The 8 Essential Skin Savers
You might think that for make-up artists more is better. Not so, says Linda Hay, the Australian make-up artist who has the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Julianne Moore and Heidi Klum on speed dial.
“When it comes to choosing products for me and my clients, I have high expectations. I don’t want to use too many products; I look for ones that really do the job,” she says.
Investing in good skin care is important, says Linda. “Skin is the foundation for everything so you have to get it right, but that doesn’t mean spending a fortune.
“My go-to items include affordable products as well as some that are an indulgence. What they have in common is that they work.”
We asked Linda to open her make-up bag and share her favourite skin products with us.
Moisturisers
My skin is super-sensitive – I’m allergic to just about everything – but Augustinus Bader, The Rich Cream works for me, so I’m happy to use it on my clients, too. This is fragrance-free, very light but rich. It gives the skin a nice glow and is a great all-round moisturiser.
A lot of my clients love Glossier as a brand: their products have no fragrance and are not invasive. The Glossier Priming Moisturizer is light and easy to wear. If The Rich Cream feels too rich for you, this is a great option. It’s important to remember that your skin doesn’t finish at your chin: any exposed skin needs to be moisturised.
Cleansers
Each night it’s really important to clean your skin properly to get rid of the gunk that has stuck to it during the day and to give it a bit of a boost. Because my skin is sensitive, anything sudsy or abrasive is way too aggressive. Tatcha The Rice Polish Classic Foaming Enzyme Powder is a very gentle way to cleanse. If you prefer a more traditional scrub, the Dr Barbara Sturm Facial Scrub is a good option. The whole Sturm line is great, actually.
Concealers
I use BeautyCounter Touchup Concealer Pen on myself. For me, Beautycounter is a company that’s doing everything right. The products are fantastic, they have an environmental philosophy and they’re concerned about how products affect you. YSL Touche Eclat is another amazing product. It ticks all the boxes for me.
Foundations
I don’t like to carry too many products in my kit so I look for products that work on many levels. Chanel Ultra Le Teint Velvet comes in lots of colours – you can mix to suit virtually any shade of skin – and the finish has a slight glow to it. For a daytime look, Dior Backstage Face and Body is my go-to for a super-light, super-easy product. A lot of women are turned off by foundation because they find it too heavy. If you’re one of them, this is the foundation for you.
Interview_ Ute Junker
Photo_ Stocksy