My Current Favourite Make-up Products

As a professional make-up artist, I often get asked which products I recommend. The first thing I tell my clients is that I am not affiliated with any brands so there is absolutely no hard sell from me which is a good thing as I would make a truly awful saleswoman! I always give my honest advice on product recommendations and aim to give an affordable option instead of an expensive one. There are some products which really are worth the high end prices but there are some amazingly good cheaper alternatives out there meaning we can all look fabulous regardless of our budgets. It is all down to the application after all.

I work with lots of different people on a variety of jobs, so the make-up products I use really have to work well on most faces. Below are the products I always go to and trust completely and I have recommended them to many clients over the years.

Bases

Most of my clients prefer the more natural look so I always opt for my favourite tinted moisturisers as they are extremely light on the skin and give a wonderful healthy glow - Nars: Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser & Sheer Tint by Dermalogica (particularly good for mature skins). For clients who prefer a heavier coverage, I love Mac: Studio Sculpt. It's highly pigmented so the coverage is fantastic and it makes skin look flawless rather than caked, which is an absolute must.

Primers

I have always used Laura Mercier Foundation Primer and it has never let me down. I also really like the new Smashbox primers, particularly the Hydrating Photo Finish Primer which works very well on drier skin.

Concealers

This is one product I will be looking to experiment more with in 2017 but my reliable concealer products have to be Mac Studio Finish Concealer and my concealer wheel by Kryolan. Now Kryolan are mainly a theatrical make-up brand but their concealer products are really very good. I find that a little goes a long way and it stays put.

Eyebrows

The Body Shop Brow and Liner sets are really good for creating natural eyebrows. I always use a clear mascara to set them in place and you can't go wrong with this cheap as chips one by Collection.

Eyeshadow

I've been a big fan of Naked 2 palette by Urban Decay and I also really like using Double Exposure by Smashbox. The colours in both these palettes are highly pigmented and blend brilliantly. Just what you need from an eyeshadow!

Eyeliner

I must have been using Bobbi Brown's Gel Eyeliner for donkey's years. It is a brilliant product and will not move once applied which makes it my number one choice for bridal make-up.

Mascara

I tend to find a lot of mascara disappointing as they never make your lashes look like they say they will. I have finally found one that I love using on myself, Full Exposure by Smashbox. The primer is well worth using too. For a safe and reliable option, I always use Maybelline Great Lash.

Cheeks

You can never go wrong with Nars Orgasm! It gives you a healthy glow all year round. I also love the new Smashbox L.A. Lights Blendable Lip & Cheek colours which are easy to use and look really natural.

Lips

I find that most of my clients prefer a lip colour to be moisturising rather than drying, which a lot of lipsticks can be. Nars have some amazing Satin Lip Colour Pencils which last ages and are really easy to reapply. I also use Bourjois Colour Boost Lip Crayons because the colour stays on far longer than lipstick and they are super moisturising!