Whether it’s as a result of years of overplucking, hormonal changes or age, thinning eyebrows is an extremely common – and annoying – beauty concern.

This was less of a problem when the fashion was to wear single pencil lines, and when thin eyebrows were en vogue.

Today, the bigger and fluffier the better. Not ideal if you’re following the trends and your eyebrows are letting you down.

Even if eyebrow trends don’t interest you, thinning eyebrows can prematurely age a person’s face so if that’s more of a factor, then it can also be upsetting.

READ NEXT: How to manage hair loss | How to hair oil

What can cause thinning eyebrows?

Much like the hair on your head, or other parts of your body, it becomes thinner and loses pigment as we get older. But it’s not just ageing that causes thinning eyebrows – stress, pregnancy, diet, eczema and psoriasis, overplucking and allergies are just some of the causes and without knowing which it is, it can be hard to know what to do about it.

The best place to start is to try to rule out some of the causes and speak to your doctor if you’re concerned. Below we’ve listed some causes and, more importantly, what it is about these causes that specifically stops your eyebrows from growing as strong. Knowing the science behind the cause can, sometimes, help tackle it head-on.

• Ageing
• Stress and anxiety
• Diet
• Overplucking

Ageing

This is a major, and common, cause of thinning eyebrows and unfortunately, there is little you can do to avoid it. As we get older, the levels of oestrogen in women, and testosterone in men, decrease. Oestrogen is the name of a group of sex hormones that give us what we consider to be feminine characteristics.

READ NEXT: What is microblading?

It’s what makes us less likely to grow facial hair, encourages the hair on our head to grow and helps keep your skin smooth and wrinkle-free.

As we age, typically in our 40s, levels of oestrogen drop which explains why our skin starts to sag, why many women get wiry hairs on their face and why we lose hair on it stops growing on our head and eyebrows.

Stress and anxiety

iStock

Experiencing times of increased stress and anxiety, particularly excessive stress has been found to cause physiological changes. Not only does it reduce oxygen to your hair follicles, which prevents hair growth, but the release of the stress hormone cortisol inhibits the growth hormone and causes other hormones to fluctuate, leading to hair loss.

This creates a double-whammy when it comes to thinning eyebrows. Laughing helps reduce the cortisol hormone, as does exercise.

Diet

It’s no wonder that over Christmas especially, when many of us overindulge, we enter January with brittle nails, lifeless hair and sallow skin. Our body’s growth hormones and cells rely on nutrients and vitamins found predominantly in fruits, vegetables and oily fish (among others) and a deficiency in any of these can lead to thinning eyebrows.

Vitamin A and zinc play a significant role in cellular growth, as do Biotin (Vitamin B-7), Vitamin C, iron, Vitamins E, B-12, and D, and Omega-3 fatty acids to a lesser extent, so if you’ve been hitting it hard recently, it may be worth taking a look at what you’re putting in your body.

It’s also why there are many, many vitamins formulated specifically to target hair, skin and nails and as we age, these can really help supplement your diet. The website Myvitamins is a great resource for such supplements, as well as many others, and it sells a specially formulated supplement called (imaginatively!) Myvitamins Hair, Skin & Nails which does what it says on the tin.

FURTHER READING: The truth about beauty supplements

Overplucking

And then there’s an entirely avoidable cause that for many of us older women have become victim to due to the aforementioned 1980s and 90s trend for pencil-thin brows.

Overplucking your eyebrows can cause very minor trauma to the hair follicle and the delicate skin around your eyes and this can cause lasting damage.

If you’re in this camp, it doesn’t mean it’s too late and there are things you can do to lessen the damage.

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Discover how to get thicker eyebrows fast

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Libby Mewes

Libby graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. She’s worked as a researcher and writer for Heart Radio as well as a features writer for a Somerset newspaper. She’s since taken time out to travel, manage a hotel restaurant, do a lot of dog walking, and now works in London’s West End

The post Thinning eyebrows: What causes eyebrow hair loss? appeared first on mamabella.

Knowing how to clean beauty blenders with these simple tips will not only save you time, it could save you money.

Dirty sponges don’t last as long as clean blenders, plus they’re a breeding ground for bacteria and dirt.

This could mean that all that money you’re spending on cleansers, spot creams, and exfoliators is being wasted if you’re not keeping your tools clean.

How to clean beauty blenders

Below we’ve outlined three methods, depending on how much time you have when you come to clean your beauty blenders.

We’ve also revealed our pick of the best cleansers and soaps based on our real-world tests.

Alternatively, read how to clean makeup brushes.

How to clean beauty blenders: Soap method

Beauty Blender

Cost: Around £5/$5 for the soap/cleanser | Time: 10-15 minutes

The first way to clean beauty blenders is called the soap method. The best kinds of soaps to use are relatively low-strength ones, using powerful soap is more likely to dry out the sponge or break down the material entirely (products like Irish Spring Deodorant Soap, Johnson’s Baby Shampoo or any of the beautyblender beautycleanser range are ideal).

How to clean beauty blenders with soap

This method shows how to clean beauty blenders if you’ve got time to do a proper job and a fair amount of energy.

1. Get the blender wet, not soaking, with warm water
2. Apply the soap or cleanser of your choosing straight onto the blender
3. Massage and rub it in until you see lots of soapy suds forming
4. Once the suds discolour and look as though they’re full of make-up, rinse the blender with cold water
5. Continue to repeat these steps until the water runs clear when the sponge is squeezed

How to clean beauty blenders: Soaking method

Cost: Around £5/$5 for the soap/cleanser | Time: 1 hour+

The soaking method shows how to clean beauty blenders with minimal effort, but is the longest method of the lot.

How to clean beauty blenders using the soaking method

1. Pour liquid cleanser or any liquid soap into a bowl with warm water
2. Placing the dirty beauty blender into the water making sure it’s fully submerged
3. Soak for at least an hour
4. Work the sponge into the soapy water and, once lathered, in water use your fingers to massage it
5. Once the bowl of soapy water turns brown, pour the water away and rinse off the sponge, squeezing until the water runs clears

How to clean beauty blenders: Microwave method

Cost: Around £5/$5 for the soap/cleanser | Time: 1 minute

This is certainly not a manufacturer-approved lesson in how to clean beauty blenders but it’s a popular, incredibly fast choice that proves popular online. The reason it’s not advisable is that the heat can damage the beauty blender and, if used too often, could see it start to flake or disintegrate. Not to mention the fact it’s dangerous.

How to clean beauty blenders using a microwave: 

We don’t recommend doing it this way, but if you’re going to do it, then at least do it safely following these steps:

1. Pour warm water with soap/liquid cleanser into a microwave-safe bowl or cup
2. Make sure there’s enough soapy water for the whole blender to be fully submerged
3. Dunk the sponge a couple of times in the water before leaving it to settle
4. Microwave the bowl/cup (with the sponge inside the water) for up to one minute
5. Wait at least a minute before even attempting to remove the beauty blender and safely pour the hot water away so as not to burn yourself

And if your beauty blender just can’t be saved, here are our top three alternative blenders: Beautyblender Aries sponge (£17) and Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (£6).

How to clean beauty blenders: StylPro Spin and Squeeze

Cost: Around £39.99 for the StylPro kit | Time: 5 minutes

One of the worst things about cleaning beauty blenders isn’t the washing itself, it’s the time it takes for the sponges to dry. If you have the budget, we recommend you invest in the StylPro Spin and Squeeze.

It features an electric attachment that spins either your makeup brushes, or your beauty sponges so fast, using centrifugal force, that it strips all of the water or soap/cleanser out of them.

You can watch out TikTok review of the Spin and Squeeze below or keep reading to get the step-by-step guide on how to use.

@victoria_woolly_web I was a bit skeptical and it’s a LOT more faff than simply washing it with soap. It also adds more things to wash (including my mirror when it splashed all over the place…) however the use of centrifugal force to dry the sponge is a game changer. Especially if I realise at the last minute that all my sponges are dirty this isn’t an ad but it was gifted. I think I’ll probably still wash my sponges like normal but use this to dry them @STYLPRO by STYLIDEAS @Coco Cosmetics by Chloe #mamabella #stylpro #stylprosqueeze #beautyblender #beautyblendercleaning #spongesqueezing #cleansponges #beautysponge #cococosmeticsbychloe #cococosmetics ♬ I’ll Be Around (feat. Timbaland) (Radio Mix) – Cee-Lo

How to clean beauty blenders using the StylPro Spin and Squeeze: 

1. Pour the Makeup Sponge Cleanser into the Spin and Squeeze jug.
2. Drop the beauty sponge(s) into the cleanser – make sure there’s enough cleanser for the whole blender to be submerged.
3. Using the bottom of the Spin and Squeeze contraption, squash the blender(s) repeatedly for about a minute.
4. Using hot water from the tap or a kettle, fill the jug halfway.
5. Repeat step 3 again.
6. Pick up a beauty sponge in the Spin and Squeeze and, pressing the button on the back, move the plunger down so that it squeezes the dirty cleanser water out of the sponge.
7. Attach the electrical spinner and turn it on.
8. Let the sponge spin for about 30 seconds and remove.
9. Your beauty blender should be clean and dry!

Buy the Spin and Squeeze

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Libby Mewes

Libby graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. She’s worked as a researcher and writer for Heart Radio as well as a features writer for a Somerset newspaper. She’s since taken time out to travel, manage a hotel restaurant, do a lot of dog walking, and now works in London’s West End

The post How to clean beauty blenders fast using soap, soaking and in a microwave appeared first on mamabella.

