LIKE most women, I have a love affair with make up.

For as long as I can remember I have painted my face and even though I don’t mind leaving the house without make up on, in all honesty, I’d much rather not!

Putting on a little make up every morning makes me look better and feel better. I mean, who doesn’t look more attractive and alive with a bit of spit and polish?!

As my life has changed over the years, so too have my make up needs and these days, as a busy mum and freelance writer, I’m much more demanding when it comes to my make up. These days it has to do so much more than simply make me look nicer.

For starters, it has to be easy to use and super quick to apply, because as any mum will know too well, these days I just don’t have the luxury or time to spend ages applying it. Today, unless I’m off out for a rare night out or it’s a special occasion, my make up look is pretty simple. Fast but effective, I like to think!

Next, any make up I buy these days needs to do it’s job very well. My favourite make up needs to enhance my features and last the course of the day. Any less will just not do!

Thankfully, after years of buying and applying make up, I’ve finally found some brilliant ‘must have’ products that do all of the above and so without further adieu, here they are.

Ladies, I introduce to you, my super duper, fabulous five.

Clinique Airbrush Concealer (04 neutral fair)

This is one of the few products that I have in my make up bag that I try never to run out of. In fact the mere thought of never having this to hand in the morning literally fills me with dread. (And I’m not kidding).

This gem of a concealer is nothing short of a make up miracle. I’ve been using it for years now and always sworn by it, but it’s really come into it’s own, now that I’m a mum.

With just one quick swipe of this magic wand under my eyes, all those sleepless nights and exhausting days are long forgotten. Huge dark circles that make me look the living dead are instantly erased with just a tiny bit of this product.

What can I say, but it works wonders, making me look like I’ve enjoyed a long, dreamy night’s sleep when in all honesty, on most occasions, the exact opposite is true. This product is absolute genius and I am addicted to it. A fan for life. It’s also great for subtle highlighting too.

Mac Matte Eye Shadow in Copperplate

I adore eyeshadow and have many, many colours that turn my lids into mini works of art but this understated little pot of shadow is the best of the bunch, beating the rest hands down.

I discovered it about five years ago, at my wedding make up trial, when my talented make up artist sister Sylvie pulled it from her huge stash of goodies. It graced my eyelids on my wedding day and I’ve lost count of the amount of times I have worn it since.

I love it because it’s the perfect chic, understated matte grey and it makes my hazel eyes pop. Nearly all eyeshadow colours make my eyes look brown but this eyeshadow is the only one which brings out the tiny flecks of green in my eyes and shows off their true colour.

It’s easy to apply, goes on smoothly and looks great both during the day with just a sweep of mascara for a polished low key look or vamped up for an evening with plenty of eyeliner and lashings of mascara. Gorgeous.

Yves Saint Laurent Perfect Touch Radiance Foundation (no.3)

I’ve only been using this foundation for a few weeks but it’s become a firm favourite of mine already and is without doubt the best foundation I’ve used to date.

Admittedly it’s a little on the pricey side, however this product is well worth every penny. The formulation is incredibly sheer but yet the coverage is fantastic, leaving skin looking silky soft and flawless. Even more impressive? This foundation does not budge and lasts ALL day. Once it’s on, this bad boy stays on.

I apply it in the morning using the integrated brush and it lasts until late at night when I go to wash it off before bed. It really is a truly amazing product and the packaging is rather lovely too.

Stila Smudge Pot in Black

When it comes to make up, I’m generally all about the eyes and so naturally, I like to use plenty of eyeliner to enhance my peepers. This little pot of gel eye liner is the best I’ve ever used and believe you me, I’ve tried them all. (Another good one to try is Mac Fluid Line).

If you want a 60’s inspired feline eye, use this for your kitten-ish flick and it will be perfection. If you want beautiful black rimmed eyes, pop this on your inner rims and your eye make up will last and look immaculate.

This gel eye liner is waterproof so has amazing staying power. It is also the most jet-tastic black eye liner I’ve ever come across. And if you want a serious smokey eye look, try this…

Just smudge a little bit of Smudge Pot all over your lids (be careful – a little goes a long way!) soften with some eyeshadow and you’ll be good to go in no time at all.

Mally Lip Magnifier Lip Colour (various)

Finally, I couldn’t write about my beloved make up products without including my favourite pout enhancer! And for this product I have to thank my dear Mum for introducing me to it and for kindly giving me a few of them to try.

These lovely chunky crayons of lip colour are seriously wondrous. Combining lipstick with lip gloss, these sticks of colour leave your lips soft, glossy and conditioned but never sticky (my pet hate). All of the colours are incredibly flattering and wearable and last for hours even after drinking and eating.

And the best bit? These lip crayons are ridiculously easy to apply.  So easy in fact, I reckon my little Elsie herself could jazz up her pout as quick as a flash, if I gave her half the chance.

For a pumped up pout without the trout, just treat yourself to one of these beauties. Just don’t blame me when you get caught admiring your luscious lips or start pouting. A lot. ;-)

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Till the next time, have a glorious and glamorous weekend!

Katie