These are just six of my ‘workhorse’ products. I can rely on them to do the job (of keeping my face on) and when they’re on sale I restock.
Boots is running a lot of offers across all brands at the moment, but I’m just concentrating now on buying what I know works for me.
1.
Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish™ Hot Cloth Cleanser 200ml Starter Kit £24.22 from £28.50 BOOTS *
Deeply cleanses to remove daily grime, pollutants and makeup (even stubborn mascara!) to reveal smoother, clearer and brighter-looking skin.
2.
CYO When The Sun Don’t Shine (Matte) Bronzing Powder in shades Fair AND Medium £4.00 BOOTS *
Long-lasting powder for a soft flush of colour with a super natural finish. Easily buildable and blendable for a customised matte look.
This is the bronzer I use to de-shimmer legs after Vita Liberata Body Blur.
It’s also perfect to apply all over to fake a tan on the run. I wouldn’t use it on my face though, I have my beloved Guerlain bronzer to do that #makeupsnob
It smells of summer ie coconut and you can build it up. The darker shade looks a bit orange.
3.
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+™ 125ml £28.80 from £32.00 BOOTS *
A lightweight, easily absorbed lotion that replenishes lost moisture and strengthens skin.
I’ve used this forever. It’s especially effective when slathered in a thick layer on bare lips while you’re doing the rest of your face. It does look very odd, but wipe it off when your makeup is done and lips are deeply moisturised and it helps to plump up those cursed little vertical lip lines that age us.
I finally got my two boys into the habit of using this since they were teenagers. They won’t buy it for themselves (men!) but I send them new supplies regularly.
I don’t care for the gel version of this which I bought by accident once. The texture is too slippery and I feel it isn’t as effective.
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion has never been cheap although the price has crept up year on year. The 125ml bottle is the best value one.
There are other formulas for various skin concerns but call me a Clinique cynic, I think Clinique are just trying to capitalise on the success of this iconic skincare product.
4.
BECCA Under Eye Brightening Corrector – Bright Eyes Shade Light to Medium £18.90 from £21.00 BOOTS *
A full-coverage colour corrector that uses light to brighten dark under-eye circles.
I alternate between this very slightly shimmery pink/peach shade in the summer and the yellow and denser Bobbi Brown Corrector for the winter months.
This is obviously not suitable for darker complexions. A while ago I watched a so-called crazy beauty hack video on YouTube. I thought it sounded a bit gimmicky but a woman with severe under-eye darkness applied red lipstick to her circles as a corrector. She set it with a fine powder and applied her regular skin toned concealer on top. The darkness was ‘neutralised’ and the circles vanished! I forgot about it until I saw this.
Charlotte Tilbury has a product called Magic Vanish
A colour corrector to neutralise, smooth and conceal pigmentation and brighten the appearance of your under-eye area, for a flawless-looking complexion.
Much safer than lipstick.
5.
Origins Super Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Gel 10ml £14.40 from £16.00 BOOTS *
Formulated to fight, fade and prevent blemishes. It was awarded Best Blemish Treatment in the Glamour Beauty Power List 2018.
The star ingredient is Salicylic Acid. Could you buy that on its own for half the price from somewhere like The Ordinary? Yes, you definitely probably could, but this is a concentrated punch of magic that will calm down that angry spot overnight.
It’s not very economical because I might use it once and then not touch it again for another six months. By then the top of the bottle is a bit flakey and gnarly and I have to restock, hence always two on the go.
This is another product I send my boys which they appreciate.
Review here.
6.
NARS Blush – Shade Orgasm and Deep Throat £21.25 from £25.00 BOOTS *
Natural, healthy-looking colour that immediately enlivens the complexion. A light application of even the highest-intensity hues delivers a natural-looking flush.
A bit of a cheat putting these in here because once you own a NARS blusher, you won’t repeat buy the shade, they are so richly pigmented, they last forever. You should probably bin it if it starts to look a little funky though.
I owned a beautiful blusher with golden undertones years ago – my skin is cool toned but it was incredibly flattering and have been searching ever since for a blusher that’s vaguely similar. Orgasm is a good start (and I’ve already got a second one from a random beauty box subscription) but didn’t quite hit the mark, nor did the lighter-toned golden speckled coral/pink Deep Throat. I have my eye on deeper, richer Orgasm X though.
These are expensive blushers but the soft buttery buildable pigment and longevity makes them worth every penny.
I passed Deep Throat to a friend with the same high colouring as me and it looks so beautiful on her – although she’s 15 years younger than me…
EDIT If you’re a younger reader, that makes me sound so old, but I can’t think of another way to say it then whatever your colouring, check out NARS Cheek Palette, Orgasm X.
It consists of Orgasm, Orgasm X and the most delicious looking highlighter. It’s reduced to £25.20 from £36.00 at John Lewis * I don’t think it’s being discontinued because it’s full price everywhere else.
If I didn’t already have enough Orgasms (eh?) then I would go for this. The highlighter could double up as a lovely eyeshadow ie a pop of gold in the middle of the lower lid.
*Affiliate links
BOOTS Summer Sale now on.