Since May, we’ve been putting almost a hundred foundations through multiple tests to finally discover the best foundation for oily skin UK

If you thought finding a decent foundation match to suit your shade and budget was tricky enough, choosing the best foundation for oily skin takes things to a whole other level.

Our skin needs, and relies on, a certain level of natural oil to create a thin, protective barrier on the surface of the skin.

This barrier keeps the skin soft, supple and moisturised. However, some of us produce excess oil which leaves us looking shiny and greasy. If left untreated, this excess oil clogs pores and makes them larger, leading to spots, blemishes and an uneven complexion. You can read more about this in our guide to the science of oily skin. 

To help add a bit of objectivity to our hunt for a great oily skin foundation, we recently started a series on TikTok in which we’re testing as many UK foundations as we can until we get bored or run out of money.

To date, we’ve tested almost 100 and we feel we’re now in an informed place to be able to recommend which foundations are best for different skin types, from dry to oily and mature.

We explain more about how we’re testing the foundations here (which includes buying a lot of oranges, and strawberries and updating an ever-growing spreadsheet…) 

FURTHER READING: Best foundation UK | Best foundation for mature skin UK | How we test foundations | Find your perfect foundation match | MUA explains how to get flawless makeup  | How old does your skin REALLY look? | We’ve reviewed and ranked the best Charlotte Tilbury foundations, the best MAC foundations, and the best No7 foundations

Best foundation for oily skin UK

If you’re unsure which shade you’ll need from the range of foundations listed below, we explain how to discover your undertone and whether your skin is warm, cool or neutral in our foundation match article. Our resident makeup artist Victoria Howe has also revealed her top tips for how to master makeup for oily skin.

1. Editor’s Pick: L’Oreal Paris Infallible 24H Matte – £9.99
2. Bargain Buy: NYX Professional Makeup Stay Matte But Not Flat  – £7
3. Luxury Buy: Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Foundation – £42
4. Best clinical/vegan foundation for oily skin: Vichy Dermablend 3D Correction –£23
5. Best long-lasting foundation for oily skin: NARS All Day Luminous – £35

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Best concealer | Best makeup brush | Best foundation brush | Best eyeshadow palette | Best foundation | Best foundation for dark skin | Best BB cream for oily skin | Best foundation for oily skin | Best foundation for dry skin | Best contour kit | Best lip gloss | Best lip liner | Best mascara| Best primer| Best anti-ageing cream | Best neck cream | Best eye cream

1. Editor’s Pick: L’Oreal Paris Infallible 24H Matte 

£9.99 | Buy now 

L'Oreal

Why we love it: This absolute steal of a foundation from L’Oreal Paris Infallible is one of the best foundations for oily skin, beating more expensive rivals’ consistency, staying power, and mattifying powers.

It’s both waterproof and sweatproof and provides full coverage without making you look cakey.

It works so well due to the clever little mineral micro-sponges, there to absorb any moisture on the face including that nuisance excess oil.

Buy now from Amazon

2. Bargain Buy: NYX Professional Makeup Stay Matte But Not Flat Liquid Foundation

£7 | Buy now from Cult Beauty 

NYX Professional

Why we love it: NYX Professional is one of the best cheap makeup brands around and its products regularly feature in our Best Of lists.

This foundation is no exception. Its lightweight formula (that’s both water and oil-free) means it’s is the best foundation for oily skin if you’re on a budget – not that our Editor’s Pick from L’Oreal Paris is expensive.

NYX’s Stay Matte But Not Flat foundation won’t cling to any moisture, or look too heavy, but will leave you with a perfectly smooth finish.

The brand has managed to create something that has all the attributes of an expensive foundation while being pleasantly affordable.

Buy now from Cult Beauty

3. Luxury Buy: Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Foundation

£42 | Buy now 

Giorgio Armani

Why we love it: If you’re willing to spend a little more on buying the best foundation for oily skin, we highly recommend Giorgio Armani’s Power Fabric Foundation.

We’re big fans of Giorgio Armani’s foundations – having featured them in our best foundation and best foundation for dark skin tones articles – and this product prides itself on being like having a second skin. 

Not only does it last for as long as you need it to, but it also offers decent SPF25 protection, does all the concealing you’d need it to, and offers a luminous, while still matte, lightweight finish.

According to Giorgio Armani, this foundation has been designed for a “successful, confident, modern and elegant woman” – let that be you, and say goodbye to those oily pores.

Read our Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation review here

Buy now from John Lewis

4. Dermablend Vichy 3D Correction Foundation for oily skin

£23 | Buy now

Vichy

Why we love it: This is Dermablend’s first correctional foundation that specifically smooths and improves the look of oily and/or acne-prone skin.

At a reasonable price, this product works to reduce any ‘3D’ concerns you may have about your face, whether that be blemishes you’re hoping to hide or more general oily features.

This foundation will very easily mattify with its hypoallergenic and paraben-free formula. 

What’s more, Dermablend’s entire range is approved by PETA and is completely vegan and cruelty-free.

Buy now from Dermablend Vichy

5. NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation

£35 | Buy now

NARS

Why we love it: NARS is another foundation that has appeared in both our best foundation and best foundation for dark skin tones lists and, while it’s not cheap, it regularly impresses us with its formulation and how smooth it makes our skin look. 

Its All Day Luminous Weightless foundation is great for oily skin and comes in 20 shades, each one offering full, natural-looking coverage with ‘unexpectedly weightless, 16 hour wear.

Its formula includes advanced flexible polymers, which is a fancy way of saying it’ll help your skin to move and breathe.

It also uses ‘even-tone technology’, designed to reduce redness, dullness and ultimately create a more uniform skin tone. 

Buy now

What causes oily skin?

Our skin contains what are known as sebaceous glands that secrete an oil called sebum through our pores. It lubricates the skin, stops it from becoming irritated and removes dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. There is a number of causes of oily skin – some are genetic, and others are based on lifestyle.

If your parents have oily skin, for instance, you’re more likely to have it.  Changes in hormones during puberty, or around the time of your period, can result in more (or less) oil being produced. The same goes for during pregnancy. However, it can also be caused – or at least made worse – by your diet and lifestyle. If you eat a lot of greasy, sugary foods, for example, this can come out as oil in your skin. Not drinking enough water, not getting enough sleep and stress can all similarly play a role, with the latter two causing changes in your hormones.

We explain in our science of moisturiser guide what ingredients to look out for when choosing a moisturiser for oily skin. We similarly detail the ingredients to avoid when shopping for foundation, whatever your skin type and below we’ve taken things a step further in our best foundation for oily skin list.

READ NEXT: How to master makeup for oily skin

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Libby Mewes

Libby graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. She’s worked as a researcher and writer for Heart Radio as well as a features writer for a Somerset newspaper. She’s since taken time out to travel, manage a hotel restaurant, do a lot of dog walking, and now works in London’s West End

The post Best foundation for oily skin, acne, spots and blemishes appeared first on mamabella.

Concealer is used for more than just covering spots or blemishes. It can brighten your skin, create clean lines for eyeshadow or when contouring, and it’s perfect for when you want to get rid of dark circles.

READ NEXT: How to apply concealer

Confusingly, there are hundreds of shades and formulations designed for different skin types, not to mention a wide range of prices.

To help you find the concealer best suited to your needs – from the best concealer for dark circles to the best concealer for acne – we’ve handpicked our favourites below which cost from as little as £4.

Best concealer

1. Editor’s Pick/Best concealer for oily skin: Glossier Stretch Concealer – £15
2. Bargain Buy/Best all-rounder: Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer  – £4
3. Luxury Buy: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout – £27
4. Best concealer for different skin tones: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer – £24
5. Best for mature skin: MAC Studio Waterweight – £19.50
6. Best for plumping your skin: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Liquid – £24
7. Best concealer for oily skin: NYX Professional Makeup Can’t Stop Won’t Stop – £8
8. Best for acne-prone skin: Benefit Boi-ing Industrial Strength – £18.50
9. Best concealer for dark circles: Clarins Instant Concealer – £22.50
10. Best all-day concealer: Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear – £25
11. Best hydrating concealer: Revolution Pro Ultimate Radiant Under Eye Concealer – £8

1. Editor’s Pick: Glossier Stretch Concealer

£15 | Buy now from Glossier 

Glossier

Why we love it: “A concealer inspired by skin” Glossier’s Stretch Concealer leaves a much sought-after dewy yet undetectable finish. It’s hypoallergenic, fragrance and cruelty-free and is ideal for the most sensitive of skin types. This concealer is buildable, flexible and nourishing, too, while coming in at just £15. This is why it’s our Editor’s Pick.

Buy now from Glossier

2. Best concealer on a budget: Collection Lasting Perfection

£4 | Buy now from Boots 

Collection

Why we love it: Don’t be fooled by the low price of this concealer, it is absolutely full to the brim with quality. It’s a sure-favourite with bloggers because of its long-lasting lightweight finish that covers any blemish with ease. This product also comes in a wide range of shades, and on the best (or worst) of days it won’t come off with a little sweat and/or a few tears.

