Make-up essentials (clockwise Lush Feeling Younger, Giorgio Armani Face Fabric, Young Blood blush, Illamasqua compact, Bourjois Volume Glamour mascara)

Everyone has their staples – you know, the make-up products they couldn’t live without. Well, here are the top five essentials in my make-up bag.

1. Lush Feeling Younger, £12 for 20g

I used to swear by Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat until I discovered this little beauty from Lush. With a souffle-like texture and packed full of light-reflecting particles that Lush says are a ‘magic orange’ pigment, this really is my go-to when I’m feeling a little fragile from the night before and need to cover up the old dark circles. When mixed in with my Dr Jarts, it instantly lifts my complexion. I also like to use it as a highlighter on my brows, cheeks or even as an eyeshadow when I’m going for a fresh-faced look.

2. Giorgio Armani Face Fabric, £31

Light-weight and easy to blend, Giorgio Armani’s Face Fabric offers extra coverage without weighing down the skin. You don’t even notice you’re wearing it until you see an even complexion in the mirror. Created with what they call 3D  Micro–fil™ technology, you can build up layers and blend to create skin-enhancing contours. What I most love about Face Fabric is the texture – it feels like silk on the skin. Great coverage may come at a price (it’s £31 for 41ml) but as every make-up artist will tell you, get the foundation right and you’re halfway there already.

3. YOUNGBLOOD Rose Quartz blush, £24

This is the perfect blush for those who want a light glow.  It has a slight iridescent finish but this simply warms up the complexion. Rose Quartz is especially flattering if you’re blessed with the  colouring of an English Rose. I tend to apply the creamy texture to my cheekbones in the morning and it lasts all day. The formula is also oil-free so your face doesn’t feel caked in make-up. And if you’re after more intense colour, you can always use it as a base under powder. YOUNGBLOOD blush is a fantastic alternative to Benefit’s Benetint and only one product from a range of mineral-based make-up from the States that deserves a bit more of our attention.

4. Illamasqua Generation Q – Empower palette, £34

Illamasqua Generation Q Empower palette is the perfect blend of colours for day and night. You can choose to wear one of the four eyeshadows - Synth (iridescent pale pink glitter), Fervent (reddish brown with multi-tonal shimmer), Blink (soft beige nude) and Slick (charcoal grey metallic) – alone or you can wear them all at once, building up the layers. I particularly like to go smoky by wearing Fervent over Slick (which is the only creamy eyeshadow of the palette).  This combination of colours make your eyes pop.

5. Bourjois Volume Glamour Ultra Care mascara, £7.99

The baby sister of Chanel make-up never fails to impress. Their Ultra Care mascara coats every one of my lashes and adds volume, thanks to the soft fibres and generous brush. This is a great mascara for those who, like me, wear contact lenses or have sensitive eyes as it doesn’t itch. The formula also contains nourishing cotton and sweet almond oils, so it conditions your lashes too (bonus).  If there was one thing on this list that I couldn’t live without, it has to be this lash-boosting mascara. It instantly lifts my look in the flash of a mascara wand.

What are your make-up must-haves or beauty essentials that you really can’t live without?

1) You know lip liner makes a big difference, but digging around for a liner and a matching lip color slows you down. Solution: a lip pencil that gives you glossy color and a matching liner – all in one! Simply line lips with the new mark. color me in lip crayon, then fill them in. Plus, it’s available in three fun new shades for spring.

2) You want the glowing, healthy look of bronzer and blush, but can’t fit both in your bag. Solution: Sweep a powder brush over the Avon Glow Blusher Bronzer Duo and brush onto cheeks, forehead and bridge of nose for a luminous, sun-kissed glow. Our blusher bronzer duo gives you a choice of 4 glowing shade combinations to suit your skin tone.

3) Do you often find yourself applying a mattifier, a pore perfector and a sunscreen, too? Stop the madness and reach for MagiX Face Perfector SPF 20. Its matte formula makes all skin tones look flawless. Plus it holds back shine for up to 10 hours, visibly smoothes the look of fine lines and pores and contains SPF 20. Once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever went without it!

أحمر الخدود / مسمّر البشرة

يمنحك أحمر الخدود تلك الإطلالة الوردية والمظهر الصحي – ولكن فقط إذا وقع اختيارك على اللون المناسب ووضعته بالطريقة المناسبة. ليس الأمر بهذه الصعوبة. كل ما عليك فعله هو أن تنسّقي لون أحمر الخدود مع لون بشرتك. فكلما كان لون بشرتك فاتحاً، من الأفضل أن يكون أحمر الخدود باهتاً هو الآخر. فالمرأة ذات لون البشرة الفاتحة تبدو بأبهى حلة بلون أحمر الخدود الزهري أو المرجاني. كذلك، فإنّ اللون الخمري أو العنّابي يزيد البشرة الداكنة جمالاً.

