Today I bring you a rifle through two of my best mates makeup bags. First up, Mel. A gal I’ve been inseparable from since the age of two. Now working in the world of law as a solicitor – beauty and brains you see – she’s perfected her routine to a 10 minute grab-and-go act that she whips out before her morning commute, so I quizzed her on what makes the cut. Read on for Mel’s shimmer mantra, blusher banter and an ode to a lipstick she’s repurchased three times…
“I like to do my concealer pre-foundation and for it I use MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW25 applied with a Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush. I have bought so many of these – I don’t do different concealers. I’ve tried others and I just don’t like them. Blemishes, bags, it does them all. Then there are two foundations that I generally reach for: Burberry Sheer Foundation in No.08 and Hourglass Veil Fluid Makeup in 2 Light Beige. I like the Burberry one because it’s nice and sheer – it comes in handy when I’ve had a fake tan moment – but the Hourglass is good if I’m having a bad skin day. It covers everything. Every single imperfection disappears and it’s sweat proof, so they told me in Space NK. For both of these I use the Sigma F82 Round Kabuki Brush to apply them.
Now I love blush. I do have days when I just go bronzer, but even then I still like to use quite a bit – I just have to go heavy on the cheek. I remember our other mate Lauren telling me when I was younger that you need to apply more than you think you need because by the time you walk out the door half of it has disappeared. I use the Real Techniques Buffing Brush to apply it – I never use this for foundation. It’s the perfect size for your cheeks, see… *Mel then picks up the brush and swirls it up her cheekbones while making a duck face, we then laugh for about two minutes*. MAC Sheertone Blush in Instant Cheek is a standard everyday kind of thing because it’s kind of pink but peachy and gives a nice ‘I’m awake’ cheek. NARS Blush in Orgasm is my special occasion one. I like this because it has a bit of sparkle and though glitter is usually against my religion, when it comes to a bit in blush it’s sometimes necessary. Just to highlight the cheekbone a little, you know? And it’s called Orgasm. Fabulous.
My brow routine is quite extensive. Firstly I use an eyebrow brush to brush them up, then I use an angled brush and take the bottom right brown shade from the HD Brows Palette in Vamp to fill them in, then I fill-in on top with the MAC Brow Pencil in Spiked in a drawing mini hairs motion. If I’m bothered I finish off by taking the lightest shade in the palette just on my brow bone. I used to do loads of different things with eyeshadow when I was at Uni with the Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol.02 – my favourites shades were Half Baked, Sellout and Midnight Cowboy Rides Again, but these days I don’t wear it so much though I tend to use the Urban Decay Naked Palette more. One thing I do always do now before I wear it is prime – Anna bullied me into using the Urban Decay Primer Potion. My lashes just don’t cut the mustard unless they’ve been curled by the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers. My Mum got these for me for Christmas after Facebooking Anna for her recommendations and they are easily one of the most useful Christmas presents I’ve ever received. For mascara I always layer up two formulas; at the moment it’s the Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara and Maybelline’s Mega Plush Volume Express. I start by curling my lashes, then I apply the Maybelline for length, leave it a couple of seconds maybe fill in my brows, curl again, throw on the Bobbi Brown for thickness and curl again. I think that Bobbi Brown Mascara really works; it’s called smokey eye and it brings out the side lashes really well.
For lips I love a nude – I’m not so good with a bold lip. If I’m more bronzed-up in the face I use the Burberry Lip Cover in Nude Rose but on a daily basis I love MAC Lipstick in Cut A Caper. I use this everyday. I’ll put it on in the morning and I find it to be suitable for the law firm – it’s present but not too bright. It’s a limited edition shade and I bought three of these when it came out and I’m now on my nub of the last one – what am I going to do? It’s my mission to find a replacement.”
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