Buy now from Boots

 3. Best luxury concealer: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout

£27 | Buy now from Cult Beauty 

IT Cosmetics

Why we love it:  Designed with the help of cosmetic surgeons, the Bye Bye Breakout from IT Cosmetics is a spot treatment and concealer in one. Perfect for acne-prone skin, this camouflage doesn’t crack, dry out or budge all day. It’s also infused with effective spot-fighting ingredients, such as witch hazel and kaolin clay, age-defying peptides and hydrolysed collagen, oil-absorbing zinc oxide, tea tree, sulphur and a gentle complex of alpha and beta hydroxy acids. Combined, this formula means that – much like a lot of IT Cosmetics products  – this makeup can also double-up as a form of skincare and get rid of blemishes rather than just hide them.  

It’s available in six colours, which isn’t a huge selection but there should be something for almost everyone, particularly because concealer doesn’t have to as closely match as foundation does. These options include Deep, Fair, Light, Medium, Rich and Tan.

You can pair this concealer with the fantastic IT Cosmetics Better than Your Skin CC+ cream. Despite being called a CC cream, this is more than adequate enough as a foundation. It’s buildable, lightweight and looks after your skin as you wear it. Read more about it in our best foundation guide, or in our guide to the best multi-purpose makeup. It really can replace your primer, foundation, moisturiser, CC cream and more!

Buy now from Cult Beauty

4. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

£24 | Buy now from NARS

NARS

Why we love it: America’s best selling concealer, this liquid concealer from Narsissist does exactly as its name suggests. It has a luxurious, creamy texture and a long-lasting, glow-inducing finish. It is packed full of goodness, and comes in an impressive 30 shades. It can also be used to highlight and contour the face meaning although you’re spending a little more on it compared to others in this list, it’s better value for money and more versatile.

We love the creamy texture of this concealer and being so creamy makes it easier to blend into the skin. It works well when blending with a makeup sponge or fingers. A little goes a long way with this. There is an instant lift and brightness on the under eye area. The skin around our under eye is dry and this concealer does not sit in the dry areas around the eye, we also like how this concealer is buildable too. It doesn’t have any issues with any setting powder too and we have to say a little goes a long way, it may not be the best to cover any blemishes but it does a fantastic job of lifting and brightening the under eye.

FURTHER READING: Best foundation

Buy now from NARS

5. MAC Studio Waterweight

£19.50 | Buy now from MAC

MAC

Why we love it: If your skin is showing signs of fine lines or wrinkles, MAC’s Studio Waterweight is perfect for giving you fantastic lightweight coverage. It’s much more watery than others in this list (hence its name) but it performs as well, if not better than some of its thicker counterparts, especially on mature skin. Its handy pipette helps control how much product you use and it blends effortlessly into the skin with just one coat.

READ NEXT: How to apply concealer to mature skin

Don’t be put off by the small bottle, you get a lot of value for your money with this product because you only need to use a single drop. Seriously, a tiny dot of this concealer is more than enough to brighten the skin under your eyes, onto your cheeks and your nose. We’ve had bottles of this last for more than a year and counting and go everywhere with it due to its handy travel-size.

Buy now from MAC

6. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Liquid

From £24 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

Charlotte Tilbury

Why we love it: Unlike others in our list, the Magic Away Liquid from mamabella favourite Charlotte Tilbury comes in wand form for both ease and precision. It has ingredients to lift, plump and soften any type of skin, leaving you looking airbrushed and ready for anything. This concealer is particularly effective around the eyes but can blur the most irritating of imperfections and works particularly well when paired with Charlotte’s Magic Foundation, which features in our best foundation list.

This concealer does have quite a thick texture so won’t suit mature skin or people with fine lines or wrinkles quite as well and we’d recommend blending it with a brush, as opposed to a beauty blender to get a better finish.

Buy now from Cult Beauty

7. NYX Professional Makeup Can’t Stop Won’t Stop concealer

£8 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

NYX

Why we love it: This lightweight liquid matte concealer claims to last for an almost unbelievable 24 hours, keeping your face blemish-free through any occasion.

It works effectively at keeping the oily T-zone at bay and comes in 24 waterproof, transfer-proof shades. NYX Professional Makeup has made this product for those of us always on the move and who don’t want to have to stop to retouch makeup.

You can read more about why NYX Professional Makeup is one of the best affordable makeup brands around in our Brand Spotlight.

Buy now from Cult Beauty

8. Benefit Boi-ing Industrial Strength

£18.50 | Buy now from Benefit

Benefit

Why we love it: If you’re looking for a concealer made of tough stuff, this is the one. Benefit’s medium to full coverage Boi-ing concealer is perfect for the days you need that extra push to get out the door. It’s most effective as an under-eye cream, but with a brush can be just as powerful on those irritating spots and blemishes.

If you do find the texture of this concealer a little much, yet still want to stick with the Benefit brand, we also recommend the Boi-ing Airbrush concealer. It’s softer and lighter without sacrificing too much on coverage.

We love Benefit makeup here at mamabella. So much so, it features in our best cheap makeup list. 

Buy now from Benefit

9. Clarins Instant Concealer

£22.50 | Buy now from Feelunique

Clarins

Why we love it: Clarins Instant Concealer is a worthy rival to MAC’s Waterweight range in terms of lightweight feel and great coverage. A tiny amount of this concealer goes a very long way and because of the way it’s tinted, it offers correction for, and has been created with dark circles in mind.  all types of dark circles.

Whereas some concealers can look cakey under the eyes, or are too bright making it looking noticeable, the fluid texture of the Clarins Instant Concealer blends flawlessly into the skin and smooths the eye contour area. We were recommended this by a mamabella reader and haven’t looked back since. 

Buy now from Feelunique

10. Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear

£25 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

Laura Mercier

Why we love it: This concealer is designed to give your skin a warm glow. It lives up to its name by truly delivering a flawless finish, effortlessly smoothing out the skin below the eyes into the rest of the face. This product is also especially hydrating, making it perfect for dry skin. The shades are divided into categories, cool, warm and neutral, making it even easier to find the right match for you. 

Buy now from Cult Beauty

11. Revolution Ultimate Radiant Concealer

£8 | Buy now from Revolution Beauty

Revolution Pro

Why we love it: The absolute perfect budget creamy hydrating concealer that brightens and colour corrects around the eye area is a work of art!  This comes in 14 shades and these are based on the undertone of your skin. It gives great coverage to conceal dark circles, and the texture is creamy and blends beautifully. We love that it contains hyaluronic acid to give the boost of hydrating under the eyes. With the help of niacinamide and vitamin C this can really boost the skin’s complexion. It also gives a lovely, healthy, dewy finish being a creamy concealer. We like that it doesn’t sit in fine lines or dry areas around the eye.

You don’t have to use a lot, one sweep with the applicator is enough to blend in, it is also buildable to, if you feel that you need just that extra coverage.

Buy now from Revolution Beauty

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• The science of moisturiser

Libby Mewes

Libby graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. She’s worked as a researcher and writer for Heart Radio as well as a features writer for a Somerset newspaper. She’s since taken time out to travel, manage a hotel restaurant, do a lot of dog walking, and now works in London’s West End

The post Best concealer: Discover which concealer is best for your skin appeared first on mamabella.

Originally, setting spray was created with the entertainment industry in mind; to limit the re-application of makeup on actors or on music video sets. You can read more about the history of setting spray and how it works in our guide to What is setting spray and what does it do?

Like with any face product, choosing the best makeup setting spray is all about the ingredients, especially if you’ve got more sensitive skin.

Gone are the days of setting sprays or products of this nature including harsh alcohol, known to dry out or irritate delicate skin. Nowadays many sprays are full to the brim with vitamins, aloe gel, and even green tea to either counteract the alcohol effect, or to replace it completely.

To help you on your quest to find the best setting spray, aka the glue that holds your makeup looks together, we’ve created a list of our favourites.

Best setting spray

1. Editor’s Pick: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless setting spray – £26
2. Bargain buy: e.l.f Makeup Mist and Set Spray – £4.50
3. Luxury buy: Skindinavia The Makeup Finishing Spray – £32.50
4. Missguided Super Fix Fixing Mist – £10 
5. Benefit POREfessional Super Setter – From £12
6. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray – £26
7. KIKO Milano Face Makeup Fixer – £7.99
8. MAC Prep + Prime Fix – £21
9. Fenty Beauty What It Dew Makeup Refreshing Spray – £24

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Best concealer | Best makeup brush | Best foundation brush | Best eyeshadow palette | Best foundation | Best foundation for dark skin | Best foundation for oily skin | Best foundation for dry skin | Best contour kit | Best lip gloss | Best lip liner | Best mascara| Best primer | Best highlighter | Best brow pomade | Best blusher | Best setting spray| Best makeup sets | Best false eyelashes | Best eyeliner | Best setting powder | Best eyelash curlers

1. Editor’s Pick: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless setting spray

£26 | Buy now from Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury

Why we love it: We didn’t think any setting spray could top the one from Urban Decay but Charlotte Tilbury has smashed our previous favourite out of the water.

Not only does it smell super fresh and the spray applicator allows you to cover your face with a gentle, effective mist, but it also works amazingly. It dries almost immediately and gives a natural finish that’s not too shiny if you like to have a matte finish, and it’s not too matte if you prefer a more dewy glow.

What’s more, a little goes a long way – which goes some way towards justifying the high price.

We’ve had a bottle of this setting spray for around two months now and despite using it daily, we’re not even a third of the way through the bottle.

FURTHER READING: Charlotte Tilbury Sale

Recently, the brand released a limited-edition White Tea of Bali scent. It’s the same setting spray, in terms of performance, but its fragrance has been designed to lift your mood and senses, at the same time as setting your makeup. This includes violet and rose, to enhance your mood; mint and tea to revitalise; calming vetiver and relaxing notes of white musk.

