Face autumn flawlessly (From Dudley News)

Face autumn flawlessly

7:00am Saturday 8th September 2012 in NewsXtra

Perfect your pre-make-up routine. Lisa Haynes reveals the insider secrets to cheating flawless skin.

By Lisa Haynes

Enemies with the magnifying mirror? One in five women worry about their skin every single day, according to a new survey.

Almost 4/5 of women (78%) believe airbrushing should be banned in cosmetic advertising to put a halt to unrealistic images, the Bio-Oil results revealed.

But uber-flawless skin is now within everyone's reach with the latest beauty products on the shelves... The new wave of BB creams, primers and skin illuminating bases eliminate the need for bucketloads of make-up because they do all the beautifying groundwork for you.

The result? A subtle dose of anti-ageing, mattifying and radiance boosting that provides the smoothest canvas possible for your make-up.

You'll look like you, only better.

The importance of prep

Make-up minus the prep stage is like wearing an outfit without underwear.

It's not something that should be scrimped on if you want to achieve skin-transforming results.

"Make-up directly applied to unprepped skin always magnifies flaws such as dryness or uneven skintone," says make-up artist Daniel Sandler.

"Prepping skin helps with speed of make-up application and gets an even and more flawless result. Ultimately it is all about results - primers and other skin preps can help a woman look her very best and make her other products work harder."

The prepping stage is especially important if you're working a bold statement lip. When your pout is the focus, the rest of your face needs to be flawless so it doesn't detract from your chosen feature.

BB beauty

In the last year, BB creams have been multiplying on the shelves at a rate of knots. Just about every brand boasts their own version but many beauty consumers are still baffled about what they actually offer.

The concept, 'Beauty Balm' or 'Blemish Balm' first gained popularity in Asia where immaculate skin is a key concern.

"BB creams are designed to save you time and space in your make-up bag," explains No7 creative director, Lisa Eldridge.

"This make-up innovation is a primer, foundation and concealer in one tube. They give you a good base for make-up, even out complexion and also act as a skincare product by hydrating - your one-stop shop to flawless, beautiful skin."

Prime perfection

The key product backstage at every fashion show is the humble primer. They can offer staying power and lasting luminosity - so that's goodbye to constant reapplications and touch-ups.

A primer's skin perfecting powers also have the bonus of anti-ageing, so it's well worth adding in that all-important extra step before your base.

"Primers can help reduce the signs of ageing instantly by filling lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tone, much like a moisturiser," Eldridge explains.

"Not only do they even out skin tone but they allow make-up to stay on longer and give you more radiant looking skin."

Picture-perfect skin can be yours within minutes post-primer.

Faking it foundations

A flawless complexion isn't out of reach with the clever transforming foundations now available. Try these bases for a perfecting makeover in minutes:

:: Diorskin Nude Skin-Glowing Make-Up, £31 (Selfridges)

:: Max Factor All Day Flawless 3-in-1 Foundation, £11.99, available mid-September (nationwide)

:: Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Bare Perfection Make-up, £24 (Boots)

:: Avon Ideal Flawless Matte Mousse Foundation, £10.50 (www.avonshop.co.uk)

:: No7 Instant Radiance Foundation, £12.95 (Boots)

:: Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Make-up, £24.50 (www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk)

:: Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24h Re-Touch Free Divine Perfection, £27 (www.lancome.co.uk)

:: Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation, £10.99 (Boots)

Tried & Tested

Survive the transition period from summer to autumn with a pale pink nail polish. Our tester try three pretty tones:

:: Rimmel 60 Seconds in 200 Princess Pink, £3.69 (nationwide)

One for the naturalists. The fat brush makes this sheer shade easy to apply and the first layer dried completely within 60 seconds. I felt I needed two coats for a more intense pink and the results lasted chip-free for almost a week.

4/5

:: Topshop Nails in Milkshake, £5 (www.topshop.com)

I loved the powder pink colour of this polish but needed precision and persistence to achieve a streak-free opaque finish. Best suited to darker skin tones as it clashed against my pale fingers.

3/5

:: Avon Nailwear Pro+ in Pastel Pink, £6 (www.avonshop.co.uk)

This baby pink colour is the perfect accessory for beach babes who want to show off their tan. Easy to apply and quick to dry, those on the move can get away with one coat, but for a longer-lasting finish go for two.

3/5

Buy it now

Extend that holiday feeling through your eyebrow maintenance. Shavata has created a summer-inspired collection of tweezers including cocktails, swimsuits and flip-flops in uplifting bright shades, £9.75, exclusive to QVC (www.qvcuk.com).

Beauty bulletin

:: Perfect match

Boots has launched a new match-making service for you and your dream foundation. Using a unique device, trained advisors read the colour values of your skin from your jawline within seconds to reveal your perfect shade. Boots surveyed UK women and found that 78% said they would change their current foundation if they could find a better colour match. The groundbreaking No7 Foundation Match Made Service is available now in 668 stores nationwide offering seven foundation formats.

:: Recessionista alert

Grab a golden ticket at The Fragrance Shop. More than 30 top prizes are up for grabs in the Golden Ticket Giveaway including VIP tickets to meet David Beckham, luxury trip to Hollywood and romantic getaway to Paris. The promotion runs until September 27 with scratch cards available in stores and online at www.thefragranceshop.co.uk when customers spend £10 or more.