FINALLY! NO-MISTAKE MAKE-UP

Introducing the products that signal an end to tidelines and clown cheeks

By Stephanie Maylor

We’ve all done it – spent ages putting on our make-up, only to step outside and find we resemble Coco the Clown or worse, Jodie Marsh. So stand by for an amazing new breed of products that adapt to your natural skin tone. Don’t believe us? Take a look at Lucy and Nonna, our two model testers. Despite having completely different complexions, they’re wearing exactly the same make-up products, but with dramatically different results.

“Intuitive make-up is becoming more popular because it limits your mistakes,” says make-up artist Afton Radojcic. “And because products adapt to your skin, you still look completely natural – like an enhanced version of yourself.”
So read on and prepare to let your natural beauty shine.

THE FOOLPROOF FOUNDATION
No7 Intelligent Colour Foundation, £14.40
The science bit: Instead of testing lots of foundations to find one that matches your skin tone precisely, this does the hard work for you. Choose from light, medium or dark, smooth it on, and the colour adapts to your skin tone. It starts out quite dark, but as the foundation pigments mix with your skin’s own pigments, so the colour lightens as you blend. Our models both wore the medium shade, which adapted to suit each complexion. In a word: miraculous.
How to use it: Dab a 20p-sized amount of foundation onto your face with a sponge. The more you blend it, the more even and well-matched the colour will be.

THE MAGIC LIPGLOSS
Smashbox O-Plump, £17.50
The science bit: Using a goji berry complex, the gloss reacts with the pigment in your lips to turn them your own totally individual shade of pink – so the darker your lips, the deeper your colour will go. It also contains ginger mint to stimulate circulation and plump up your pout. Bonus!
How to use it: Apply a small amount of gloss to your lips, rub together for even coverage, and watch the colour transform. You’ll feel a slight tingling as the ginger mint gets plumping!

THE WONDER TAN
BeautyLab Peptide Tanning, £17
The science bit: Using a blend of peptides (cell messengers that encourage your body to produce certain chemicals), this boosts melanin production to bronze skin. The intensity of the tan is based on your natural melanin content, ?so those with fairer skin won’t go as dark as someone with olive skin. This means your tan ?is customised to suit your individual skin tone.
How to use it: Apply in long, smooth strokes, working from the feet up. The lotion is slightly pigmented so you can see where you’ve applied it and you’ll get a gorgeous glow from the off.

THE MIRACLE BLUSH
Virgin Vie Blush Gloss, £9.50
The science bit: Blusher in a gel? Oh, ?yes. It goes on clear then quickly changes to your own natural blush shade as the gel reacts with your skin’s pH balance. Darker skins tend to be slightly more acidic than paler complexions, so cheeks can vary from a pale pink to deep cherry.
How to use it: Blend a pea-sized amount of gloss into the apple of your cheeks in a circular motion – then watch the colour gradually appear.

THE BESPOKE BROW
YBF Transforming Eyebrow Pencil, £18
The science bit: This clever little pencil uses a unique pressure system that releases a darker colour the harder you press, so you end up with a shade that exactly matches your brows. As one colour fits all, it can adapt to suit anyone, from white-blonde to raven-haired.
How to use it: The key to any brow pencil is using feathery strokes – but instead of working in the direction of your brow, going against it ensures better coverage. Start with light strokes, building up until you reach your natural hue.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY: SANDRO HYAMS, PIXELEYESPHOTOGRAPHY.CO.UK HAIR & MAKE-UP: AFTON RADOJICIC AT S MANAGEMENT USING SISLEY, ALICE THEOBALD AT JOY GOODMAN USING DARPHIN AND LABEL M MODELS: NONNA K AT PREMIER, LUCY JAQUES AT NEVS STOCKISTS: BEAUTYLAB (BEAUTYLAB.CO.UK), NO7 (BOOTS.COM), SMASHBOX (QVCUK.COM), VIRGIN VIE (VIRGINVIEATHOME.COM), YBF (QVCUK.COM)