HB Powder
Thankfully, the rise of BB and CC creams has made skin perfection attainable. As well as concealing flaws, they moisturise and treat blemishes and pigmentation.
There is a treasure trove of textures and shades available at every price range. Building your own personalised Neo Nude makeup kit is an investment. This is a look that can be played down for a morning coffee with a friend, or played up with extra lashings of mascara and blush for after-work drinks.
Here’s what you need to get started.
Clean, fresh skin. No need to scrub and exfoliate like a madwoman. Use gentle products that treat your specific concerns. If you have more than a few spots and they’re determined to stick around, see a dermatologist for prescription products. Makeup is incredibly powerful, but it can’t fix underlying health issues.
Most days, I can head out with concealer instead of foundation or tinted moisturiser. Make sure it matches your skin tone in natural light. For my skin, Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 2 is perfect as I have fair, lightly tanned skin. I also swear by Rimmel Hide The Blemish Concealer. Cheap as chips and provides long-lasting, non-clogging coverage.
If you do want to use a base, Maybelline FIT Me range has a multitude of colours to match your individual skin tone. I love the stick format as it allows easy application and fits in your handbag for touch-ups. It also doubles as a concealer. I also adore Physicians Formula Organic CC crème.
Once you’ve applied your base, the fun begins! I love creamy textures so a cream blush is my ideal. Using a cream blush also avoids heavy-handed application with a brush. You don’t want to look like someone slapped you! My pick is Jane Iredale Cream Blush in Clarity. Clinique do a fabulous range of cream blush sticks also. If you prefer powder, I love Physicians Formula Nude Wear Nude Glow Blush in Natural. It’s really sheer and because there are several shades of peach and pink, you can use it as a highlighter as well as a blusher.
The Physicians Formula Nude range also includes several bronzer palettes – some with shimmer and some in lighter and darker hues. While a bronzer isn’t a necessity, used lightly under the cheekbones, it can enhance the contours of your face, making your cheeks look more sculpted.
Physicians Formula Nude Wear Nude Glow Blush
Clear, bright eyes are a must. If you haven’t slept 12 hours and eaten a pure organic diet for the past 10 years’, no fear. A beige eyeliner on the inner rim of your eyes instantly brightens without the harshness of a white liner. My daily ritual always includes Illamasqua eyeliner in Vow (pale beige). This can also be used around the lips prior to applying color. Your nude eye palette requires beige, browns and copper tones. Finish off with a sheer touch of highlighter over the cheek bones and the brow bone (just under the eyebrow). I love Australis Mineral Highlights and Physicians Formula Nude Wear Nude Glow Touch of Glow.
Finally, lips. From beige to pinky mauves or even shades of coral, just don’t go near neon brights. I absolutely adore the Maybelline Colour Sensational Stripped range. For nights, deep coffee coloured Naked Brown and for days, pink-tinged Brazen Beige.
Maybelline Colour Sensational Stripped Nudes 757 Naked Brown