In my first column during the early stages of lockdown, I set a challenge for us all to be self-tan and make-up free for three weeks.

I hope your skin has reaped the benefits if you did rise to the challenge, and I know a few people that still haven’t gone back to wearing make-up.

One shop owner told me she realised that she hadn’t worn make-up for the whole of lockdown and had to practice applying it as she felt so out of touch.

As lockdown rules have eased and some of you may be returning to your place of work or going out for dinner, I will be exploring some light summer make-up ideas.

Good habits

Good make-up will look effortless and natural, particularly in the summer, and if the skin looks radiant and glowing, you will look great.

It goes without saying that good skin to begin with will pave the way for easy make-up application, so keep up good skin care habits.

The key starting point is to create a flawless finish with foundation and concealer.

Firstly, wash your hands to prevent the spread of bacteria on your skin and apply a primer over your moisturiser.

Primer will create an even canvas for your foundation or tinted moisturiser and help your make-up to last and not crease.

Conceal blemishes by stippling with a small concealer brush or your ring finger. You can use a green concealer under foundation to hide any red blemishes or very high colouring and use a light concealer for dark circles under the eyes.

Apply your foundation with a clean make-up brush, sponge or fingertips. Many makeup artists like brushes, but use what works well for you with your product.

Blend outwards all over the face, remembering to blending out over the jaw line and go over the eye lids and lips.

Apply a little concealer over any blemishes that are still showing before setting your make up with a face powder – either translucent or one to match the colour of your foundation.

I’m not a fan of fixing sprays as I don’t think they are good for your skin. As I have a dry skin type, I tend to only use translucent powder, but oily skins may prefer powder all over the face.

Apply using a powder brush downwards to prevent highlighting the fine downy hair we all have on our faces.

Once your foundation application is complete, your skin may look very flat, which is good as it shows you have evened your skin out well.

Add dimension and highlight your features using a contour kit, blushers, bronzers, and highlighters.

Instant Radiance

For summer glowing skin, try using an illuminator in selected areas of the face over your foundation or tinted moisturiser.

There are some that you can also mix in with your foundation for a dewy sheen to the skin, but this may not always appeal to those with an oily skin and don’t do this to a skin that is lined.

To choose the right illuminator, use deeper or gold tones on an olive or tanned skin and lighter pearly soft shades for a fair skin. Ask an expert to help you choose.

Apply the illuminator on the top of the cheekbone and the bridge of the nose, and apply blusher or contour to finish.

This will help to create dimension to the face, and there are many tricks to highlight great features and tone down areas that you don’t like.

There are lots of online videos and workshops to show how to contour properly, but I am of the opinion that less is more, as it can look over done and un natural.

Top Tips

Wash your makeup brush with a brush cleaner on a regular basis and use a spray brush cleaner in between.

When choosing a foundation or tinted moisturiser, always test on your face as it should match your skin.

A foundation is there to even out your skin, not change its colour, and this will help you to avoid unsightly tide marks.

You may need a different foundation from summer to winter, and I prefer a lighter texture in the summer or a tinted moisturiser.

Choose the right texture and finish of foundation for your skin type. An oily skin may prefer a matt finish and a dry skin a creamy finish.

Avoid wearing a full face of make-up while on holiday in the sun as it is not good for your skin, opting instead for a tinted sunscreen.

Always use new make-up on a day that you aren’t going out, just in case it doesn’t suit to avoid any stress.