Winter Make-Up Bag Upgrades

What better time to refresh your beauty go-tos than the beginning of the year. It's the season that make-up works the hardest, in comparison to it's summer counterpart, and that's as good an excuse as any to mix things up. These are a couple of things I have loved using over the last month or so...

FOUNDATION

I've long been a devotee of the "dewy base" foundation look - which is usually just a consequence of applying foundation following a ton of face oil, so have avoided Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation up until now, thinking it was going to be too heavy and too thick for my skin despite everyone saying it is essentially a skin miracle in a bottle. I finally gave into the hype of trying it out late last year and needless to say (I'm sure this is a very common trajectory with double wear experience), I became obsessed with just how good it makes your skin look, ALL DAY. I've been mixing it with a lighter, dewier foundation to get a slightly less matte finish (usually this The Body Shop one which is much lighter and glowy so great for summer solo or mixed it with something like this); together they give the ultimate balance of coverage and freshness in my opinion. 

STAYING BRONZED

As it's winter and my skin needs all the help it can get to bring it to life, I rely on tan drops or gradual tan for the face for some colour. I usually use these 2-3 times a week; given they're low maintenance (no mitt needed...!) and make such a noticeable difference, I find it pretty easy to keep up with. They also mean you don't need as much concealer or foundation as they're great at evening out skin-tone. I've tried a lot of these products and have a couple of favourites on rotation. For drops that you add to your foundation, either Clarins or Tan Luxe work the best for me. Gradual tan that you apply as it is, this Chanel self-tanner is my to-go. I'm also a recent convert to the Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess bronzer, which was an airport impulse buy that I didn't regret. Such a beautiful shade, will no doubt last forever as it is HUGE and comes with a very useful brush. Prior to this one, I was using the Bobbi Brown bronzing powder which is one of my all-time favourites. 

...AND TO CARRY IT ALL IN

I also recently upgraded my make-up bag to one of the chicest pouches around; the luxe Astro pouches from Sezane. Fulfilling that need to get just about everything I own with my star sign blazed across the front, you can also get these in every zodiac sign and colour. They were the perfect Christmas gift for astro-minded friends and family, and are as aesthetically pleasing as they are practical. 

OTHER MAKE-UP ESSENTIALS I SWEAR BY

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