Cream products? For summer? Groundbreaking.
I can’t remember the last time I looked in a mirror and thought ‘Jeez woman, you look greasy‘. Instead I often ponder whether my face was modelled on a beetroot in the womb, or if there will ever be a day where I don’t have three chins. But a concern for oiliness? Yeah, that never really happens. The dewier the better in my books and that’s something I believe all-year round, but even more so during the summer months when I consistently model my makeup look on J.Lo and my wardrobe on Lucy Williams (PAH – I wish).
When I looked through my beauty stash I realised that most of my glow-inducing favourites were pretty new to my routine, bar a couple of golden oldies (quite literally). So I thought it thought it was about time I shared them. This one goes out to all my fellow guys and gals out there who also like to have that greasy frying pan sheen to their skin…
Complexion-wise, once I’ve slathered on my various primers, tints and correctors (I usually use the BECCA First Light Priming Filter, followed by the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness with a little of the Glossier Skin Tint in Medium over the top), I go with the creamiest concealer I can find. This is mainly because the skin under my eyes resembles the texture of a cat’s behind, no matter what I moisturise with. This isn’t something I’m too fond of enhancing, so instead I go in with the NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer in Vanilla which is great at covering my dark circles and any redness and then I layer the Glossier Stretch Concealer in Light over the top to give a bit of extra hydration. Together they’re a great pair, but either of them on their own does a fab job too at covering without looking cakey.
To kick off cheek colour, I’d usually dust over a powder bronzer or a contour, but instead I’ve been using sticks of neutral brown creams to give me some much-needed definition. The Milk Matte Bronzer in Baked delivers blendable pigment that doesn’t really leave a sheen to the skin, but doesn’t look like powder either. It looks a bit nuts when you first apply it, but it melts in well with either a BeautyBlender or fingers. Or I’ve also been loving the Tanya Burr Cosmetics Contour Stick in Light/Medium, which is a little less red in tone (it’s the top bronzer swatch) and thinner, so easier to work with. Whatever one I use I feel like they both add warmth and stop my face from looking so much like a moon.
I’m all over cream highlighters these days. There’s just something that feels more skin-like and less harsh than their powder counterparts. I’ve got two that I flit between that both have the same neutral champagne shift that compliments my complexion, but in two differing finishes. The It Cosmetics Hello Light Creme Luminizer is the more opaque out of the two that I tend to reach for on days that I’m doing ‘proper‘ makeup or am feeling particularly dehydrated. Day-to-day though I go for Glossier’s Haloscope in Quartz (top highlighter swatch) that contains a highlighter mixed with gloss to give a glow that really only catches in the light and looks like your sebum is happening in all the right places.
I’m not the biggest fan of blush, but to go with my cream-vibe whenever I do I use it, I love a dab of Glossier’s Cloud Paint in Dusk on my cheeks. The tone of this is perfect for blush-haters like me. It’s a tawny pink and so has a hit of perkiness in there, but the brown tone makes it feel more like sunkissed bronzer blend. You need the tiniest amount, so I take a small amount with my fingers and blend it in myself so I can control the amount I’m using (and then go over with my BeautyBlender because you know, #BlushHater).
My love for cream makeup products doesn’t stop at complexion, because I love a good eyeshadow too. They’re easier to blend and usually pack a real punch with pigment. Plus you can smoosh them out with your fingers. WIN. Sticks are perhaps the easiest because you can draw them on and use them as liners or to smudge out the lower lashline if you fancy. Personally I’m a fan of the NARS Velvet Shadow Stick in Corfu, which is neither gold, nor bronze but shimmery without being glittery. If you’re not into iridescence, then try Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Taupe for a matte warm brown.
Then there are two oldies, which are still creams but housed in pots, that I’ve used for years. MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Groundwork looks wishy-washy in the tub, but on the eyes gives a great natural shadow that’s perfect for a no-makeup, makeup day. Or if you want glamour, go for Charlotte Tilbury’s Eyes to Mesmerise in Bette which is so darn good that I used it on my wedding day. How’s that for an endorsement, eh?
Right, all this talk about eggs. I know what I’m having for breakfast…
Photos by Lauren Shipley
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