Keep it fresh with a simple wash of blush | Funmi Fetto

How awe-inspiring that some people feel no intimidation around eyeshadow palettes. All those shades! The skill-set! What to do? Universal neutrals such as pinky-browns are an easy route in. As are less dense textures, like blushers. When you don’t want the “no-makeup makeup look” but also don’t fancy a pigment-rich intensity, a single shade of blush provides a fresh wash of colour around the eyes and cheeks. Finish off with a matte hint of colour on the lips.

1. Dior Rouge Blush £40, dior.com
2. Saie Lip Blur £20, cultbeauty.co.uk
3. Violette_FR Bisou Blush £37, violettefr.com
4. Jones Road The Best Blush £29, jonesroadbeauty.com
5. Sensai Lash Lengthening Mascara £31, harrods.com

On my radar… a pore protector, floral scent and a modern classic

Hero serum You can’t shrink pores, but you can improve them. This serum reduces excessive oiliness and minimises the look of enlarged pores in three days. Strivectin Super Shrink Pore Minimizing Serum, £62, boots.com

Cold comfort This excellent makeup remover, cleanser and overnight mask is a modern take on one of beauty’s old-school classics, the cold cream. Perfect for dull, dehydrated skins. The Seated Queen Cold Cream, £39, libertylondon.com

Juicy fruit Myrica (bayberry) has been blended with strawberries, tangerine, rose, patchouli, pink pepper and rum to create this fruity floral musk scent. And it’s delicious. Miller Harris Myrica Muse, £95, millerharris.com

I can’t do without… a nourishing lipgloss that will really make you smile

I have always been a diehard bright lipstick kind of girl. Actually no, not always. I was once afraid the colour on my full lips would draw attention to them. When I got over that (thank you, age), I began to embrace the brightest and the best of reds and pinks and even, shock horror, oranges (a reddish-brownish orange, not fluro). And with all these colours it was always matte. Even when, back in the day, the terrible formulas would dry my lips to crushed concrete, shine held zero interest for me. So I am surprised to find myself inching towards a gloss. I love that modern glosses are not like their nauseating predecessors – cloying scent, ridiculous packaging… Today’s gloss is much more sophisticated. Gloss is also easy. Even the cack-handed can apply it sans mirror. And the formulas are no longer style over substance. They look good, but they are also good for your lips. Like this one by Vieve, the brand by Scottish makeup artist Jamie Genevieve. It includes raspberry seed oil extract, vitamin E and green tea extract to soothe and heal dry lips. Unlike other ‘lip oils’ however, it is not ‘oily’ and your lips absorb it beautifully without losing any glossiness. I’m currently obsessed. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t given up on my matte brights, but right now I love being part of the glossy brigade. Vieve Lip Dew Glossy Lip Oil, £17, cultbeauty.co.uk

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