As you can read in our Charlotte Tilbury setting spray article, the setting spray works so well because it contains so-called Flawless Film Formers. These act as an invisible shield to help set makeup all day without melting, fading or settling into lines. Other ingredients include Aloe Vera, Japanese Green Tea and Aromatic Resin which soften and smooth the skin.

Buy now

2. Bargain Buy: e.l.f Makeup Mist and Set Spray

£4.50 | Buy now from Feelunique

e.l.f

Why we love it: It’s so cheap for one thing; so cheap, and so good. It includes ingredients including cucumber, Vitamins C, A and E, and aloe – all excellent for keeping your skin hydrated and protected.

It does exactly what it says on the tin, and will even hold your pesky bronzer, usually the first thing to go. It only comes in an 80ml bottle, which is small, but for the price and the quality, this is forgivable. For extended hold, try spraying the product onto your cosmetic brush or sponge prior to applying any makeup.

FURTHER READING: Spotlight on e.l.f

Buy now from e.l.f

3. Luxury Buy: Skindinavia The Makeup Finishing Spray 236ml

£32.50 | Buy now from BeautyBay

Skindinavia

Why we love it: If you’re looking for the first-ever setting spray, literally designed to be the best and pave the way for all other products, look no further. This spray claims to hold even the runniest of makeup for up to 16 hours, come rain or shine. It’s secret? Temperature control technology that slowly releases the product onto the skin over the course of a day. This means your face is never without a fresh and held finish.

Buy now from Beauty Bay

4. Missguided Super Fix Fixing Mist

£10 | Buy now from Missguided

Missguided

You’d be fooled into thinking that a setting mist for a tenner would be average at best but we were blown away by just how good this spray is. It’s not as cheap as e.l.f’s version, and it doesn’t quite live up to the Charlotte Tilbury spray – which is why it’s sitting in fourth in our best setting spray guide rather than higher up – but it’s a fantastic fixing mist.

We’re big fans of the gentle sprays of other brands but you need to perfect the spray and swish movement in order to cover your whole face. This setting spray from Missguided delivers a light mist, but in a much more direct application. It dries quickly, despite feeling super wet when it first hits the skin, and it creates a shine-free, dewy finish. Ideal for no-makeup, makeup looks or for fresh-faced finishes.

Buy now from Beauty Bay

5. Benefit The POREfessional Super Setter spray

From £12 | Buy now from Lookfantastic

Benefit

You may be familiar with Benefit’s POREfessional range. It’s renowned for its selection of primers, as well as its mattifying “rescue gel,” and the brand recently added its first setting spray to the mix.

Called The POREfessional: Super Setter, the Benefit setting spray has a microfine mist that promises to lock makeup in place while blurring your pores. Benefits promises that this effect lasts for 16 hours, too.

The setting spray is currently on sale for £12, for the smaller 30ml version, or you can get a 120ml version for £26.

Buy now from Lookfantastic

6. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray

£26 | Buy now from Feelunique

Urban Decay

Why we love it: Ask anyone who has used Urban Decay’s All Nighter setting spray and they’ll tell you it did absolutely everything they bought it to do.

You want to reduce shine? It’ll do it. You want your makeup to last all day and night? Oh yes. You want your skin to feel refreshed and clean? Urban Decay has the ticket.

This mist goes on lightly, meaning you won’t even know it’s there – albeit it’s not as light as the Charlotte Tilbury mist.

Even in the stickiest or most humid of conditions, this spray will only leave your makeup looking more vibrant.

On top of all of this, one bottle will last you a good six months so it’s well worth the slightly more expensive price. Our one complaint is that despite its high price, the bottle and the applicator feels cheap. Particularly alongside Charlotte Tilbury’s luxury bottle, which costs the same.

Buy now from Feelunique

7. KIKO Milano Makeup Fixer

£7.99 | Buy now from KIKO Cosmetics

Kiko

Why we love it: Not only is this setting spray such a bargain, but it’s especially effective at keeping your foundation or base makeup in place. KIKO has produced something that will hold your foundation in place all day and all night. The only downside of this product is its inclusion of cosmetic alcohol which can sometimes be a bit of an irritant to those of us with slightly more sensitive skin.

Buy now from KIKO Cosmetics

8. MAC Prep + Prime Fix

£21 | Buy now from MAC

MAC Cosmetics

Why we love it: If your face has a tendency to dry out a little during the day, and you struggle with what to do about it because of tricky combination skin we present to you the MAC Prep+ Prime setting spray. This setting spray is an oldie but certainly a goodie.

It’s excellent at soothing and hydrating, while being so lightweight you wouldn’t even know it was there. This product is also wonderful because it comes in a couple of different types, so if your skin is on the dryer or more oily sides, MAC has got you covered. Our one complaint is that it smells a little odd, and make sure you shake it before use or you’ll be left with white dots on your face.

Buy now from MAC Cosmetics

9. Fenty Beauty What It Dew Makeup Refreshing Spray

£24 | Buy now from Harvey Nichols

Fenty Beauty

Why we love it: This spray is much more of a refresher than a rock-hard setting spray, although it does do the latter more than adequately. Fenty refers to it as a ‘makeup boosting moisturiser in a bottle’. It contains witch hazel, which is a firm favourite for blemish-prone skin.

This is because it has a number of qualities including relieving irritation, inflammation and acne, making it a handy added bonus for your setting spray. It’s also non-sticky and has a refreshing light rose scent.

Buy now from Harvey Nichols

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• The science of moisturiser
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Libby Mewes

Libby graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. She’s worked as a researcher and writer for Heart Radio as well as a features writer for a Somerset newspaper. She’s since taken time out to travel, manage a hotel restaurant, do a lot of dog walking, and now works in London’s West End

The post Best setting spray: Lock in your look with the best makeup setting sprays from Urban Decay, e.l.f and MAC appeared first on mamabella.

That’s is not to mention the fact that dirty makeup brushes are breeding grounds for bacteria that have been linked to diseases such as pneumonia and even bone infections.

Getting clean makeup brushes doesn’t have to take all day, or cost hundreds and we’ve explained how to clean makeup brushes below.

Plus, to save you even more hassle we’ve put our top tips for the best makeup brush cleaner below. You can also see how to clean beauty blenders in our explainer.

FURTHER READING: How to clean a hairbrush – and why it could actually improve your hair in the process

How to clean makeup brushes for free

Makeup artists everywhere will suggest the easiest and most effective way of manually cleaning your brushes can be done in five simple steps:

• Step 1: Dip each brush (yes, sadly they do need to be done individually) under warm running water
• Step 2: Put the wet brush into a bowl of gentle makeup brush cleaner – any simple shampoo or soap you already use will do – and rub softly with fingers until a lather is created
• Step 3: Hold the brush under warm running water again until the lather clears away
• Step 4: Repeat the process until the brush looks clean
• Step 5: Squeeze the brush so there isn’t any water left in amongst the bristles

How to clean makeup brushes quickly

There are alternative methods, but they involve spending money. If you have the budget and are after a quicker way to clean makeup brushes than the method above, we highly recommend the stylPro Original Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer.

It retails for £40 but is often on sale and it uses centrifugal force to spin your makeup brushes in the water. This fans the brushes out meaning the water and cleaner get deep inside to clean every bristle.

As you lift the brush out of the water, inside a specially designed bowl with a splash guard, the spinning removes all the water giving you clean and dry brushes in seconds. Watch the video below to see how easy it is:

You still have to clean your makeup brushes individually, but it’s a much more effective way of doing so. Plus you don’t have to wait for them to dry, nor run the risk of water getting trapped inside leading to damp bristles.

For an extra £20, the stylPro Expert Makeup Brush cleaner steps things up a level. It lets you clean eight small brushes at once.

Best way to clean makeup brushes with a cleaning mat

Revolution

Alternatively, Makeup Revolution – one of the all-time best cheap makeup brands in the UK – recently released a new way to clean makeup brushes quickly and effectively. Called the Makeup Revolution Create Brush Cleanser, it looks like a compact powder pot yet contains cleansing balm as well as a scrubbing mat.

The rubber scrubbing mat uses suction to stick to the bottom of a sink. You then run your makeup brushes under the tap, swirl them around the cleansing balm to create a lather and then use the scrubbing mat to remove the rest of the makeup.

Then simply rinse the brush and lay flat to dry. Once you’ve finished using the balm, wipe it clean, place the mat on top and seal the lid.

The Makeup Revolution Create Brush Cleanser costs £8 and you can buy it directly from Makeup Revolution.

READ NEXT: Best foundation makeup brushes

Best way to clean makeup brushes in between washes

Beauty Hygiene Plus

If you don’t have the time, or the inclination to wash your makeup brushes once a week, let alone after each use – which is recommended – get yourself a makeup brush cleaner spray.

After each use, simply give each individual brush a spray or two with a sanitising or cleansing spray, wipe the excess makeup and cleanser on a tissue and you’re good to go.

This is our preferred route to take and means we can get away without giving your makeup brushes a deep clean every fortnight. What’s more, many of these sprays condition your brushes too meaning they should last longer.

It’s also great if you only have a small collection of makeup brushes and need to get rid of the colour of one eyeshadow before using the same brush to apply the next.

We recommend the IT Cosmetics! This is Your Brush Love spray. It’s a one-step solution that has been designed for natural and synthetic brush hairs and is infused with peptides, antioxidants, hydrolysed collagen, and Vitamins A, C, and E. It also smells amazing.

