1 Create your own tinted moisturiser

Got a foundation that you love and are reluctant to change? But, you’re looking for a more natural finish and to make your foundation coverage a little lighter? Simply mix your favourite foundation with your usual daytime moisturiser for your very own custom-made tinted moisturiser that no one else will have! It is another great way to get an extra boost of hydration into your skin too. Think about using an 80/20 ratio to dilute the formula but you can adjust it as you wish.

2 Apply concealer in a triangle shape

A mistake made by many.. you would think that you only need to apply concealer where you have dark circles, right? So, you apply a few dots directly underneath the eyes and wait for the magic to happen. However, this has completely the opposite effect and actually draws attention to the area that you are trying to cover as you have just highlighted it! The same rule applies when concealing spots and blemishes on the face too. You must apply to the affected area and blend outwards a little to diffuse it and make everywhere look uniform. Applying concealer in a triangle shape directly underneath the eye helps to conceal and highlight the whole panel of your under-eye

instead. Remember to apply your concealer after your foundation too as to not hide the brightening effect!

3 Darken your current foundation

Been away and found that your foundation now no longer matches your skin tone? Or, applied some fake tan and need a quick fix? If your newfound glow usually seems to disappear quite quickly then it probably seems unnecessary to purchase a brand new, darker shade of foundation. As an alternative, mix a few drops of a liquid bronzer such as Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield SPF 50 Bronze into your foundation to temporarily darken it. That way, you aren’t wasting any product but instead, you are getting use out of two products, which you love, both separately and on their own. Win-win!

4 Make your eyes appear bigger

Longing for bigger and brighter eyes? It is one area of the face that is hard to change however; small but clever make-up techniques can definitely help somewhat along the way to give the illusion. Avoid using too many dark colours around the whole eye area (think intense black, very dark brown shades) and rather opt for softer browns, nudes and dusty pinks. You don’t need to stop using dark colours entirely though; just leave them for the upper eyelid and upper lash line instead.

Always leave the lower waterline bare as a solid line there will close the entire eye up. You can also apply mascara just to the upper lash line, leaving the lower lash line naked, to make your eyes look wide awake. However, don’t be afraid to wear black! As we age, clients start to veer away from black thinking that they can no longer ‘pull it off’ and start to wear softer shades of browns and greys, but this is not true. Black is the best for making the eyes pop and leaves the whites of your eyes looking glistening white.

(Tips to avoid causing milia around the eyes).

5 Apply bronzer in a ‘3’ shape

Still, in 2021, customers are afraid of bronzer. They remember the orange tinge that it would leave on their complexion from years ago and fear that it will happen all over again. Many people still love and will continue to dust their bronzer with a large, fluffy brush all over their complexion which is completely fine. Also, formulations have come a long way since then and it is rare that you will find a truly ‘orange’ tone of bronzer. Jane Iredale Peaches & Cream has a beautiful blend of different shades to give you a real lit-from-within glow. Mix together or tailor your look by using them separately.

But, you can have more control by using the ‘3’ technique. Simply trace out a ‘3’ or ‘E’ (depending on which side of your face you are applying to!) with your makeup brush starting with your forehead and blending into your hairline, travelling downwards - keep your brush in contact with your face at all times - and moving onto the centre of the face right into the apple of the cheeks and then down onto the chin area. Continue to do this a couple of times to build up the coverage as you like it but also to blend the product in full. You can also finish off by scattering any leftover product onto your neck and chest too.

6 Apply with your fingertips for a lighter finish

If you want a lighter finish then apply your complexion products with your fingertips rather than a brush. Makeup brushes are fantastic for providing an airbrushed, flawless finish but they also build the coverage up very quickly and easily (so, perfect if that’s the look that you desire!). Instead, blend makeup with clean fingers ensuring that there are no harsh lines left behind anywhere. The main areas to check are around your jawline and hairline!

7 Draw an ‘X’ to cheat larger lips

Rather than over-lining round the whole of your lip shape, as this can look obvious and false, draw just an ‘X’ shape around the curve of your cupid's bow with delilah Lip Line in the shade which is most similar to your natural lip shade. Then, join this all together by softly drawing a line against the rest of your lips. By only over lining your cupid's bow and the upper lip, this gives the illusion of larger lips without looking like you have done!

8 Use your lipstick as a blusher (and do wear blusher!)

Make the most out of your products by doubling up on their uses! Apply lipstick on your cheeks in place of blusher, apply bronzer on your eyes in place of eye shadow, apply blusher on your lips in place of matte lipstick... the list is endless. It makes touching up throughout the day a breeze as one product fixes all and fits into your handbag with ease! We love Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip And Cheek Stain for this.