We are only three weeks into 2012 and there’s already a host of new products. But before you buy anything new, it makes sense to clear the clutter first. Here’s our guide to help you choose what to keep and what to buy to refresh your make-up bag.
Before you purchase any new beauty buys, it makes sense to clear the clutter first
CHANGE YOUR MASCARA
We ARE a nation of mascara lovers, but using them for longer than three months will increase your chances of picking up an eye infection. Mascara — and liquid eyeliner — should be replaced every three months even if they have only been used a couple of times.
The products become a breeding ground for bacteria once they’ve been opened and are in use. Every time the applicator is used it is replaced into the product and any germs it has picked up along the way return with it.
REPLACE WITH: The new Volumising iDoll Mascara from Technic, £2.99 (lovethymakeup.com) The mascara boasts a lash-building, collagen enriched formula that thickens and lengthens lashes right to the tip, while the round-ende
WHEN TO BIN POWDER
Although powder will last longer than the stated shelf life, when pressed powders start getting dry they won’t go on smoothly and you can get a patchy application. Loose powder can last up to three years but if it’s older than that, throw it out.
Caroline Frazer, Simple Skincare expert, says: ‘Many of the spring/summer shows were all about healthy, glowing skin, so I’d suggest investing in a good-quality illuminating powder to get the look.’
REPLACE WITH: Givenchy Prismissime Visage, £35 (Debenhams) ‘It adds a nice shimmery peach hue to skin but is subtle rather than sparkly,’ says Caroline.
From left: Technic iDoll mascara and Givenchy Prismissime Visage
MAKE FRIENDS WITH PRIMER
Often overlooked, primer is the unsung hero in your make-up bag. It corrects imperfections in your skin and helps your make-up last for longer. While you may not wear it every day, primer won’t last longer than two years, so even if you have a half-full bottle, resist the temptation to keep it and splash out on a new one.
REPLACE WITH: Model Co Face Base Skin Primer, £30 (Boots) Designed to be worn under foundation, the newest primers are so smooth you can wear them on their own to make your skin look soft and flawless. This one has an oil-free, silky formula that is enriched with vitamins C and E and visibly improves the texture of your skin. It also claims to keep foundation on for up to ten hours.
TRY A NEW BB CREAM
Foundation will last for a maximum of only two years, so throw away any bottles past their use-by date. If you’re unsure which shade to buy, try a multi-tasking BB (blemish balm) Cream, launched last year to tackle blemishes and provide light coverage. Many leading brands are jumping on the BB bandwagon this season, providing a multitasking cream which can act as a primer, foundation and moisturising day cream, so there is plenty of choice available at different prices.
REPLACE WITH: The new No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream, £12.95 (Boots), a three-in-one formula to even and enhance skin tone and disguise imperfections. Estee Lauder’s new Daywear Anti-oxidant Beauty Benefit Crème SPF 35, £32 (esteelauder.co.uk) is an oil-free cream that feels ultra-light on your skin and protects, refines and moisturises at the same time, and can be worn alone or with foundation.
From left: Model Co Face Base Skin Primer and Estee Lauder Daywear BB Creme
EYE MAKE-UP
Powder eye shadows should last for two years, but shades change every season, so if you want to keep on top of the latest trends make sure you update your colours and invest in a new palette. Eye pencils have a longer shelf life than liquid liner and can be kept for two to three years, especially if you sharpen them regularly.
REPLACE WITH: Estee Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow Palette in Topaz Mosaic, £35 (esteelauder.co.uk), a new limited edition palette which is a mix of five neutral desert tones with an unexpected pop of bright yellow at the centre.
‘Layer neutral bronze, taupe and sand dune shades’ suggests Estee Lauder’s creative make-up director, Tom Pecheux. ‘Illuminate the look by adding the citron yellow, with gold particle pearls for a golden halo effect.’
BUY A NEW LIPSTICK
If you have a lipstick for more than two years and don’t know whether it’s still OK to use, follow your nose and check the smell. If it smells strange, throw it out. If it’s been stored in a cool place and you haven’t used it, it will last longer, sometimes up to four years.
If your favourite lipstick has been discontinued and you are hanging on to the stub in the hope that you will find the perfect match, Cosmetics a la Carte do a bespoke matching service, and can make a perfect colour copy of a discontinued lipstick. Send them your old lipstick and they will create the same colour and formulation. It is not cheap, costing £220 to produce the first copy, then £48 for repeat purchases (for more information call 020 7622 2318).
From left: Cheryl Cole lipstick, Art Attack collection TOMA Nails and Estee Lauder Topaz Palette
REPLACE WITH: L’Oreal Cheryl Code Limited Edition Color Riche Lipstick in 297 Red Passion, £8.16 (Boots), the perfect shade of red for this time of the year and £1 from every product sold goes to the Cheryl Cole Foundation, which works with young people in the UK who have struggled with unemployment. Most people suit red and it’s a key look for spring/summer 2012.
BRIGHT NEW NAILS
Nail polish will last only a year before becoming thick and claggy, so don’t keep half-used bottles and try a bright new shade — there’s no faster way to update your looks and make-up bag.
REPLACE WITH: Max Factor’s zingy new collection of 18 nail shades, ranging from Candy Blue, Cactus Green and Ruby Tuesday to Lollipop and Cool Jade. They come in mini bottles, £3.99 (Superdrug), so you can try two or three. If you prefer understated shades, Zoya’s new collection is beautiful. Choose from six neutral shades including Kendal, a rose quartz beige, Avery, a blonde beige cream and Carey, a periwinkle grey. Each costs £11 (zoyapolish.co.uk). The brightly coloured new Art Attack collection from TOMA Nails is an instant pick-me-up, £7.25 each (madbeauty.com).
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