5 makeup products for a seamless base
(Image courtesy of Unsplash)
16th February 2021
By Alina Khan
Unless you’re the likes of Huda Beauty or Kylie Jenner, a full face of makeup can be a confusing and overwhelming prospect. My first visit to a large makeup store was to Sephora, America’s equivalent to the makeup department of Selfridges or House of Fraser. I simply stood there in awe, as I looked at the hundreds of different products on offer to me, with absolutely no idea where to look first and what to purchase. The makeup industry is one of the most saturated markets with thousands of beauty brands fighting for the top spot, all promising you that their products will help you achieve the ‘perfect look’. Over the years, through the process of trial and error, I was able to work my way through this minefield and find, in my opinion, the best products to help achieve a seamless base. Plus, you’ll be glad to hear, it doesn’t have to cost a pretty penny!
Primer
(Image courtesy of Superdrug)
Priming your face is a step that is often overlooked by many, but is, in my opinion, one of the most important steps to any makeup routine. Our skin needs to be prepped and protected before we can begin to apply the countless layers of products onto it. Therefore, I cannot recommend investing in a good primer enough and luckily, I have found a primer that does everything I want it to and for a very modest price. The e.l.f mineral infused face primer is a clear formula primer that suits all skin types! It’s weightless formula allows your foundation to lay on smoothly and last all day, keeping your complexion looking fresh. It's clear colour means it is compatible with all foundation shades and will only set you back a mere £7.50.
Foundation
(Image courtesy of Fenty Beauty)
Foundation isn’t for everyone and the infamous Maybelline Dream Matte mousse days, gives people a lot of horrible flashbacks to a cakey, orange face that has been enough to deter people from foundation for life! But don’t fret, we’ve got you covered with this recommendation. Rihanna released her Fenty Beauty range in 2017 and it did not disappoint with the PRO FILT’R Matte Longwear foundation, something I consider a makeup bag staple. The clue is in the name, this formula gives a matte finish to your complexion and delivers medium to full coverage. I suffer from hyper-pigmentation, which can mean that few foundations cover my dark spots, but this formula gives an even coverage that lasts all day long. With a boundary-breaking range of 50 shades, this foundation is perfect for everyone! Although it is at a higher price point than most drugstore foundations, I believe it is worth the investment. For £27.00, you only need one or two pumps for a full face so a little goes a long way which makes splashing the cash less frequent, and in turn, more bearable!
Concealer
(Image courtesy of Boots)
Foundation is great for creating an even base. But if night-long study sessions are a regular occurrence or if you suffer from breakouts, sometimes you need a product with a little more coverage to help you feel confident. This is where concealer comes in. There are lots to choose from; high coverage formulas, colour correctors or brightening under-eye concealers. A concealer that I swear by is the NYX Can’t Stop Won’t Stop concealer. Its creamy texture can be used to contour your face if you choose a darker shade or cover blemishes as it has a matte finish, so won’t draw attention to any imperfections you may be feeling insecure about. It comes in a range of 24 shades and with a price point of only £8, you can’t go wrong.
Bronzer
(Image courtesy of Benefit)
The Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer is the holy grail of bronzers. I have tried numerous drugstore dupes and nothing comes close! The quality of the product is completely reflected in the price with the bronzer costing £27.00. You may think that is a lot for a bronzer but trust me, once you try it you will never go back. Originally Benefit had one shade of this bronzer but they have four beautiful shades to suit a wider range of skin colours. It’s no surprise that this bronzer has won multiple awards as it blends smoothly and doesn’t leave the dreaded patchy look!
Highlighter
(Image courtesy of Boots)
Finishing a full face with some highlight always completes the look. You will be pleased to know that this highlighter palette by Sleek only costs £9.99, so you can achieve a dewy appearance without breaking the bank. For the price you get two baked powders and two cream formulas that are suitable for all skin tones and will give you a lightweight finish. It is super pigmented so trust me when I say a little will go a long way! I recommend using a brush and applying the powder down the bridge of your nose, the tip of your nose, the tops of your cheekbones and along your brow bone to create a soft glow to your face.
And that concludes the run-down of my favourite five products for a perfect base. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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