We love a bit of makeup inspo and where better than the catwalks at this time of year to see what’s to come for our makeup looks next season?

We’ve chosen 4 of our favourite trends from the Spring/Summer ’21 shows to share with you: 

1) Your Best Skin 

With our new-normal state of mind, catwalks boasted healthy, polished skin with minimal makeup. A well-placed glow and balmy, dewy skin dominated the runways, with a no-makeup makeup look being the order of the day. With many people saying the last time they wore makeup was weeks or months ago, this mood was well reflected at the S/S 21 shows with “natural” looking skin certainly all in.

Get the look with: 

Even, glowing skin by adding a drop of liquid illuminating base to your foundation or tinted moisturiser such as delilah Pure Light Liquid Radiance

Boost your skin’s natural glow by adding a serum to your regime, such as Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum

Add a well-placed glow to your base with a powder highlighter such as TheBalm Mary Lou Manizer

2) Red Statement Lip

Yes we are all wearing masks most of the time, but designers made a point of emphasising a bold lip across the shows this season. Celebrating lips (when they can be seen) is a trend we are all encouraged to embrace, experimenting with textures and tones. We saw sharply defined lips, with strong, bold shades of red and pink. A statement that says that makeup is here to stay next season and we can all rock it!

Get the look with: 

Matte finish, long-lasting liquid lipstick such as TheBalm Meet Matte (e) Hughes in shade Charming

Creamy, luxurious, rich-pigmented shades such as Floozy, Vintage or Stiletto from delilah Colour Intense Cream Lipstick range

Lightweight, matte liquid lipstick with high intensity colour such as shades Flame or Retro from delilah Colour Intense Liquid Lipstick range

3) All About the Eyes 

The proverbial window to the soul, our eyes have become the true display of our makeup expression and individuality. At the S/S 21 shows, the eyes were accentuated with flicks of deep black liner, pops of shadow in striking neon or subtle pink, and framed with strong, imperfect brows. If masks are to be the new norm, then we can at least catch the eye of the beholder with our own take on these striking looks.

Get the look with: 

A perfectly precise line of deep, ebony black gel liner with delilah Gel Liner in Ebony

Highly pigmented, triple milled shadows with a mix of matte or shimming shades with TheBalm Meet Matt(e) Shmaker eye shadow palette

Tinted brow gel, with spooley for brushed up, “undone” eye brows with delilah Brow Shape Defining Gel

4) Wet Hair, Don’t Care 

Relaxed or ultra over-groomed seemed to be the order of the day at most shows, with a penchant for wet-look hair evident throughout. Out-of-the-ocean was paired with either a striking lip or exquisite eye look, and always with luminous skin.

Get the look with: 

Sleek, indulgent serum oil applied to wet hair, such as We Are Paradoxx Hangover Hair Elixir

Browse our full range to achieve your favourite looks for the Spring / Summer 2021 season

Photo show credits: 

Main image: Versace 

Skin images: David Koma (left) and Victoria Beckham (right) 

Lip images: Versace (left) and Valentino (right)

Eye images: Christian Siriano (left) and Blumarine (right) 

Hair images: Versace left and right 

Our makeup habits have shifted, in line with everything we call normal in recent times. But what should our makeup routine consist of now and how do we get the very best out of our favourite looks when half of our face is covered every time we go out in public?

We look at the latest trends emerging in the industry and share with you our top 5 tips on what to wear and how to wear it…

1. Prep your Skin: 

Wearing a mask can irritate your skin – we’ve all heard the talk about “maskne” and the breakouts that long periods of wearing a mask can cause.

If you start by cleansing your skin thoroughly this will help to keep pores open and prevent dirt and oils from being trapped on the skin’s surface. Try a gentle cleansing milk like REN Clean Skincare Evercalm which is ideal for sensitised skin.

Apply moisturiser to the skin, this will not only keep your skin hydrated, it will also create a barrier for the skin to protect it from the contact points of the mask. One with a built-in SPF is always a good option, like Trilogy Daily Defence Moisturiser SPF 15.

Throughout the day if you can, spritz your skin with a hydrating facial spray such as Pestle & Mortar Balance which can de-stress the skin, balance sebum production while calming and clarifying the skin.

