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How’s your skin? Mine too. It seems a month of parties followed by two weeks of ice, snow and full-blast central heating creates more of a dry flaky face, rather than a dewy glow. While a good moisturiser for dry skin will help to treat the problem long term, it’s also never been so easy to FAKE one with a good highlighter or glow drops.
A huge range of products nowadays lets you pick exactly the level of glow you want, from showbiz sparkles to subtler pick-me-ups and reliable anti-agers. Here’s what I’ve got in my make-up bag…
The best highlighters and glow drops
I’m obsessed with this, even if the name – Cabana Glow – doesn’t exactly scream winter secret weapon. I first tried it during the summer, when I didn’t really need it – now, it’s a lifesaver. It lights you up, without glitter, and adds just enough warmth for you to skip foundation. It’s so good that after seeing it on me, my Mum asked me to decant half my bottle for her.
Naked Sundays, SPF50 Mineral Glow Serum Drops
Bobbi Brown’s newest brand’s Miracle Balm is exactly that. For super-subtle, go ‘Au Naturel’, but if you need a little more help, I recommend ‘Golden Hour’. It’s easy to apply and smells divine. Smooth a little on your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose and forehead and, that’s it, you’re good to go.
I trialled it one morning in the office, after being up late five nights in a row and three colleagues immediately asked me what I was using on my skin. Makes you look like you’ve just flown in from Barbados – business class to boot.
Jones Road Miracle Balm
Founded by make-up artist and influencer Jamie Genevieve in her twenties, Vieve’s products are hugely popular with Gen Z – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try them too. Skin Nova is a great illuminator which lends a subtle, super-natural dewy glow. It might not make you look 20, but it will temporarily shave a few birthdays off. For truly parched skin, try Super Skin Nova which launched this year and comes with added moisturising ingredients. Both are seriously impressive.
Vieve Skin Nova
If your skin is as drained as your social battery, this could be the one for you. Beloved by beauty editors, Charlotte Tilbury’s iconic Wonderglow will definitely put a bit of sparkle back into your face.
I prefer a very natural finish for day so this is a bit too showbiz for me, but if you own a bronzer or contour kit, you’ll love it. I’m saving it for Valentine’s Day – it looks fantastic with full make-up.
Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow Instant Soft-Focus Beauty Flash Primer
A little goes a long way with Beauty Pie’s hit, which adds a lovely pearlescent glow. There’s a slight pink base colour here, so it depends on your skin tone if it’s going to work well or not – I have a fair amount of redness in my skin so I need to wear foundation over it. That said, with my usual make-up on top I look gently ‘well lit’. Thumbs up.
Beauty Pie Wonderfilter Brightening Primer
If a slick of primer feels like too much effort, Merit has you covered with their Instant Glow Serum. A miraculous little spray – you simply massage in a couple of squirts of this stuff and even the most knackered of complexions will perk up. Definitely merits a place on your bathroom shelf.
Merit Great Skin Serum
I was sceptical at first – in the bottle it looks like a heavy foundation – but I’m so glad I persevered because it’s a fantastic product. Billed as an Instant Anti Age Perfector – and who doesn’t want one of those? – it’s a milky liquid with a subtle sheen, which you simply dab on with the foam applicator, then blend.
The neutral base helped to calm my high colour, but some might find it a little pale. It’s a great bargain too – this now sits on my desk in case of complexion emergencies
Maybelline Instant Anti Age Perfector 4-In-1 Glow Primer