الماسكارا

الرموش الكثيفة والطويلة أساسية لجمال عينيك. قد تلجأ نساء كثيرات إلى الرموش الاصطناعية لطلة مثيرة ورائعة. ولكن معظم النساء يكتفين بالطريقة الأبسط، فيضعن طبقةً من الماسكارا.

أحمر الشفاه/ أحمر الشفاه اللماع أو الغلوس

مهما كان لون بشرتك ومهما كانت طلتك وأزياؤك، على الأرجح أنك ستضعين أحمر الشفاه على شفتيك. فالشفاه الملمّعة تستكمل طلة المكياج أو تظهر الشفاه وحدها ملفتة للنظر.

قلم تحديد العيون

قلم تحديد العيون يحدّد شكل العينين ويزيدهما جمالاً. كما يضفي مسحةً من الإثارة لمكياجك اليومي.

001. Alison Raffaele Oil Blotting Tissues, $9
I discovered blotting tissues from an ex-boyfriend (don’t ask questions) and fell in love with them. Especially in the summer when the air is heavy and your skin feels sticky, swipe one of these pads around your face to remove any excess oil and grime.

002. Urban Decay Surreal Skin Creamy Concealer, $16
Use concealer not only under your eyes to hid bags, but problem pimples or rough patches can be covered for the time being until you get home.

003. Colgate 360 Toothbrush, $5.99
Never, ever leave home without a toothbrush! It is the absolute worst meeting someone and worrying about your breath, so make sure you have your toothbrush (and travel size toothpaste) in your makeup bag.

004. Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray, $11
Freshen up your locks, even if you forgot to shower (oops…) and keep your hair looking and smelling clean. If you’ve never used dry shampoo, this is probably the best investment you’ll ever make. Go ahead, I dare you.

005. Dove Go Fresh Ultimate Clear Deodorant, $5.40
You don’t want to feel uncomfortable and stinky after being in the heat if you have a full day ahead of you. Keep deodorant on hand for these swealtering summer days.

006. Ikat Print Headwrap, $3.80
If you feel like your locks are looking lifeless but don’t have the time to mess with it, add a fun hair accessory. A cute band or flower will jazz up a plain do and keep hair out of your face.

007. Chapstick Lip Moisturizer Lip Balm, $2.29
Even if you’re a lip gloss kind-of-girl, give your pout a pick-me-up this summer with this super moisturizing SPF 15 chapstick.

008. Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara, $19
Make your eyes pop with this olive oil based formula for jet black, mile-long lashes.

009. Lollia in Love Little Luxe Eau de Parfum, $9
An infusion of apple and jasmine, smell sweet anytime of the day. Conveniently small (and cheap) you can buy one for all your purses!

What are your Beauty Fixes and Miracle Workers??!

I read an article from a beauty expert recently and she named the five make-up items that she could not live without. This got me thinking about my list of make-up must haves.  I am no beauty expert, but I do love make-up.  Here is my list including which brand I prefer (at the moment). 

 Maybelline Mascara.  What can I say, it works and it is inexpensive.  I still can’t figure out why some women insist on paying over $6.00 for a tube of mascara, especially since mascara needs to be replaced so often.  My eyes are my best feature so mascara is at the top of my list.

Trish McEvoy Plumper Lip Gloss in Deep Rose.  I do splurge on lip gloss and right now Trish’s lip gloss is a favorite. The Deep Rose gloss has little gold flecks that add the right amount of sparkle to your lips. It is not sticky and plumps up lips.  When you get to be of a certain age it is all about sparkle and plumping.

bare Minerals Powder Foundation.  There are two reasons why I love this product.  First, I travel a lot and this is one less liquid that I need to worry about.  Second, this powder makes my skin look amazing and it lasts all day. 

bare Minerals Powder Blush. I love this blush for the same reasons that I love bare Minerals powder foundation.     

Benefit Tinted Moisturizer-You Rebel (They have great product names). This product combines color with a moisturizer and a sunscreen.  On those days where you want to take the minimalistic approach, this is the moisturizer for you. 

I am going to include a bonus pick.  Garnier Nutritioniste Detoxifying Wet Cleaning Towelettes.  These are indispensable given my busy schedule and the amount of time I spend away from home. The packaging states that it instantly removes make-up, even mascara, leaving skin deeply clean and pure.  It works for me.