Cosmetics

Cosmetics: makeup for face, eyes and lips

Cosmetics here means makeup, the products you use to bring out your natural look: foundations and concealers, powders and blushes, mascaras, eyeliners and kajals, and lip balms. You will find well-known brands for everyday and for party makeup, for the makeup beginner and for the makeup fan.

A good makeup base is the right complexion product: a shade and texture that melt into your skin. After that you add an accent to eyes and lips that suits your style. When choosing cosmetics, consider how much time you want to spend: light products suit a quick morning, more precise ones the evening.

How to choose makeup products

• Complexion: choose a shade that matches at the jaw and neck; a foundation gives coverage, lighter products a natural finish. More is under face makeup.
• Powder: sets makeup and reduces shine; a pressed powder is handy to carry.
• Eyes: mascara gives volume or length, eyeliner and kajal define the eyes; see eye makeup.
• Lips: a tinted lip balm brings colour while caring for the lips, for example tinted lip balm.

Good skincare improves the result, because clean skin takes makeup better. Makeup products come from Clinique and Shiseido, among others, in complexion and eye makeup lines.

Makeup that fits your day

Makeup does not have to be complicated. One morning a thin layer of foundation, a little powder and mascara is enough; another evening you want a line on the eyes, colour on the cheeks and colour on the lips. A good makeup bag holds a few favourites, each with one clear job. Choose the complexion first, then one eye product and one lip product, and add more only when you feel like it.

Complexion and concealers

Complexion is the foundation of makeup. A light, glow-giving foundation such as Clinique Even Better Glow gives the skin a fresh look; for more coverage, see the foundation and concealer. A compact option is the powder foundation, which fits in a handbag and refreshes your look during the day. For a touch of radiance, add a thin layer of illuminator gel on the cheekbones. A concealer helps even out the area under the eyes and the tone of the face, and a concealer stick does exactly that.

Eye makeup: lashes, liner and kajal

Eye makeup changes the look quickly. Mascara gives the lashes length and volume, and the choice is wide: the Diorshow mascara is our most popular, the Elizabeth Arden mascara is a deep black choice for everyday wear. For a line on the lid, a precise eyeliner helps, and for a softer, smoky look choose a kajal. Draw the liner as a thin line along the lash base and finish with mascara.

Blush and powder

Blush brings life to the face. A soft, airy powder blush spreads easily and gives a natural result. Powder finishes the complexion: the pressed powder reduces shine and fits in your handbag, so your complexion stays tidy until the end of the day.

Cosmetics and skincare go together

Makeup looks better on cared-for skin. In the morning use a suitable cream and sun protection before the complexion product, for example the sun protection emulsion, which stays under makeup. In the evening remove makeup completely and continue with care: see our face care products and face cleansing. If you like skincare from the newer end of the market, find inspiration in Korean cosmetics too.

For beginners: four products that make a look

• Foundation or concealer: evens the complexion and is the base of every look.
• Powder: sets makeup and reduces shine.
• Mascara: the fastest way to refresh the look.
• Blush or lip balm: adds colour to the face.

Four products are enough for a simple and pretty everyday look. After that you add products when you want to try something new: an eyeliner, a kajal or an illuminator. The range includes products for the beginner and for the experienced makeup fan.

Cosmetics as a gift

Makeup products are well-loved gifts. A mascara, a kajal or a blush fits in a small package and suits a birthday as well as a thank-you. If you do not know the recipient’s taste, choose a neutral product whose colour suits many people: a black mascara, a kajal or a light powder. For a larger gift, combine makeup with a scent: see also perfumes.

Frequently asked questions