The downside is that it’s not particularly cheap. A 100ml bottle costs £17 and if you’re using it daily, this will last you about a month.

A cheaper, but just as brilliant alternative is the Beauty Hygiene Plus Quick Dry Beauty Tools Sanitising Spray. In fact, all the products in the Beauty Hygiene Plus range are amazing, and affordable.

The Beauty Tools Sanitising Spray uses a “fast action formulation” to clean and sanitise your brushes, beauty blender and other tools by killing 99.9% of bacteria, yeast and enveloped viruses in just two minutes.

It can be used daily to keep beauty tools hygienic and germ-free and it’s suitable for hard beauty tools such as tweezers, eyelash curlers, pencil sharpeners, face massage rollers, cuticle pushers, nail clippers, and files.

How to dry your makeup brushes

Once you’ve cleaned your makeup brushes, how do you dry them properly? Some suggest laying your brushes flat over kitchen roll, we think differently.

If any water happens to seep through up the brush towards the handle it can loosen the glue that is holding the bristles together. If this happens, you will start to notice fall out from your brushes.

Jenny Tai | mamabella

We love the stylPro Original Makeup Brush Cleaner and Dryer because your brushes are instantly dried, but we have two other methods that will dry your makeup brushes without misshaping and loosening the bristles.

Firstly, this brush protector is is a 2-in-1 product. Not only can these nets protect the brushes in your makeup bag but they also offer a great drying method.

These makeup brush protectors are like mesh nets available in a range of different sizes and are flexible to fit around all makeup brushes.

The mesh allows your brushes to air dry, and protects from dust, but the great thing about these protectors is that you can stand up your makeup brushes so that water drips down.

Follow these three steps to dry your makeup brushes with the protectors:

• Step 1: Follow our step-by-step guide on how to clean makeup brushes as above
• Step 2: Use a clean towel and wrap it around the makeup brushes to gently squeeze as much water out of the brushes as possible
• Step 3: Grab an empty pot or glass, select the right size protector for your makeup brush and slide it on from the handle down to the brush, leaving a 1-2cm gap
• Step 4: Then just pop the brush in your empty pot or glass mesh down. We recommend you use a maximum of four brushes per pot/glass, because the air needs to circulate to dry your makeup brushes

Makeup Brush Drying Rack

Just like a dish drying rack, this one has been designed for your makeup brushes.

It keeps the natural shape of your brushes while drip drying them, and keeps dust away from your bristles.

amoore

This rack has 26 mixed gripped holes to slide your washed makeup brushes. Push your makeup handle up from the bottom of the tray through the silicon hole and it will sit securely. Just make sure you choose the best size hole for your brush.

You can then move the makeup brush drying rack into the sink or bathtub to let any excess water drip down.

What’s even better is this drying rack is portable, and it doubles up as an albeit large makeup brush holder. Just flip your makeup brushes the other way round and push your makeup brush handles down from the top of the tray.

Buy now from Amazon

What’s the best brush cleaner?

The above method for how to clean your makeup brushes, and how to dry them, should be a perfectly effective way to clean makeup brushes but if you aren’t satisfied with the water method, there are a number of simple makeup cleansers, as well as brush-cleaning specific products on the market. We recommend:

• Johnson’s Baby Shampoo (£5)
• OGX Renewing and Argan Oil Shampoo (£4.50-£5)
• Bumble and Bumble Be Gentle Shampoo (£22)
• stylPro makeup brush cleansing solution (£8.99)
• Beautyblender Liquid Beautycleanser (£24)
• Revolution deep cleanse (£4.99)
• Real Techniques cosmetic makeup brush cleaner (£7.50)

FURTHER READING: Natural vs synthetic makeup brushes: What’s the difference?

How NOT to clean makeup brushes

One thing you absolutely can’t do to cheat is put your makeup brushes in the washing machine or dishwasher – all this will do is overheat the bristles and glue that attaches them to the handle.

Put that little bit of effort in and the results will make you very grateful you did, your skin will be thanking you for a long time.

Don’t miss out! Sign up for the mamabella newsletter today

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Libby Mewes

Libby graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. She’s worked as a researcher and writer for Heart Radio as well as a features writer for a Somerset newspaper. She’s since taken time out to travel, manage a hotel restaurant, do a lot of dog walking, and now works in London’s West End

The post How to clean makeup brushes: The best way to clean makeup brushes with gadgets, sprays and cleaning mats appeared first on mamabella.

Today there are 17 principal finishes for a nail varnish, including glitter, matte, shimmer, crackled and even holographic, and the colour choices are endless. To help you find the best nail polish for you, we’ve handpicked our favourites, including vegan-friendly polishes and the varnishes that protect your nails.

And if you’re looking to discover some of the latest nail trends, jump to the bottom of the page. 

READ NEXT: How to strengthen your nails and what makes them so damn brittle

Best nail polish

1. Editor’s Pick: Essie Nail Lacquer – £7.99+
2. Bargain Buy: Barry M Nail Paint – £2.99+
3. Luxury Buy: OPI Nail Lacquer – £11+
4. Best vegan nail polish: Autograph All-in-One nail polish by M&S – £6
5. Best nail polish for brittle nails: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails – £7.99+
6. Best nail varnish for colour range: Rimmel London 60-second Super Shiny – £3.49+
7. Best breathable nail polish: LENA – £8.95+
8. Best nude nail polish: Leighton Denny – £12

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Best concealer | Best makeup brush | Best foundation brush | Best eyeshadow palette | Best foundation | Best foundation for dark skin | Best foundation for oily skin | Best foundation for dry skin | Best contour kit | Best lip gloss | Best lip liner | Best mascara| Best primer | Best highlighter | Best brow pomade | Best blusher | Best setting spray| Best makeup sets | Best false eyelashes | Best eyeliner | Best setting powder | Best eyelash curlers

1. Editor’s Pick: Essie nail polish

£7.99+ | Buy now

Essie

Why we love it: Essie’s nail polish range ticks all the boxes.

Its colours are excellent, ranging from pastels and nudes to bright shimmering blues and oranges; it lasts and maintains its freshly coated feel for at least a week, and it’s hugely affordable.

If you’re looking to achieve the perfect at-home manicure, this is more than likely the brand for you.

Its gel finish topcoat is the icing on the cake and will hold your nail colour in place almost as well as if you’ve been to a professional.

Buy now from Lookfantastic

2. Bargain Buy: Barry M

£2.99+ | Buy now from Superdrug

Barry M

Why we love it: Barry M nail paint is an absolute classic. Available in a range of colours, shimmers and sparkles aplenty, the full range is incredibly affordable and its topcoat is especially impressive if you’re looking for a long hold.

We often opt for Barry M when we’re looking for a bold colour to match a particular outfit or occasion and while it doesn’t have the staying power as some of the more expensive nail polishes in this list, it more than does the job if you like to mix up your look on a regular basis.

The brand recently released a pair of new colour-shifting, two-toned nail paints, inspired by the sea, which are perfect as we move from Spring into Summer.

These two shades, available alongside the other colours in the Under the Sea collection, cost £3.99 each and come in Mermaid Tail (teal) and Underworld (light blue). What’s more, they’re vegan.

These were then joined by a Hi-Vis Neon range.

Buy now from Superdrug

3. Luxury Buy: OPI Nail Lacquer

£11+ | Buy now from OPI

Opi

Why we love it: A luxury buy that isn’t even all that luxury in price, OPI Nail Lacquer is often the go-to brand by nail experts at salons because of the quality of the product.

Not to mention the fact it boasts almost 250 shades, all with great ‘punny’ names. Colours go on seamlessly and you only need two coats for a long-lasting, professional finish.

It is also incredibly easy to apply compared to other products due to its matte, non–slippy handle, and wide brush; needing only three strokes across each nail, just like the professionals do.

Buy now from OPI

4. Autograph by Marks & Spencer

£6 | Buy now from M&S

M&S

Why we love it: This nail polish range from M&S is a bit of an underdog.

In addition to being vegan, the Autograph line includes Vitamin E and Argan oil to strengthen the nails, and if you choose the All-in-One collection, you get a base coat, top coat, and colour in one, saving you time, money and layers and layers of polish.

Well played M&S, well played.

Buy now from M&S

5. Sally Hansen Hard as Nails

£7.99+ | Buy now from Superdrug

Sally Hansen

Why we love it: Sally Hansen was an impressive woman who pioneered modern-day nail varnish and whose first unique product, Hard as Nails, is still incredibly popular today.

The brand continues to promote Hansen’s original values, and from colour to quality to the brush and mechanics of application, this brand isn’t one to miss. It also claims to bring out 100–200 new colours every single year, so it’s unlikely you won’t find a colour to suit every occasion.

Buy now from Superdrug

6. Rimmel London 60-Second Super Shine nail polish

£3.49+ | Buy now from Rimmel

Rimmel

Why we love it: Living up to its name, Rimmel’s 60-second Super Shine nail varnish really does dry in 60 seconds.

And it really is super shiny!

At such a reasonable price, this product is a must-have for anyone’s nail varnish collection because of its ease of application and its varied and beautiful colour range.

Buy now from Rimmel

7. LENA

£8.95+ | Buy now from LENA

LENA

Why we love it: Nail polishes and gel polishes give us a great finish but over time it can dry out our nails, leaving them weak and brittle.