2. All about the Base: 

Foundation is hard to resist if you usually wear it, but if you must, then try to wear it sparingly.

Foundation is likely to clog your pores since the skin is unable to breathe if it is covered for long periods throughout the day. The mask will also cause your makeup base to smudge and will likely transfer onto the face mask.

If you must wear foundation, choose transfer proof or light formulas that won’t be heavy on the skin and will be less likely to smudge. Why not try a Tinted Moisturiser instead and then use concealer around the eyes and sides of the nose to conceal any pigmentation in the skin? Setting your base with a light translucent powder can also help to create a barrier between the mask and the skin but keep it very light. Remember to wash your mask regularly because the build-up of bacteria in the mask will undoubtedly cause breakouts too.

3. Above the Mask – the Eyes: 

Eye makeup tips is one of the most trending makeup searches on Google currently, probably because we can see so little of the rest of the face.

Certainly, you can create impact with great eye makeup despite the mask! Try some new trends in shadows like pink or purple eye shadow or why not experiment with liner? Delilah Gel Liner in Ebony is a striking product to use to create a real impact with your eyeliner.

Add some false lashes for that wide-eyed look and you are ready to go. A little liquid highlighter, such as theBalm Mary Dew Manizer popped into the corner of the eye can also brighten the eyes for a more polished look.

Finish with a coat of volumizing mascara to lift and darken your lashes.

4. Frame the Face:

Our brows define the face and finish off any makeup look, more so than ever now since only our eye area is visible above the mask.

Unruly or light brows stand out all the more now that the face is half covered, so take the time to groom your brows for a more polished appearance. A brow pencil such as theBalm Furrowcious Brow Pencil with built in spooley is ideal to fill in sparse hairs and brush the brows into shape. Apply a little brow gel to hold them in place.

5. What about the Lips? 

Hidden for most of the day, but arguably our most expressive part of our face, what about our lips? Should we wear lipstick?

In times of economic difficulty in the past, lipstick was the go-to luxury that consumers enjoyed as a treat and saw the “lipstick effect” emerge. This crisis is different since the onset of the mask has taken away that need.

Lipstick will most likely just end up on the other side of the mask rather than on your lips so try opting for a tinted lip balm instead. This will keep your lips hydrated and combat the effect of the constant mask-wearing which can result in repeated licking of lips and skin becoming irritated and dry. Burt’s Bees range of tinted lip balms are deliciously hydrating and 100% natural, with a choice of shades to suit your mood.

So, has the day of the lippy gone forever? Definitely not. We say make the most of your favourite lipsticks for your Zoom calls.

Ever wondered how to really nail that bright, flawless look for your Zoom meetings? We give you the low down on how to get the look…

1. Base: your skin needs to be fresh and clean to have that bright, glowing look so start off with a cleanse and moisturise before applying any base products to your skin. Adding a few drop of a lightweight liquid illuminator such as delilah Pure Light Liquid Radiance to your foundation or even a tinted moisturiser for a lighter coverage, can help to brighten your skin. TheBalm Balm Shelter Tinted Moisturiser gives an even, matt coverage without feeling heavy on the skin.
2. Contour: you are not heading out for the night, but you don’t want your base to look flat and dull either, so that’s where some clever blending with your bronzer can help. Using a matt-based bronzing powder such as TheBalm Bahama Mama, and using an angled contour brush, blend along the cheekbones and in a three motion from the side of the forehead and under the jawline. It will give more shape and definition to your face.
3. Eyes: the secret to your soul… well maybe you just want them to look wide-awake and bright for your call, so we recommend a soft eye makeup look. Keeping tones neutral is best, and starting off by prepping your lids with a little eye primer – or we find TheBalm Time Balm Concealer is perfect for this – using your ring finger, give your eye lids a neutral base by covering lightly with the concealer. Using an eye shadow brush, blend a nude shadow over the lids, stopping at the crease of the lid, so that your look is very much less is more. Define the eyes with a soft kohl pencil in brown or grey running it along the lash line on the top and finish with mascara.
4. Brows: your brows can speak volumes about your overall look, so to look more confident and in control brush up your brows using a spooly brow brush and define and fill using a brow pencil. Try TheBalm Furrowcious brow pencil which comes with a built in spooly for a quick and easy look.
5. Lighting! This isn’t going to be something you can capture with your makeup kit, but good lighting is the best tool to get the most flattering look on camera. Natural light is always best, but where that isn’t possible, a good round light or desk light can work wonders. Make sure the light isn’t behind you, instead position yourself so that the window or lamp is facing you to give you a more symmetrical look.

