makeup

Anyone who knows me knows that my makeup skills are seriously lacking. Being a beauty editor means that my knowledge of makeup is astounding. I know about formulas, textures, trends and can talk you through a how-to in no time at all. My own artistic ability, though, is lacking. I couldn’t execute a cut-crease if I tried, and the likes of contouring, baking and colour-correcting are totally lost on me. I like quick, easy-to-use products that are totally foolproof. It’s understandable, therefore, that when I heard about the game-changing new makeup brand Depixym, which offers up a range of pure makeup pigments, I was totally uninterested. They’re designed to be mixed in palettes and used however and wherever one might please, so, frankly, I found the very...

From its covetable selection of dresses for every possible occasion to this season’s trending shoes, ASOS is one of those sites that we always have our eye on for fashion inspiration. But did you know that it’s an amazing place to shop for beauty, too? Stocking some of my holy grail beauty brands and best-selling products from around the world, ASOS is basically a one-stop-shop for all of your fashion and beauty needs. And while it does sell skincare gadgets that celebrities swear by and salon-standard hair tools, today, I’m going to be focusing on the best of ASOS’s affordable beauty offering. From makeup to nail polishes, and hair saviours to cult skincare, keep scrolling for 29 of the best beauty products to add to your next ASOS shop right now—all under £20. Ins...

There’s nothing about mascara that excites me. Apart from using it on my lower lashes, I gave it up quite a long time ago and swapped over to false lashes. So, when everyone on my social feeds were talking about the Hourglass Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara, it fell into the camp of yet another new mascara launch.  But, this one isn’t all hype and no substance. It only took two hours of launching for it to become Space NK’s best-selling product. For a mascara to sell at a rate of 1.6 per minute, I needed to get in on the action.  As it tubes and coats each individual lash, the lengthening properties are incredible. With mascaras that work so hard to lift and define lashes, the downside is that it usually smudges or wears off during the day because of the formula. You ...

The first thing you might want to say is something along the lines of, “Who exactly is putting on makeup right now?” But for beauty aficionados, and curious novices, this time doesn’t necessarily need to be about adhering to society’s beauty standards; rather, it can be time to explore our makeup routines on our own terms in an effort to find the things that bring us joy. After all, who wouldn’t want to binge-watch Rihanna’s makeup tutorials or try new cult products? In truth, finding fun yet easy makeup looks during this time can be a simple way to cultivate a little delight in your day. So ahead, we’ve spoken to 15 women about the easy makeup looks that are currently making them smile. And don’t fret—we promise they’ll be as enjoyable to try on yourself. Doing your makeup doesn’t n...

There’s no betrayal quite like a lipstick that appeared to be the one, and then an activity such as having lunch, sipping from a water bottle or wearing a face mask, shows its true colours.  The disappointment of witnessing the remnants of your lipstick decorating your bottle or lunchtime fork is all so very hard to bear. Let’s not even get started on the lipstick that’s now smudged way outside of the confines of your lip line.  All this to say, with face masks being a new part of our routine, this is not the economy for wearing lipsticks that smudge. There’s some criteria that’s needed when it comes to the best no-smudge lipsticks. It needs to stay put and not leave a Joker-esque smile on the lining of your new floral print face mask, but it can’t leave...

Having spent the best part of a decade writing about fashion and beauty, I’ve come across many makeup artists in my time, all of whom have provided me with different tricks of the trade and product recommendations. Of course, the advice they’ve shared with me has differed depending on their makeup aesthetic and the clientele they work with, but I can safely say that all of them agree on this one piece of wisdom: Concealer is, without a doubt, the most important makeup you can own. With the power to blur, highlight, and, of course, conceal, its uses are about as limitless as a beauty buy can be, making it one of the hardest-working items in your makeup bag. That’s why it’s of the utmost importance to ensure you find the right one for you. As someone who has always su...

I don’t ordinarily begin my articles by quoting Joni Mitchell song lyrics (or any song lyrics for that matter—I’m acutely aware this isn’t MySpace), but nothing can summarise the story I’m about to tell quite like this: “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” Ain’t that the truth. During lockdown I’ve let my beauty routine slide somewhat. I slowly began forgoing my signature smokey eyeshadow, then my penchant for bronzer-mapping got the boot. Ultimately, there was only one product left standing—my It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+. Yes, it might be a bit of a mouthful to say but the lengthy title belies the simplicity of this fuss-free base product. As the name suggests, the aim of this foundation alternative is to make it look like you’re not we...

At some point though, I forgot about Black Honey, likely moving on to the matte formulations that began to dominate the lipstick market. I think I wore MAC’s Ruby Woo for four years straight. Fast-forward to May of this year, however, when, in an attempt to keep myself busy while being housebound, I took to cleaning out my beauty archives—products I’d packaged up during my 2019 move from London to Edinburgh that hadn’t seen the light of day since. After sorting through two plastic boxes, I finally reached the base of the third where nestled in the lip edge surrounding the base, was a long, silver wand; a forgotten tube of Black Honey. Instantly overcome with overwhelming nostalgia, I immediately slicked it across my lips. Of course, this wasn’t the exact B...

Rating: 3.5/5 stars Review: “I’d argue that mascara is one of the most finicky types of beauty products to review. Not only does everyone have different lashes (from length to density to curl), but also everyone has different lash goals. My ultimate mascara, for instance, gives me lots of volume, lots of curl, lots of length, and lots of definition. Basically, I want practically cartoonish, borderline Disney Princess–level lashes that completely pop out from my face. My lashes are naturally super long, and honestly, I don’t mind a little clumping. In fact, it’s kind of my signature look. However, I know that kind of drama is some people’s worst mascara nightmare. To each their own! “My long lashes and my eyes are probably my favorite feature, a...

Let me preface this by saying that I have a very turbulent relationship with foundation. Any product that works to cover up all of the things that make skin look like yours is a big no-no if you ask me. And all too often, I find that so many foundations do just that. They leave skin looking flat, dull and void of life. Given the fact that every single aspect of my beauty routine is dedicated to brining out my inner glow, trying to find the perfect, natural-looking base that works to smooth and blur without totally repainting my complexion has proven tricky over the years. In fact, I’ve tried just about every foundation that’s ever come my way in a bid to find the most glowing, second-skin formula.  It’s safe to say that it’s been a rough ride. Naturally, I have come across a bunc...

I have an extensive lipstick collection, and until my recent exploration into nude lipstick, it consisted largely of reds and berry tones. I decided to try all the red lipsticks on the market because this shade can be a bit intimidating to wear. There’s nothing to hide behind with a red lip. It’s bold, in your face and there’s no room for application mistakes. That’s why great shades and formulas are a must as all reds are not made equal, my friends. There’s also more flattering shades of red for each skin tone, so I wanted to share my favourites for dark skin too. Keep scrolling for my findings. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beau...

Let me preface this by saying that I have a very turbulent relationship with foundation. Any product that works to cover up all of the things that make skin look like yours is a big no-no if you ask me. And all too often, I find that so many foundations do just that. They leave skin looking flat, dull and void of life. Given the fact that every single aspect of my beauty routine is dedicated to brining out my inner glow, trying to find the perfect, natural-looking base that works to smooth and blur without totally repainting my complexion has proven tricky over the years. In fact, I’ve tried just about every foundation that’s ever come my way in a bid to find the most glowing, second-skin formula.  It’s safe to say that it’s been a rough ride. Naturally, I have come across a bunc...