Clarins Skin Illusion Natural Hydrating Foundation

It's the one beauty update you need to make each season. Editor Trudi Brewer reveals a new serum-like foundation that comes in 22 shades.

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Clarins Skin Illusion Natural Hydrating Foundation, $64.

“An extension of my skincare this radiance-making serum-like foundation leaves my skin feeling bare but looking unblemished.”

— Editor Trudi Brewer.

What is it?
A nourishing foundation veil that has the consistency of a serum, but provides a like to medium coverage. Modelled on the famous bottle of Clarins Face Treatment Oil with the same dropper dispenser, this makeup comes in 22 shades.

What's in it?
Like most of the Clarins foundation it contains plant extracts that offer skincare benefits mixed in with coloured pigments. This foundation has a blend of optimum pigments to blur the look of brown spots and blemishes. The Mary’s thistle oil, is responsible for the lightweight, serum-like texture, and organic leaf of life extract, helps stimulates a hydrating action in the skin, while offering anti-pollution protection. Finally the SPF15 offers UV, and free radical protection while you’re out and about under the sun.

How to use it?
The handy dropper dispenser is brilliant, no spills. For weekends I add a few drops into a moisturiser to create a hydrating tint. For work, applied directly to the skin with the fingers it's gives a bare, youthful finish, but covers imperfections. And, finally for the evening, layered on the skin, using a foundation brush, it builds to a medium coverage that’s flawless. Available in a vast colour offering, from yellow-based to pink, dark and ivory. It’s what I call makeup with benefits.

Why do I like it?
An extension of my skincare this radiance-making foundation leaves my skin feeling bare but looking unblemished. I love the dropper dispenser, and the finish that leaves my skin feeling hydrated for hours. Finally the eco-friendly, ultra lightweight glass bottle is yet another bonus -#love.

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Jane Iredale new spring makeup

The latest makeup collection from natural beauty brand Jane Iredale is pretty but also packs a power punch. Editor Trudi Brewer discovers a brilliant gloss, a berry-coloured eyeshadow and beeswax free, luxe-y lippy. Here's how to use this range.

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A few faves from the new spring Jane Iredale collection. Triple Luxe Long Lasting Naturally Moist Lipstick, in Molly (nude) and Jessica (red). Pure Gloss in Cherries Jubilee. Pure Pressed Eyeshadow Duos in Berries & Cream and Sunlit Jewel.

Find out what's on trend with Jane Iredale

The global educator for Jane Iredale mineral cosmetics, Natalie Soto wears a banging red lip. She's an expert at creating an effortlessly glam-looking smoky eye, and not bad at giving skin a luminous-looking glow. On her recent whirlwind trip to Auckland editor, Trudi Brewer got a makeup lesson using the latest spring collection. Here's what's on trend and how to wear it.

“The biggest fail with makeup is not wearing the correct shade of foundation.”

— Natalie Soto.

How do you keep red lipstick looking on point?
Lip liner it's a must, apply lipstick in the centre of the lips first, like a stain, and then go in and trace around the border of the lip with liner. Then, fill in the lips with lipstick, over the top of the liner. Blot the colour with a tissue, and then add another layer of lipstick over the top. This layering technique helps the lipstick last for up to six hours.

What about trying a light, nude lip colour any tips?
I layer on loose or pressed powder over the lips, before applying a nude lipstick shade. This technique neutralises the colour of your skin tone and highlights the nude shade of lipstick instead.

How do you find the perfect nude
It depends. If you want to brighten your smile, steer clear of a nude lip colour with orange undertones. These shades will always make your teeth look yellow. Opt for a blue-based nude this will make your teeth look white. If you want to match your skin tone, if you have fair skin and green eyes, go for a nude lipstick with a pink undertone. If you have blue eyes with fair skin, go for peach nudes. If your skin is dark you can wear a nude with a brown undertone.   

How do you embrace colour and step out of the comfort zone of wearing brown?
Start with a bright lip gloss. Our new spring shade, Pure Gloss in Cherries Jubilee, is the perfect, bold shade. However, it's a transparent, red gloss, which helps you step into the world of wearing red, but it's very sheer.

What about mixing gloss and lipstick is that still a thing?
Yes, but don't wear the same colour family. Mix your shades. Wear a bright lipstick, and apply a nude gloss over the top. Experiment with makeup, it washes off, if you don't like the look, wash it off and start over.

How about finding the perfect foundation shade?
It's essential to get the most natural-looking makeup shade, the biggest fail with makeup is not wearing the correct shade of foundation for your skin tone. If you're wearing the wrong colour, it can wash you out, or make your skin look worse. Avoid pink tones, if you have pigmentation or brown spots, pink on top of brown patches looks muddy. Choose the right shade and match the colour to your neck, not the face. Our powder foundations are ideal for blending seamlessly into the skin. They're talc-free, they never look heavy or ashy-looking on the skin, and they don't settle into fine lines.

How do you apply mineral powders?
It goes from a powder to a liquid, when applied correctly. Most mineral powders are triple milled, so you need to swirl the brush in the pot, and then buff the minerals onto the skin to activate the colour. However, our powders, are milled 12 times, they should not be buffed into the skin, they should be brushed onto the skin in a downward movement. If you buff on Jane Iredale powders, the colour looks darker and won't wear as long. 

What's on trend for the eyes?
Berry-coloured eyeshadow is so popular right now, from creating a soft or smoky-eye look to special occasion makeup such as bridal beauty. This colour teamed with a red lip is a stunning makeup trend for spring.

My picks from the range

Jane Iredale Triple Luxe Long Lasting Naturally Moist Lipstick, in Natalie, $62. Unlike most semi-matte lippy, the rich pigments are also blended with moringa, avocado and sunflower seed oils to offer hydrating colour in 15 shades. Beeswax-free, the delicious taste is courtesy of a Tahitian vanilla and blackberry blend.
Pure Gloss in Cherries Jubilee, $59. It's the taste of lemon and tangerine peel with the antioxidant bonus of pomegranate extracts. But what piqued our interest, is that this gloss is petroleum-free, vegan-friendly and offers that sheer but bold colour.
Pure Pressed Eyeshadow Duos in Berries & Cream, $63. Ideal for anyone with sensitive eyes, this shadow is crease resistant and doubles as a highlighting and contouring cheek colour.
Retractable Brow Pencil in Ash Blonde, $43. For creating natural-looking brow hairs, where there are none, this new shade is universally flattering on almost every skin tone.

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