very pretty with pale or dark skin. A slick of nail strengthener and frequent applications of cuticle oil make for a low maintenance but groomed effect. Dadi’oil, 95 per cent organic (£2.95) is now a permanent fixture on my desk.