The fabulous Lottie O’Connor is an arts editor extraordinaire over at www.pinch.tv but she also knows aaaaaall about stopping foundation from sliding off one’s face…
The Cheat’s Guide to Skin Nirvana
In theory, I am currently basking in that magical, brief in-between stage: too old for teenage spots, too young for the dreaded wrinkles. I am in skin nirvana, waking up every morning looking like Miranda Kerr, minus the weird bendy selfies. Except I’m clearly not. Twenty-something skin comes with its own annoyances – shine/deathly pallor/general unevenness – usually depending on what has occurred/been consumed the night before. Add a bit of sunshine and a packed tube platform, and it all goes a bit Dawn of the Dead.
So, what to do?
I’m not a fan of the BB cream. Everything I’ve tried has essentially been a crapper version of my faithful Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser. No, I need something clever. I demand magic, illusion, wonder in a tube…
Step forward the primer. Not just any primer mind you – I’m not talking about those weird jelly textured things that make you feel like you’re being embalmed. I’m talking about the kind of primers that go under your usual makeup and create a magical version of you that has had 12 hours sleep and didn’t stop at ‘Royal Chicken’ on the way home. These are my top three. Between them they keep me looking vaguely respectable, even after a rush-hour tube scuffle on a hot day.
For shine: Murad Skin Perfecting Primer, Matte £29
This is the best shine-fighter I’ve tried, and trust me, I’ve tried a lot. It’s tinted, goes on like a moisturiser and creates a veil of perfect matte that makes your makeup stick for the rest of the day.
For tired skin: Sampar Glamour Shot, £26
This plumps up, erases lines/pores and generally creates the kind of skin that you dream of. Pure magic. The bottle says that you should use it alone or over makeup, but for me it’s a perfect base – shove some tinted moisturiser on top and pretend you’ve had botox.
The old school all-rounder: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, £29
This is the kind of thing you find in your mum’s cupboard aged 14 and proceed to steal periodically for the next five years. Sorry mum. A classic is usually a classic for a reason, and this is no exception. It’s like a power shower in a bottle – the perfect thing to help you wake up, sort yourself out and face the day.
Follow Lottie on Twitter @LottieOConor