• Only use as much soap as you need to cover your hands, not more. More soap does not equal better cleaning.
• While at home, wash hands using soap instead of using hand sanitiser, the alcohol content can be drying on the skin so save that for when you need to step out.
• Dry your hands fully after washing by patting them dry, not rubbing.
• Apply hand cream immediately after handwashing. It will help repair the damaged outer skin and lock in moisture, helping your hands feel soft and supple again. Apply repeatedly throughout the day, and whenever the skin feels dry. Make sure to rub gently onto your palm, between the fingers, the back of your hand, the surface of your nails and your wrists.
• Overnight moisturising treatments are super beneficial because they offer an uninterrupted boost of hydration for the hands. Apply Human & Kind Family Remedy Cream or another deeply moisturising hand cream, in a generous layer just before you go to bed and for a more intensive treatment put on a pair of clean cotton gloves and leave on overnight.
• When you are washing up, shampooing a child’s hair, or using cleaning products, not specifically washing the hands, wearing gloves will provide a barrier to protect the skin.

Cleaning Brushes and Makeup Sponges – How To

So, we’re all washing our hands more often than ever and even making sure to clean down our work surfaces at home – but what of our make up brushes and sponges that we use on our face every day?
Maybe we’re wearing less makeup than we would have before this new “normal” but that’s all the more reason to make sure that your brushes and sponges are not sitting gathering bacteria before you use them again.

Cleaning your brushes regularly and with an anti-bacterial brush cleaner is essential. Here are a few simple tips as to how to deep clean your brushes and makeup sponges:

• Swirl your brushes under warm water and then gently rub the bristles on the surface of the cleaner.
• Rub the bristles into the palm of your hand to remove dirt, makeup grime and bacteria and then rinse away the soap with warm water by swirling gently under the running tap.
• Reshape the brush in your hand, dry the handles and around the metal part of the brush, and place onto a dry towel or even a paper towel works well, to allow the bristles to dry while flat – sitting the bristles off the edge of the counter will ensure they keep their natural shape and won’t be flattened by the counter surface.
• If there are any stubborn stains – perhaps it’s been a while since the brush was cleaned and you had some vibrant shades or long-wear makeup – a little tip is to swirl some coconut oil onto the bristles before cleaning in the usual way. This can help lift some stubborn stains.

• If you are using a cheap sponge, you can dispose of them and replace them regularly, but if you are using a more professional sponge such as a beautyblender, you should always wash thoroughly after each use.
• Wash your sponge by applying a 10c coin-sized amount of liquid blender cleanser to your palm and rubbing into the sponge surface before rinsing well under warm running water.
• Squeeze the sponge and rinse again until the water runs clear of soap.
• Alternatively, Pop the blender into a cup-sized container with a dollop of liquid blender cleanser and leave to soak overnight. If you don’t have liquid blender cleanser, a gentle shampoo will do the trick too.
• The next day rinse out the sponge thoroughly, rinsing and squeezing repeatedly until the water runs clear of any soap.
• Squeeze the sponge in a paper towel and allow to air dry.
• Using a ventilated container such as a blender defender to store your sponges can also help keep them clean between uses.

With the help of beauty and skincare expert, Corinne Morley from Trilogy’s Global team, we’ve delved into the world of Rosehip Oil and why is should be an important part of your facial skincare routine.

What is rosehip oil?
Firstly, let’s cover the basics – what is rosehip oil?
Well, it’s pretty simple. The little bottle of oil on your shelf is pressed from the seeds of the fruit of a rose plant (rosa canina, rosa moschata, rosa rubiginosa) grown most commonly in Chile and South Africa.

