As all my friends know, I’m a vapid and materialistic person who frivolously spends all my money on useless shit including lots of beauty products. While you might wonder who needs makeup on a desert island, I'm very committed to leaving a beautiful corpse.
(Disclaimer: I’m not affiliated with any of these brands but Hourglass are welcome to reach out 🧐)
Cleansing product: Garnier Micellar Water
I don’t actually know anyone who doesn’t use this. It removes heavy makeup easily and effectively while being so kind to your skin. I used to use a lot of makeup wipes when I was away, mostly because they were an easy and lazy solution, but they absolutely ruined my face. Now that I’m being less lazy about it, micellar water is one of the first things I would pack in my toiletries bag. I use washable bamboo pads which aren’t quite as gentle as cotton wool pads but are an eco-friendly compromise.
Hair product: JVN Complete Blowout Styling Milk
This stuff is THE SHIT and I won’t style my hair without it. It leaves my hair soft, frizz-free and feeling like there’s no product at all.
SPF: Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen
There's just nothing sadder than a goth with a sunburn 🥹 This doubles up as a primer and it’s so light and silky.
Day foundation: Hourglass Vanish Seamless Foundation Stick
In case you weren't already aware, I’m completely obsessed with Hourglass - I love their vegan ethos and their makeup is all just so gorgeous. I’ve been using this as my primary foundation for over two years and I’m still only on my second stick. Day-to-day I don’t like to look like I’m wearing too much makeup and this blends into the skin really well, just evening the tone. You can build it and it works for as much or as little coverage as you want so I just add to it in the evening if I want a more glamorous look. I use it with the accompanying Seamless Finish Foundation Brush which I love.
Mascara: Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash
I thought mascaras were basically all the same until I found this one. It’s buildable so you can achieve a really glamorous look but I like it best because it can be used during the day as a light, subtle look that really lifts and separates my eyelashes.
Stage foundation: Hourglass Soft Glow
I bought this last year to try it out and at first I wrote it off as it’s not really possible to have a sheer coverage. It’s really thick and chalky and I would never wear this during the day. It certainly doesn’t feel like a “soft glow”. However… I started wearing it for stage recently and it’s perfect for that purpose - it’s really matte and provides a thick, smooth coverage that’s so easy to apply and works well under stage lighting. It stays put even under really hot lights - I have had no problems with this makeup sweating off! I might add that on tour I wear thick makeup on my face for 8+ hours every single day and I’m truly amazed at how little my skin has suffered with this product caked on it night after night.
Liquid eyeliner: Maybelline Master Ink Eye Liner
I’ve tried loads of different eyeliners but keep going back to this one which I have used on-and-off since I was a baby goth with panda eyes. It’s completely smooth and accurate and doesn’t smudge or crack.
Eyeshadow: Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow
I can’t rave enough about this product. I own many eyeshadows of varying qualities and this is hands-down the best thing I’ve ever bought. It’s really low maintenance - I use my finger for my eyelid and it takes just one stroke and a few seconds to apply a smooth and sufficient amount. (I then usually add some below my lower lashes with a small brush.) Hourglass have about 10 colours of these pots and I own a couple of them but “Rapture” is my favourite. Although it says “glitter”, it’s more of a subtle shimmer that makes my eyes pop. So many of my eyeshadows have met an untimely end as my makeup gets a bit knocked about but this has a small plastic stopper below the lid which protects it. I’m still on my first pot which has lasted over two years and hasn’t dried out at all.
Lipstick: Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick
This is personal preference because I’m crazy for the colour “Walk of No Shame”. My favourite hacks with this are outlining using a brush instead of lip liner and adding a small amount on my cheeks as a blush.
Lip balm: Vaseline
Honestly, fuck every expensive lip product out there, it’s all about the £1.50 Vaseline pots.
Powder: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
Hourglass have loads of edits of this one but the original trio is my favourite. It’s a highlighter, bronzer and blush all in one. You can use them all together for a radiant powder or separately to contour your cheeks. It’s light-reflective and really pretty for stage.
Eye product: Sisley L’Integral Anti-Age Eye and Lip Contour Cream
Anyone who says the elixir of life doesn’t exist has never tried this product.
Face product: Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil
I love this so much that I gifted it to two of my friends. (By “gifted” I mean “aggressively forced upon”.)
Best product of all time: Sudocrem
Has anyone seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding? You know how the dad uses Windex for everything? That's me with Sudocrem - in fact my partner says I should go and work for them as an official rep. Anyway, if there is one product in this blog I would never do without, this is it. Sudocrem cures EVERYTHING. Don’t forget my commission.
Money-saver: Wherever possible, I try to buy second hand stuff and makeup is no exception. There’s a lot of unopened “second hand” makeup out there, so it’s worth trying Vinted or eBay before heading over to Space NK.
I have so much makeup that I adore so it was very hard to pick just a few items. These are tried and tested through many hours wasted away at my mirror under the excuse of "work" and I have been using most of them for years. I would really love to hear about your favourites - please, someone recommend me a kohl that doesn’t smudge and a good conditioner.
This is sooooo helpful I can’t wait to spend all my money 😆