The products that Zoe Foster really uses: Part 1

As a beauty editor, a large wallop of your writing is focused around new and exciting beauty products. It’s our job to showcase all of the exciting new gems in the cabinet, so that you lot are up to date and in the know and picking up what we’re putting down etc etc.

I don’t do so much of that anymore for a few reasons, one being that I firmly believe that too much choice is crippling. An excess of options has always paralysed me – like at the servo ice cream freezer, for example where I either A) buy four just in case, or B) retreat entirely and get Twisties instead. I can only IMAGINE how much more bewildering the cosmetic aisles are.

So, these days I am more severe in my ‘beauty edit’, whittling down all of the noise to a gentle, streamlined whisper. Yes, I write about FAR less product, and far less often, but the stuff I write about I really like, and have really used, and am happy to recommend to you, sweet reader. I can’t help feeling like that might be more useful.

Speaking of new prodz I really like and have really used and am happy to recommend to you…

1. An All-In-One Blush-Bronzer-Illuminator.

When I find a hybrid bronzer-blush-illuminator that actually is capable of doing all of these things without sacrificing the qualities of each, I get a bit of a shiver down my shallow little neck. And so it is that Jane Iredale Rose Dawn Bronzer has thieved my heart and lovingly spruced up my face. (Literally: you can use any of the shades anywhere on your face – cheeks, eyes, even brush onto lips and top with clear gloss.) I am confident it will suit any skin tone, with its spectrum of bronze, brick-plum, rose pink and pearly pale pink. Most of the time, I use a smallish blush brush for precision (within the compact and on my face) and lightly swirl on firstly the bronzer in my ‘3’ formation, then the blush on the apples of cheeks, then finally, I squish the brush so it’s a thin line, and apply some of the lightest, illuminating shade across the top of the cheekbones as highlighter. Gorgeous. Also, being a very high-quality mineral product, any one can wear this without fear of flare-up. Another benefit of being mineral it’s easy to build up, but is also very sheer so that you can wear it with just tinted moisturiser and you look smashing.

WARNING! It will break! It will crumble and smash! Put cotton balls in the lid to prevent this when travelling.

2. An Exciting New Lip Lovechild.

I love when two lip product textures fall in love and have a baby to create a whole new texture. Previous lip lovechildren of this nature that have delighted me are Clinique’s Chubby Sticks (Mr Gloss + Mrs Balm) and Max Factor’s Lipfinity Lip Tint Pen (Mrs Lipstick + Mr Stain), two products that I probably recommend to friends more than is legal.

But now I have some NEW favourite lovechildren!

The first is Revlon’s ColorBurst Lip Butter, which is the baby of Mrs Gloss + Mr Butter.  Not only is the packaging gloriously ‘80s and wowzy, but there are TWENTY shades to pick from. I have three on rotation currently (I generally do: a nude, a red and a pink/coral/orange.) I am particularly enchanted with Tutti Frutti, which is the perfect blend of melon and pink and red. It adds instant life to a dame’s face, and is particularly adorable when combined with bare eyes and bronzer. Plus, you know, you’re basically wearing a lip balm, thanks for the lovely shea and coconut butter, so girls with an aversion to traditional lipgloss will be fans.

The second lovechild nestled safely in my heart is the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain (Mrs Gloss + Mr Stain). It goes on like a soft gloss but immediately stains. And sticks. For hours. Amazingly, despite being a stain – usually visibly dry and matte on the lips – this little sweetheart retains her beautiful shine, and the gloss is really very elegant indeed, almost like a muted vinyl finish. I am so dazzled by with the lasting power and the finish of this gal, I really am. It’s not cheap (50 clams) but it will last, and sweet father of Freddy does it look impressive sliding out of your handbag for a touch up. (It really is the perfect show-off makeup prod right now, for those who care about such things.) I wear #15, which is that super-on-trend flamingo-musk pink shade all those famous birds are wearing at the moment. I enjoy teaming it with winged liner and a touch of lilac shadow, since you asked. (Telepathically.)

This is the first part of a two-part post; check back on Friday to see what other products Zoe is currently loving.

Zoe is an author, columnist and porridge fan. She was beauty director of Cosmopolitan, Harper’s BAZAAR and PRIMPED and then collated all the best tips and tricks from her time in these roles for the beauty bible, Amazing Face. She is currently the dating columnist for Cosmopolitan magazine, although her best advice in this arena can probably be found in the dating and relationship guide, Textbook Romance , which she co-wrote with Hamish Blake. Zoe has published three novels, Air Kisses, Playing The Field and The Younger Man, and she rates them among the best novels ever written in the history of the written word. Find more info on her here, or supervise on her daily procrastination here and here.

Please understand that Zoë cannot respond to ALL your questions – but never fear, there are readers that are bound to know the answers, so don’t be afraid to ask.

What beauty products are you loving at the moment?