What are the benefits of rosehip oil for your face?
Rosehip oil is highly concentrated with essential fatty acids and antioxidants, using rosehip oil on your face is an amazing way to apply a number of nourishing skin-loving properties without having to use a ton of different products.
Not only is rosehip oil full of powerful essential fatty acids and antioxidants, but it’s also known to improve hydration. This is due to it’s fine molecular structure it can be absorbed easily into the skin. This powerful hydration effect can also brighten dull skin, improve the appearance of skin elasticity and fine lines & wrinkles.
Also present in rosehip oil is Vitamin E, an intensely moisturising vitamin which is known to reduce inflammation. And if that wasn’t enough, rosehip oil is a natural source of Omega 3, 6 and 9, which are fantastic for repairing damaged skin, especially for reducing the appearance of scars.
The combination of fatty acids, antioxidants and hydrating, anti-aging properties make rosehip oil an essential tool for your skincare kit.

How to apply rosehip oil to your face
Adding rosehip oil into your skincare routine can have amazing benefits for your skin.

Here’s how to apply it to your face:
• Firstly, like any skincare product, always patch test. Try testing rosehip oil on your inner arm, as this part of your skin is delicate and similar to the skin on your face
• Leave it for up to 24 hours depending on your skin sensitivity
• Once you’re confident your skin is comfortable with rosehip oil, you can start introducing it to your skincare routine
• Now choose whether you’d like to use rosehip oil on its own or with your other moisturisers and skincare products
• Just apply 2 – 3 drops of Trilogy’s Certified Organic Rosehip Oil to your face twice a day by adding drops to your hand and smoothing over your face
• If you would like to apply a moisturiser, apply this after you have applied the rosehip oil or add 2-3 drops into your daily moisturiser
• Another great way to apply rosehip oil is as a spot treatment – applying it directly onto areas of scaring

Trilogy’s Certified Organic Rosehip Oil is one of the most awarded beauty oils the world over. It is certified organic, 100% natural and cold pressed. The rosehip oil is tested for a minimum 80% fatty acid content to ensure the powerful skin-loving benefits are retained.

To take care of your rosehip oil, we recommend storing it in a cool, dry place to ensure the product keeps well.

Now that summer is over, there is a back-to-school feeling in the air and the traffic is busy again in the mornings; let’s take a look at 4 of the top makeup trends you should be channelling this autumn.

1. Matte Red Lipstick
A statement red lip, especially in a textured matte, is an absolute fail safe for a sophisticated autumn look. It was a firm favourite on the autumn/winter catwalks and was generally paired with either a polished skin or a sharp winged eye. Whatever way you wear it, wear it bold.

Get the look with delilah Colour Intense lipstick in Vintage

2. Neon Eyes
While the bright, cheery colours of summer might be behind us, the catwalks for autumn/winter saw flashes of colour brighten the eyes. Pop a little neon into the inner corners to brighten the eyes.

Get the look with BPerfect Stacey Marie Carnival Palette 

3. Dewy, Post-Facial Glow
Fresh-faced, barely-there makeup saw a revival at many shows this season including Stella McCartney and Isabel Marant, a sign that the natural beauty boom is making a comeback. Neutral eye shades, sometimes with a delicate smoky finish, were paired with a nude or brown lip, giving a soft, monotone palette that oozed understated elegance.

Get the look with delilah Pure Touch Microfine Loose Powder

4. Graphic Lashes
We saw the spotlight fall on lashes at the fashion shows this season. Dramatic, artistic lashes – Twiggy-style – are making a comeback. The trick is to keep it cool and sophisticated and not doll-like. A good kohl pencil and rich black mascara are the must-have tools to pull off this look with aplomb.

Get the look with TheBalm Mad Lash mascara and delilah Eyeline in Coal

SHOP THE BEAUTY KIT MAKEUP

Summer is often the season when complexions start to look like they have been on holiday – glowing and refreshed! However, summer often leaves skin overexposed to the damaging effects of the sun, while the rise in humidity levels increases breakouts. Like any change in season, it’s important to adapt your skincare regime to keep it looking and feeling its very best!

