As I write this, the sun has come out and it finally really does feel like spring. I’m wearing a tentative T-shirt. Naturally, I’m absolutely freezing, but that is beside the point. It’s an Irish tradition. When you see the sun, act as welcoming toward it as you possibly can in the hope that it might stick around for a while.
None of us need to be reminded that we’ve been having a rather grim time lately. The idea of lockdown relaxing fills me with both longing and anxiety, but one way of investing in the idea of a social world again (for me) is to reignite my old excitement for make-up. Most of us haven’t been wearing much in the way of colour products for a year now, and what I have been wearing has been quite dull, repetitive and functional, for the most part. With the change in weather and the sense of an impending summer (however it may look), I’m making a conscious effort to nurture my love of make-up again.
If you’re getting back into lipstick and only want to remember its best features, opt for Chanel Rouge Coco Bloom Lipstick (€38 at Brown Thomas). It is a beautiful confluence of weightless texture and shockingly good pigment. The texture leads you to expect a sheer balm, but the colour payoff is fully opaque and richly sheeny, without the loudness of a gloss.
If you are inclined toward a matte lip but want none of their taut, dehydrated sensation, try Bobbi Brown Luxe Defining Lipstick (€33 at stockists nationwide). The crayon allows for precise application, the texture is comfortable, and the shade range is excellent. Bobbi Brown continues to be a lovely, reliable brand for what I think of as “load-bearing make-up” – foundational products that effortlessly do the heavy lifting for you.
I never lost my love of eye make-up over lockdown, but I did get far lazier. Gone are the days of intricate blending and four shadows in creating a smoky eye. Vieve Eye Wands (€24 at vieve.co.uk) are foolproof and perfect for everyday use. The brand is 1990s-inspired, so the tones are all earthy beiges, browns and black. They are matte, richly pigmented, blendable but immovable once dry (until you decide to cleanse them off, that is).
Finally, if you read this column regularly, you may be weary of my entreaties never to skip blush. However, as it is one of the keys to great make-up, I cannot let up. A pink blush in particular is the best and fastest way to force some seasonal colour into the face, and there is one for every skin tone.
Chantecaille Flower Power Cheek Shade (€53 at cultbeauty.com) has a lovely soft tone and consistency, but the decorative beauty of the palette also adds to its charms. It is an object of sheer merriment, and the sort of compact I hang onto long after I have finished its content.
Product of the Week
Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Butter (€22.99 at Boots)