With the LENA range, we’ve found a great compromise. A range that helps our nails breathe without sacrificing on high-end glossy colour. What’s more, the LENA range is water permissible, halal and vegan-friendly. As a result, these nail polishes are also popular among Muslim women because they’re wudhu-friendly.

This breathable, water-permissible formula is possible because the brand uses a special polymer that enables oxygen and moisture to be transported through the nail polish. This permeability allows moisture and oxygen to make contact with the fingernails after you have applied nail polish.

By comparison, regular nail polishes prevent oxygen and moisture from getting in.

Colour-wise, LENA’s range spans from neon to pastels, glitter and nudes. It also sells breathable base and top coats to keep your colour looking vibrant, and knowing that these nail polishes are giving your nails the best treatment possible is a bonus.

Buy now from LENA

8. Leighton Denny

£12 | Buy now from Leighton Denny

Leighton Denny

Why we love it: Every brand in this best nail polish list offers nude shades, but few are as all encompassing as the range from Leighton Denny. There are 21 in total, just in the nude category,  and these range from pale creams to blush pinks and deeper browns.

At the end of September, Leighton Denny launched three new shades within this category as part of its Back to Nature collection. Foxglove is a clay pink nude, Forest is an everyday brown and Peony is a dusky pink.

What’s more, the Back To Nature collection is low chemical and vegan-friendly, and it contains 75% of naturally-derived ingredients. Each of the polishes have a redesigned, wider brush as well, to “give a perfect, seamless, self-levelling, clean line colour.”

As Leighton Denny, himself, explains: “Tonal nude shades are flattering, universally chic and work for any season, making it the perfect transitional nail colour for those ‘in between’ months. You don’t have to stick to the classic sheer pink nude, mix it up with warmer, cooler or stronger nude shades.

“For those with darker skin’s do go for a stronger shade like Forest. For those with pale skin types avoid pale, fleshy colours, warmer shades like Foxglove and Peony will be more flattering.”

Buy now from Leighton Denny

Lastest nail trends 2022

To get a glimpse into the current and rising nail trends for the year ahead, Vera Clinic scoured the internet, using Instagram to rank the colours and designs based on their popularity.

We’ve listed the top five below. The number at the end of each trend’s explanation refers to the number of hashtags found that were directly related to the trend in question.

1. Marble Nails: From home decor to jewellery, the marble trend is one to watch generally in 2022. So of course, the nail industry has got in on the act. It’s not the easiest of finishes to master but the payoff for your effort is worth it. (2.2 million)

Instagram: @nailinesss

2. French Manicure: It wasn’t that long ago that French Manicure or French tips were seen as basic. However, the classic look is making a comeback. If you want to make the look edgier, opt for bold colours that contrast each other or square off the ends of your nails to contrast with the cure of the design. (1.3 million)

3. Heart Nails: Having gained traction around Valentine’s Day, the trend for heart nails has continued. Subtle and cute, this look can be worn in any colours and the hearts can vary in shape and size. (356,000)

4. Floral Nails: With Spring on the way, floral designs are rising in popularity on Instagram. They are delicate and feminine and can be painted on every nail, or reserved for a select few. (269,000)

5. Animal Print: Anyone who knows us in real-life knows how obsessed we are with animal print in all guises. So this is the 2022 nail trend we’re most excited about! We’ve seen a lot of cow prints doing the rounds on social, but you also can’t go wrong with a bit of leopard print either. (187,000)

More nail ideas and nail designs

At the end of 2021, WeThrift used Pinterest trends data to discover the nail trends of the year. These winter trends ranged from emerald greens to deep brown shades, and metallic tips.

While there are a new bunch of trends available (as we’ve detailed above), we’ve left the top 10 from December in case any give you inspiration!

1. Emerald Green: This season’s must-have nail look is set to be emerald green. Given that green (and red) are the very epitome of Festive, this isn’t a surprise but this particular green shade works so well for winter because of its deep, yet vivid tones. It’s a big leap from the bring colours we have seen throughout the year.

2. Khaki Green: The second most popular nail colour, according to Pinterest is a different take on emerald green, known as khaki green. It has a soft earthy tone that gives a sense of cosiness and warmth.

WeThrift

3. Forest Green: Another green dominating the top nail trends for Winter 2021 is forest green. Searches have risen up by a whopping 244% on Pinterest and green french tips are among the looks found across inspiration boards.

4. Brown Tip: If social media has proved one thing, it’s that the French manicure look is still going strong.

Add a touch of winter with a deep moody shade like chocolate or chestnut brown.

While the more subtle version is still a firm favourite in salons around the world, this style is a great way to dip into darker tones for the colder months…in a subtle way.

5. Navy Blue: Deep navy blue works so well for autumn and winter and is a relatively simple look to recreate at home. It also goes with many skin tones and outfits.

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Libby Mewes

Libby graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. She’s worked as a researcher and writer for Heart Radio as well as a features writer for a Somerset newspaper. She’s since taken time out to travel, manage a hotel restaurant, do a lot of dog walking, and now works in London’s West End

The post Best nail polish: Master the at-home manicure with the best nail varnishes from Opi, Essie and more appeared first on mamabella.

They’re the unsung heroes of any makeup look and come in various options. Whether you’re heading on a night out, for a picnic in the sun, or to work, your skin will thank you for using the best brushes there are.

Below we’ve rounded up what we consider to be the best makeup brushes for different brands and makeup products, and each offers something a little different. However, if you’re looking for the best foundation brush, we’ve got you covered. Or if you’re just keen to know what makeup brushes are used for what, check out our makeup brushes guide.

READ NEXT: Best foundation brush

Best makeup brushes

1. Editor’s Pick: Morphe Pro Deluxe Buffer Blush – £17
2. Bargain Buy: Makeup Fan Brush by Superdrug – £5.99
3. Luxury Buy: Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Brush – £42
4. Best makeup brush set: Real Techniques Strut Your Stuff Collection – £29.99
5. Best brush for hygiene: Clinique Blush Brush – £24
6. Best eyeshadow brush: MAC Cosmetics 239 Eye Shader brush – £21
7. Best brush for face and body: Fenty Beauty Face and Body Kabuki Brush – £26
8. Best concealer brush: Sigma F75 Concealer Brush – £13.20

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Best concealer | Best makeup brush | Best foundation brush | Best eyeshadow palette | Best foundation | Best foundation for dark skin | Best foundation for oily skin | Best foundation for dry skin | Best contour kit | Best lip gloss | Best lip liner | Best mascara| Best primer | Best highlighter | Best brow pomade | Best blusher | Best setting spray| Best makeup sets | Best false eyelashes | Best eyeliner | Best setting powder | Best eyelash curlers

1. Editor’s Pick: Morphe Pro Deluxe Buffer Blush

£17 | Buy now from Morphe

Morphe

Why we love it: This affordable and durable brush from the makeup brush masters at Morphe can do almost anything. It effortlessly applies and blends cream, liquid or powder foundation to create an entirely streak-free finish.

It can also be used to buff bronzer or powder into the curved areas of the face.

It is soft, lightweight, easy to clean and the shorter handle makes it very easy to control. This is why it’s our Editor’s Pick.

Buy now from Morphe

2. Budget Buy: Makeup Fan Brush by Superdrug

£5.99 | Buy now from Superdrug

Superdrug

Why we love it: Not only is Superdrug’s B. collection of brushes well within budget (starting at just £5.99) but they are also entirely vegan, forgoing the use of animal hair.

The fan brush, in particular, is undeniably soft, lightweight and the perfect shape for a highlight or blush.

It also can act as an aid for brushing away any excess eyeshadow or removing setting powder from under your eyes after you’ve applied concealer.

You can read more about the wonders of the fan brush in our makeup brushes guide.

Buy now from Superdrug

3. Luxury Buy: Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Brush 

£42 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

Hourglass

Why we love it:  This pricier brush is our Luxury Buy. Not only is the brush itself one of the best out there for applying foundation, but its small size makes it stand out from the others as the perfect brush for applying other liquid products, particularly concealers.

It also means it’s a perfect size for your handbag or clutch on a night out.

READ NEXT: Best foundation makeup

Unlike many foundation brushes, this one does not shed bristles but still manages to be suitably soft – which should be an absolute given considering how expensive this brush is.

Because its bristles are short and the brush itself is thick, it does tend to become clogged up with product so you’ll need to make sure you wash it regularly. You can find out more about how to clean makeup brushes here and the dangers of not doing so in our What’s living in your makeup bag? article.

Buy now from Cult Beauty

4. Real Techniques Core Collection

£29.99 | Buy now from Lookfantastic

Real Techniques

Why we love it:  Purchasing a collection of brushes can be the perfect place to start when getting into makeup. Real Techniques offers a number of options, but its Strut your Stuff collection provides affordable, durable and high-quality base products.

It contains seven face and eye brushes and a beauty sponge. The collection is worth £59.99.

The Strut Your Stuff makeup brush set contains:

• 401 Sculpting
• 200 Expert Face
• 411 Liquid Highlight
• 301 Base Shadow
• Miracle Complexion Sponge
• 332 Smudge
• 344 Winged Liner
• 326 Flat Liner

It includes a pointed brush to ensure an unblemished finish when applying liquid foundation, a buffing brush for powder or bronzer, and a contouring brush for the perfect finish, to name a few.

Buy now from Lookfantastic

 5. Clinique Blush Brush

£24 | Buy now from Clinique

Clinique

Why we love it:  The shape of this brush initially may seem as though it wouldn’t be well suited for powder blush or highlight, however, it has very quickly proven its abilities.