Everything seems to be lighter in summer, from lighter clothing to our diets. This makes summer the ideal season to switch to lighter skincare! Kick your summer skincare off with a refreshing gel cleanser instead of a cream cleanser, as using a gel cleanser in the morning is especially good in humid weather to rinse away the build-up of excess oils overnight. Then put your thicker rich moisturiser into hibernation and replace with a lighter moisturiser or serum that refreshes and tones in warmer weather. Lastly, save your favourite facial oil for your repair and rejuvenate night-time regime.

Another thing to keep in mind as you strip away the winter layers is to think about stripping away the makeup! Your skin needs a break in the summer heat and remember my beauties, “less is more” and summer is a great time to show off your fresh, relaxed and summery looking skin. Ditch your heavy, full coverage foundation and replace it with a tinted day cream or lightweight foundation, making sure that it includes SPF. Then instead of constantly worrying about running mascara, try an eyelash tint – I always say that a tint is money well spent! And to keep you looking and feeling refreshed, reach for a spritz of cooling mist toner instead of a traditional cotton-pad toner. I carry one in my bag and spritz my face throughout the day to keep my skin looking dewy and fresh.

Summer is also a great time to ditch your belief that it’s not important to exfoliate. Using a gentle facial exfoliator once or twice a week is important to remove surface debris and increase skin clarity, but it’s especially important in the summer to make sure you’re removing the sunscreen, sweat and oil build-up that comes from hot summer days. Follow your exfoliation up with a weekly clay face mask to deeply cleanse the skin, draw out impurities and absorb excess sebum. You skin will thank you for it!

Last but not least our skin is our largest organ. Not an original phrase but it’s true, so it makes perfect sense that lots of the things that deliver health benefits as part of our diets are also good for the health and wellbeing of our skin. Summer is a great time to boost your diet with superfoods rich in antioxidants. Superfoods offer greater nutritional benefits and support the way our bodies function, both inside and out. It’s much easier to prevent the signs of ageing than to cure them so a good diet rich in antioxidants will help protect the skin and damage.

Water, water, water! Increasing your water intake or drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day will help rid the body and skin of toxins, help to keep skin hydrated, supple and with more of a radiant glow!

From Corrine Morley, Trilogy global in-house beauty expert

Now that we are starting to get a hint of warm weather on our skin, its time to re-think our beauty kit to suit the balmy afternoons and long evenings.

Here are our 5 top tips to lighten up your makeup game this summer…

1)      SPF – this is simply a must-have. Not just for your body, but particularly for your face. Nothing damages and ages the skin more than sun exposure. Ideally you need to wear SPF 30+ on your face to stave off those damaging rays.

Apply over your daily moisturiser on cleansed skin, allow to dry in before applying your foundation.

2)      A lighter base – If you find foundation too heavy in the warmer months, try a lighter base such as TheBalm Balm Shelter Tinted Moisturiser SPF18. This is a lighter formula than a standard foundation but evens the skin tone for a smoother complexion.

3)      Lighten your shadow – in the summer, lighter shades can tend to look fresher and opting for a selection of nude shades for your eye shadow can give a fresher, brighter look to the eyes. TheBalm’s Nude Dude or Nude Tude palettes have a great mix of nude summer shades.

4)      Mattify your skin – a good quality loose powder should be a staple for all makeup kits in the summer. Foundation can start to look shiny in warmer weather and an easy fix is to set your base with powder and then top it up with a large powder brush throughout the day.  Delilah Pure Touch Microfine Loose Powder transforms skin for an air-brushed looking finish. It sets foundation and mattifies the skin without changing its natural colour.

5)      Swap Blusher for extra Bronzer – you want your skin to scream sun kissed in the summer months and what better way to achieve that look but with a little extra bronzer on the cheeks to add that summery glow. Blusher can feel heavy in the summer but a light, matt finish bronzer for day wear such as Delilah Sunset Compact Matte Bronzer can really add radiance to the skin. For a bit more highlighter for evenings you could use a bronzer with a slight shimmer, such as BPerfect Cosmetics Golden Glow Body Shimmer for added pizzazz.

For more information on all of our summer ranges, click here