Full makeup may be doing the rounds right now with the viral filthy rich 'mobwife' trend - think overly lined lips, heavy blusher and smokey eyes - but it's not a look for everyone. As a beauty editor and someone who has no desire to look like a mafia wife, I still think that the real luxury in beauty comes from subtle improvements.
As any makeup artist will testify, creating a softly defined, 'make-up-make-up' look is much more of an art than applying a thick base and a coat of mascara. There is a certain skill in making it look like the products are accentuating your face rather than covering it completely. But for years, a more elegant makeup look often came down to expensive formulas with equally expensive price tags. Fortunately, many luxury beauty brands are now just as impressive as many of their more expensive counterparts. Here are the ways to shave off the pounds in your makeup bag with tried-and-true formulas.
Perfect preparation
Often seen as an unnecessary extra rather than a makeup essential, with a primer actually applied before other makeup do make the difference. An effective makeup primer enhances the appearance of the products you apply to it. Make-up artist Lan Nguyen-Grealis finds them essential before make-up to "even out skin tone, create a smooth base and plump pores and fine lines". The two best we've tried are Beauty Pie's The Brightening Primer, £13.50, and the ELF Power Grip Primer, £10. The first, as the name suggests, helps boost the glow of the skin beneath foundation. enhance, adding a lit-from-within glow. And the latter keeps your makeup in place without adding any lumpiness to the skin. It has been a sell-out success since its launch last year.
Skincare hybrids
The telltale sign of poorly applied makeup often lies in the foundation. While it's tempting to apply a thick layer of foundation to even out the complexion, it will actually accentuate lines and wrinkles and often require an equally heavy application of blusher and eye makeup. For years, many high-end brands have included moisturizing skincare ingredients in their foundation and concealer formulas, and now the high street brands are following suit. Think of these formulas as the modern tinted moisturizers with added benefits.
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Nguyen-Grealis finds liquid or balm textures the most refined because they blend easily into the skin for a natural glow. One of the most impressive is the £15 True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum from L'Oréal Paris. With 1 percent hyaluronic acid, the product applies like a serum - complete with a drop applicator - and blends beautifully into the skin. Apply a few drops with a soft synthetic makeup brush for a skin-enhancing effect. Also impressive is the Maybelline Instant Anti Age Perfector 4-in-1. This lightly conceals areas such as the under eyes, while adding a glossy finish. One piece of advice: ditch the clunky sponge applicator and apply to the face with a brush instead.
If you're not a fan of a tinted moisturizer or foundation base, another way to master expensive-looking makeup is to combine your primer with a concealer (use sparingly where you need it) and apply the Avoid foundation altogether. NYX's Bare With Me Concealer Serum is one of the most impressive concealers on the high street, at under £12. I'd happily use it over concealers that cost three times as much. Pat and blend with your ring finger: the natural heat of your finger ensures that the product melts into the skin.
Creams over powders
While traditional powder blushers pack a punch when it comes to pigment, they can often look drying on the skin. The rising popularity of cream blushers has changed all that: you can now get a very natural-looking pop of color on cheeks without the obvious cosmetic look of powder blushers.
Big brands have taken notice of high-end beauty companies and also infused their blushers with skin care for added benefits: Max Factor's £10 Miracle Pure Moisturizing Cream Blush is excellent. Just put a little bit on the cheeks and rub it in.
The same texture change also applies to bronzers: every week there seems to be a new cream bronzer on the market. One of the best options is the Cream Bronzer from REFY. Although it's not cheap at £18, a little bit of product can go a long way. For the best application, apply the product "to the side of your cheekbones and blend with a Beautyblender sponge," advises Nguyen-Grealis.
Final flourishes
You don't have to search long to find good, affordable lipsticks - there are brilliant options from brands like Rimmel, Maybelline and Max Factor from just a few pounds. But while matte formulations are easily available, it's not so easy to find trendy lip oils at an affordable price. Think of lip oils as the grown-up, more hydrating, and less sticky version of lip gloss. Although best known for its clothes, Zara's foray into beauty has been a hit with customers and beauty editors alike. The retailer's Lip Oil, £10, is available in three flattering shades. ELF's Glow Reviver Lip Oil, £8, comes in seven beautiful shades and the texture feels incredibly hydrating. The cushion applicator also feels very luxurious.
In addition to becoming a popular texture for blushers, we are also starting to see creams used for eye shadows. Yes, this sounds like a messy nightmare, but in fact the best cream shadows blend beautifully and are visible within a minute or two. The Beauty Pie Wondercolour Longwear Cream Eyeshadow Sticks, £12 each, are some of the best around. They come in all the colors you would actually want want to to wear - beige, soft pink and subtle metallics - and are easy to apply. Simply smooth over your lash line, blend with your ring finger and you're done. Finish with a few coats of mascara. Maybelline's Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara, £12, was the best-selling make-up product in Boots in 2023. We can vouch for its brilliance and prove that you don't have to spend a lot on beauty for great results.