The size and quality of the bristles are perfect for swiping effortlessly across the cheek.

As if this wasn’t already enough, the brush is also designed to keep bacteria at bay and has a beautiful glass-effect handle.

READ NEXT: What’s living in your makeup bag?

If keeping your makeup tools clean is particularly of interest (and it really should be), read our guides on how to clean makeup brushes and how to clean beauty blenders properly.

Buy now from Clinique

6. MAC Cosmetics 239 Eye Shader brush

£21 | Buy now from MAC

MAC Cosmetics

Why we love it: MAC is renowned for creating the best eyeshadow brushes both for longevity and quality.

The 239 brush works with cream and powder eyeshadows and is incredibly effective at both blending and shading.

Having shorter, firmer and flatter bristles also means it is perfect for getting product neatly into the lash line.

And if you’re a fan of MAC makeup, there is a page hidden on the official site selling cheap MAC makeup with up to 40% off. MAC products, and MAC brushes, occasionally make an appearance on our makeup sale roundup page, too.

Buy now from MAC

7. Fenty Beauty Face and Body Kabuki Brush

£26 | Buy now from Boots

Fenty Beauty

Why we love it: This brush is soft, completely multi-functional, and at just the right density for blending liquid and powder formula products with ease.

The custom-cut angle of the brush is ideal for covering and buffing curves on any part of the face or body.

It also has a chic finish, making it stand out from other brushes of its kind.

Not sure what qualifies as a Kabuki brush? Check out our makeup brushes guide.

Buy now from Boots

8. Sigma F75 Concealer Brush

£13.20 | Buy now from Feelunique

Sigma

Sigma has been creating seamless and beautiful makeup brushes since 2009. Their motto is “drive to better your beauty routine sets”. Every innovative beauty tool, texture, formula and cosmetic colour makes your life easier, more fun and uniquely-beautiful. All their brushes are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.

When it comes to concealer brushes the best ones to use are flat shape ones, the shape of this will give you ease of control to contour around your eye and yet it’s gentle enough to pat on the skin. This Sigma concealer brush you can use with cream or liquid concealer, giving you a seamless finish.

You can use this concealer brush to clean up around your eyes or lips because the tip of this concealer brush gives you great precision, this brush will give you a medium to full coverage when you’re working in your concealer. When using your fingers to blend in your concealer we tend to be a little hard with the pressure to ensure we get enough coverage and to make it look seamless. When using a concealer brush you can get into the small corners around your eyes and using this to pat in your concealer makes it easier to use a beauty blender to smooth it out.

Buy now from Feelunique

What’s the difference between synthetic vs natural makeup brushes?

There are several differences between synthetic and natural makeup brushes so we asked eco-friendly beauty brand So Eco for some insights. 

Natural makeup brushes are often made from animal hair. This can be the hair taken from squirrels, goat, sable (hair from the tail of a weasel) and mink. Some feature horse and badger hair. Natural makeup brushes move more freely, grab more product in one swoop and tend to be better at blending.

However, synthetic bristles are versatile, they typically work better with liquids and creams and they’re easier to clean because they can be sanitised with alcohol without drying the hairs.

So Eco is accredited by PETA and uses synthetic bristles, which are cruelty-free and suitable for vegans. Instead of animal hair, it uses an ultra-fine soft synthetic material called Taklon. Taklon is a hypoallergenic material designed to mimic the shape of fine natural hair.

It’s kinder and more hygienic for your skin compared to animal hair which can often be more round hold more bacteria as it is more porous than synthetic fibres.

Read more in our guide: Natural vs synthetic makeup brushes: What’s the difference?

Don’t miss out! Sign up for the mamabella newsletter today

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• Best foundation brush
• Makeup brushes 101: The ultimate guide
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• Grab a bargain in our makeup sale roundup
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• Natural vs synthetic makeup brushes: What’s the difference?
• Our pick of the best makeup in 2020
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Libby Mewes

Libby graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. She’s worked as a researcher and writer for Heart Radio as well as a features writer for a Somerset newspaper. She’s since taken time out to travel, manage a hotel restaurant, do a lot of dog walking, and now works in London’s West End

The post Best makeup brushes: The best natural and synthetic makeup brushes appeared first on mamabella.

It’s perfect for the no-makeup, makeup look, wearing to the gym or taking on holiday and many of the best tinted moisturisers contain a host of great ingredients to deliver just the right amount of hydration.

As with the best foundations, BB creams or other skincare products, always opt for a tinted moisturiser that’s labelled as non-comedogenic – a fancy word that means it’s unlikely to block your pores because the official name for pore blockages is “comedones”.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?  Check out our science of moisturiser explainer

Like a standard moisturiser, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all tinted moisturiser and it’s worth taking your time to get one best suited to your skin type and budget. To help you make an informed choice, we’ve picked our favourites below.

Best tinted moisturiser

1. Editor’s Pick: bareMinerals Complexion Rescue – £18
2. Bargain Buy: NYX Bare With Me BB cream – £10
3. Luxury Buy/best for colour correcting: By Terry Cellularose Moisturising CC cream – £58
4. Best tinted moisturiser with SPF: Tropic Skin Shade Tinted Facial Cream – £24
5. Best for getting rid of dark circles/spots: NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser – £31
6. Best tinted moisturiser for dry skin: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser – £35
7. Best tinted moisturiser for mature skin: Dr Hauschka’s Tinted Day Cream – £29.50

1. Editor’s Pick: bareMinerals Complexion Rescue

£29 | Buy now from bareMinerals

bareMinerals

Why we love it: Offering almost the most shades of any tinted moisturiser in this list at 16 (Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturiser is the only one to offer more at 20), we’re obsessed with bareMinerals’ Complexion Rescue tinted moisturiser.

This product is called ‘complexion rescue’ for a reason – without feeling or looking too heavy, it suitably covers the face leaving an all-over matte finish and helping you to feel shine-free.

It’s full of good stuff, as you’d expect from bareMinerals, including antioxidants that help restore damaged skin, and skin-replenishing calcium.

On top of all of this, bareMinerals has made this product perfect for those of us with dry or dehydrated skin. 

Buy now

2. Best tinted moisturiser on a budget: NYX Bare With Me

£10 | Buy now from Look Fantastic 

NYX

Why we love it: Technically a BB cream, this tinted moisturiser from one of our favourite cheap makeup brands is an absolute must-buy, coming in at a tenner for 27ml.

This does err on the more expensive side, particularly for a mamabella Budget Buy, but we feel it’s worth it for its versatility and its skin-boosting properties.

This could easily replace your foundation, moisturiser and BB cream in a single product.

Its high coverage leaves it looking similar to a light foundation but doesn’t leave the face feeling cakey or sticky.

The cream isn’t too runny, but equally isn’t too thick and can be applied with both fingers or a brush.

It lasts for hours and is the perfect base for a natural ‘no make-up, make-up’ look, available in 11 shades from Vanilla Nude to Deep Espresso. You can read more about why we love NYX products so much on our best makeup brands page.

Buy now from Look Fantastic

 3. Best luxury tinted moisturiser: By Terry Cellularose Moisturising CC cream

£58 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

By Terry

Why we love it: It might seem obscene to spend almost £60 on a tinted moisturiser but By Terry’s Cellularose Moisturising CC Cream not only uses glycerin to control oil, it acts as a primer to help blur imperfections and its botanical extracts leave your skin feeling super smooth and supple, regardless of what skin type you have.

A true wonder product that could replace many of your multiple other lotions and potions.

There are only four shades to choose from – ‘CC Nude’ (for fair skin), ‘CC Natural’ (for fair-to-medium skin tones), ‘CC Beige’ (for medium skin tones) and ‘CC Tan’ (for olive-toned skin) – but the brand claims these adapt to your skin tone.

We’re not entirely convinced by these types of claims – and we explain why in our article on foundation matching – but there should be a shade to suit most skin tones.

The CC in this tinted moisturiser’s name stands for colour-correcting and the pigments in its formulation help neutralise redness and disguise sunspots or age spots making it perfect for everyday use. 

Buy now from Cult Beauty

4. Tropic Skin Shade Tinted Facial Sun Cream

£24 | Buy now from Tropic

Tropic

Why we love it: As the weather gets warmer, and we’re spending more time outside, wearing SPF is absolutely vital.

You can read more about why it’s so important – from protecting your skin from cancer to helping to prevent wrinkles and getting rid of dark spots – in our What is SPF? guide.

The problem with this, however, is that many facial sun creams can leave your skin feeling greasy, which is why were very pleasantly surprised with the Tinted Facial Sun Cream from Tropic.

Not only does it come with SPF 50, which is impressive at this price, but it’s thicker than most facial sun creams and this helps you control its coverage.

It’s tinted and comes in two shades –  Light/Medium and Medium/Dark – which give you a bronze glow before you’ve even stepped out into the sun.

Elsewhere, it’s absolutely packed with antioxidants and natural ingredients, including coconut, which gives it a lovely holiday smell, Rapeseed and Castor Oil, Golden Jojoba Oil, Aniseed Myrtle Extract, Wild Hibiscus Flower Extract, Passion Flower Oil and Vitamin E. This makes it perfect for all skin types.

Buy now from Tropic

5. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser

£31 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

NARS

Why we love it: NARS’ tinted moisturiser comes in 12 different shades ensuring it covers a comprehensive range of skin tones, albeit not as many as NYX’s version which also happens to be a third of the price. 

