We asked make-up and beauty enthusiast Hannah McCarthy to give us her lowdown on what’s hot in the world of beauty for Autumn/Winter 15. Check out her top tips to new season beautification.
Foundation
As all master builders will tell you if you want to build a masterpiece then you need a good foundation. Topshop’s base aptly called “The Foundation’ comes in a great range of colours to suit every skin tone. It is a medium coverage base that has a luminous silk finish and isn’t too drying on the skin – which is important when dealing with the ravages of winter weather and indoor heating. Coming in at € 19 it is a reasonable price for a good all rounder.
Highlighter
Traditionally, the colder months tend to see a solid matte make up trend but I think a good highlighter should be an all year round staple in everyone’s make up bag. It adds definition and draws attention to the areas we want people to notice, e.g the cupid’s bow, the apples of the cheek. The strobing trend means that it will be required each and every day too. New Look Pure Colour make-up range now has a cream highlighting stick which is so easy to apply. At just €6.99 you can enjoy a highly pigmented highlighter that simply glides onto the skin and blends to perfection. Bargain!
Lipsticks
Now is the time to break out those fab berry colours and make a statement with strong shades. My favourite look for Fall is definitely a dark vampish lipstick with berry tones and Topshop’s lipsticks in Inhibition and Wicked fit the bill perfectly. With a very pigmented colour pay off and a creamy consistency that stays on the lip without drying it out, it’s the perfect choice for day or night time outings and at € 10 it’s a steal.
Brushes
If you haven’t invested in a decent set of make-up brushes or if you need to update your current set then Boots has a great selection of cosmetic tools to choose from. Smashbox and Real Techniques are favourite choices and I pick up individual brushes and add them to my collection as I need them. If you are starting from scratch and need a full set of brushes then I would recommend Sleek’s 7 piece brush set in its own handy travel roll. It contains all the basics – a foundation brush, powder brush, two eye-shadow brushes and a lip and eye-liner brush. It comes in a handy travel case and is available in Boots Half Moon St., at €16.99.
Nail Polish
With the change of seasons nails can become soft or brittle. So nourish them and moisturise hands regularly. Even though we spend most of our time in winter with our hands in gloves we should still have our nails painted and pretty ready for any party we may get invited to. If you are buying a new outfit then check out the nail polish range in H&M as they frequently have that perfect matching shade unique to their collection. Every shade in their collection is beautiful but in my opinion, you can never go wrong with a strong red nail to brighten up any outfit. The nail polishes in H&M start from just €4.99.
Skincare
We all know how important it is to keep skin hydrated. What many people don’t realise though is that our skin tends to get very dehydrated during winter even more so than in the summer. The cold can make skin dry and cracked and also the constant change from cold air outside to hot central heating inside can take its toll on even the most normal of skin types. Therefore it is important to invest in a moisturiser to help prevent skin getting irritated and keep skin hydrated all day. Soap & Glorys “For Daily Youth “moisturiser, with natural moisture boosting ingredients such as Coconut Soybean and sesame seed oil and vitamins A&E will help see your skin through the coldest months of the year and is available from Boots Half Moon St., for €16.99