The brand prides itself on this product ‘immediately helping thirsty skin feel hydrated’ through the use of a lightweight oil-free formula which provides a translucent veil of colour and gives a radiant finish (hence the name) in 13 shades.

It not only offers sun protection and hydration as you use it, if you apply it regularly for at least four weeks you should see fewer dark spots and any areas of hyperpigmentation should be reduced.

This is thanks to its mix of naturally derived botanicals including kopara from French Polynesia and mineral-rich seawater to revive and ‘remineralise’ skin.

NARS’s Pure Radiant Tinter Moisturiser is dermatologically tested, non-comedogenic and synthetic fragrance-free.  

FURTHER READING: What is SPF?

Buy now from Cult Beauty

6. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser

£35 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

Laura Mercier

Why we love it: With a light-as-air finish, this tinted moisturiser can be used on pretty much any skin type.

Unlike some cheap tinted moisturisers, you’re paying a premium for the wide choice of 20 tones.

Choose either a moisturiser for cool (C) or warm (W) undertones – sadly there isn’t a neutral option – and then select how dark you want the shade, with 1 being the lightest and 6 being the darkest.

If you’re unsure whether you need a cool or warm version, we explain how to determine your skin tone in our foundation match explainer.

As you’ll read in our Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser review, it’s not perfect. When used on its own, it doesn’t quite leave the glowing finish we’d expect.

However, if you pair this tinted moisturiser with a primer it performs as well as a foundation with the added skincare benefits thrown in.

It’s easy to apply without overdoing it and we love the fact it controls oil and shine and provides a demi-matte finish without overly drying the skin thanks to the addition of Vitamin E.

FURTHER READING: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser review

Buy now from Cult Beauty

 7. Dr Hauschka’s Tinted Day Cream 

£29.50 | Buy now from Dr Hauschka

Dr Hauschka

Why we love it: This part-cream, part-tinted moisturiser, part-toner from Dr Hauschka is 100% natural and organic, making it ideal and safe for all skin types.

Dr Hauschka combines avocado with almond oils and rose wax to help prevent dryness, while the use of quince and St. John’s Wort help tone the skin and support elasticity making this particular tinted moisturiser perfect for mature skin. 

Finally, extracts of kidney vetch help to balance the skin, removing excess oil and providing hydration where it’s needed.

It is only available in one colour, which may be a little dark if you’re particularly fair-skinned – and this seems like an oversight for such a relatively expensive brand.

Buy now from Dr Hauschka

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Libby Mewes

Libby graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. She’s worked as a researcher and writer for Heart Radio as well as a features writer for a Somerset newspaper. She’s since taken time out to travel, manage a hotel restaurant, do a lot of dog walking, and now works in London’s West End

The post Best tinted moisturiser: Brighten your skin with our fave creams from NARS, NYX, Tropic and more appeared first on mamabella.

Gone are the days of it being highly likely you’ll come away from applying them with your eyelids stuck together, or having the corners ping off as soon as you step away from your mirror.

The thick PVA-style glue that would feel heavy and gloopy has been replaced with a more adhesive, quick drying, clear formula. And you can say goodbye to having spider eyelashes.

Modern lashes are beautifully silky and full, designed to complement and help enhance what you already have rather than coming in and stomping all over them.

READ NEXT: How to put on false eyelashes

There are numerous stories about where the novelty of false eyelashes first came from. Some reports suggest they originated in the late 1800s when women implanted eyelashes onto their eyelids with needles. Other reports are a less unpleasant. In 1911, Anna Taylor first patented false eyelashes, and hairdresser Karl Nessler began promoting and selling lash treatments alongside haircuts in his salon.

Today, there’s standard eyelashes you use with adhesive; pre-glued false eyelashes, individual lashes, strip lashes and now there’s even magnetic eyelashes.

Magnetic eyelashes come in two varieties – the first consists of two strips of lashes with magnets attached. The second involves similar lashes with magnets attached but they are placed with the help of magnetic eyeliner. You can read more about they work in our guide to the best cheat products.

This means the problem isn’t worrying about the quality or longevity of your lashes, it’s knowing which ones, from the huge number on the market, you should be buying.

Fear not, we’re here to help and have compiled a list of some of the best false eyelashes in the UK, including the best cheap false eyelashes and the best false eyelashes for beginners.

Best false eyelashes

• Editor’s Pick: Tatti Lashes 3D TL range – £9.85
• Luxury Buy: Velour Beauty Feelin’ Myself – £23
• Bargain Buy: Eylure Lashes – £5+
• Best eyelashes for beginners: Ardell Wispies magnetic false eyelash kit – £18
• Best individual false eyelashes: MAC 30 Lash – £12.50
• Best for drama: Huda Beauty Carmen Lashes – £14
• Best natural-looking false eyelashes: NARS Eyelashes – £13

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Best concealer | Best makeup brush | Best foundation brush | Best eyeshadow palette | Best foundation | Best foundation for dark skin | Best foundation for oily skin | Best foundation for dry skin | Best contour kit | Best lip gloss | Best lip liner | Best mascara| Best primer | Best highlighter | Best brow pomade | Best blusher | Best setting spray | Best drugstore mascara

1. Editor’s Pick: Tatti Lashes 3D TL Range

£9.85 | Buy now from PrettyLittleThing

Tatti Lashes

Why we love them: If you’re looking for lashes that’ll get you that Kardashian finish, or alternatively you have no idea who the Kardashians are but you’re new to lashes and want a pair that will give your eyes a natural, yet bold and fluttery finish, Tatti Lashes is the brand for you.

We love how many options the TL range has, from dramatic and voluminous to more subtle, you’ve got them all to choose from.

They’re reusable for between 15–20 times which makes them well worth their price, and they come with the easiest to use adhesive glue. Handy and gorgeous.

Buy now from PrettyLittleThing

2. Luxury Buy: Velour Beauty Feelin’ Myself false eyelashes

£23 | Buy now from FalseEyelashes.co.uk

Velour

Why we love them: This product may be slightly more expensive than the others on our list but that is reflected in the quality and wow factor. Velour is fully behind the knowledge that every person and every eye is different, this is why they’ve put a lot of thought and care into ensuring their eyelashes can be suitable for everyone.

They even have a handy Lash Guide to help you choose the perfect ones for you. We’ve put the ‘Feelin’ Myself’ lashes on our list because we think they are great all-rounders and look flawless, whatever the occasion.

Buy now from FalseEyelashes

3. Bargain Buy: Eylure Lashes

£5+ | Buy now from Superdrug

Eylure

Why we love them: Possibly the most well-known brand in the UK for selling false eyelashes, for good reason. Not only are its products so affordable and accessible, they’re also of the highest quality and come with an adhesive glue that will last you up to 18 hours.

These are, hands-down, the best cheap false eyelashes around. The only downside is that they can only be reused a maximum of five times. However, because of their lower price this isn’t the end of the world.

4. Ardell Wispies magnetic false eyelashes kit

£18 | Buy now from Amazon

Ardell

Why we love them: Of all the magnetic false eyelashes we’ve tried – and believe us, there’s been a few! – Ardell’s range provides the best value for money. Not only do they come in various designs – including natural-looking false eyelashes all the way up to dramatic – once you’ve bought the kit you can go ahead and buy individual sets of lashes going forward. Plus, the beauty of magnetic lashes is that the magnetic eyeliner works with any brand, so you’re not restricted to just using Ardell’s lashes. We’re also big fans of Moxielash, but they’re pricey – $32 for a pair – and you need to have them shipped.

Buy now from Amazon

5. MAC 30 Lash

£12.50 | Buy now from MAC

MAC

Why we love them: MAC’s individual lashes come in three different lengths, ideal for you to mix and match as you wish. This product has the wonderful effect of helping you not look as though you have anything cosmetic on your eyes as well as keeping them feeling light and natural. They’re also super easy to apply.

Buy now from MAC

6. Huda Beauty Carmen Lashes

£14 | Buy now from Cult Beauty

Huda Beauty

Why we love them: These are the best false eyelashes we found when looking for ones with serious drama. They’ve got a feathery effect that makes the eyes pop and look bolder than they would with just a lick of mascara.

They’re the perfect balance of length and thickness helping them to look like extensions of your natural lashes.

This product is also ideal if your own eyelashes are a little sparse or you have gaps. Unfortunately, they don’t include glue, but that can be purchased here.

If you’re a fan of Huda Beauty, check out our Wishful Skin Chin Lift review and find the best places to buy Huda Beauty in the UK.

Buy now from Cult Beauty

7. NARS Eyelashes

£13 | Buy now from NARS

NARS

Why we love them: NARS’ lashes are designed to suit any eye shape, any time. They’re made with natural hair, rather than anything synthetic, which is a huge plus in helping them look just like your own lashes. The big downside to this, of course, is that NARS eyelashes aren’t vegan-friendly or cruelty-free. They’re both daring and practical, and are suitable for everyday use, literally everyday as they’re also suitable for reusing over and over. At only £13 these are certainly a true steal.

FURTHER READING: Natural vs synthetic makeup brushes: What’s the difference?

Buy now from NARS

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Libby Mewes

Libby graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in Multimedia Journalism. She’s worked as a researcher and writer for Heart Radio as well as a features writer for a Somerset newspaper. She’s since taken time out to travel, manage a hotel restaurant, do a lot of dog walking, and now works in London’s West End

The post Best false eyelashes: From natural-looking lashes to full-on glam, here are the best lashes for any occasion appeared first on mamabella.