Makeup

Makeup covers face, eye and lip products — foundation, concealer, powder, blush, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick and the tools that go with them.

Matching a Shade That Actually Works

• Test on your jaw, not your hand or your wrist. The skin there is closest to your face and neck colour, and hand skin is a different shade entirely.

• Test in daylight. Shop lighting is designed to flatter and it will mislead you every time.

• Undertone matters as much as depth. South Asian skin is frequently warm or olive, and a foundation with a pink undertone will look grey or ashy however well the depth is matched.

• Foundation oxidises. Many shades darken slightly over the first half hour on skin — check the match after twenty minutes, not immediately.

• Buy for the season. Most people need a slightly deeper shade after the summer.

Makeup in Heat and Humidity

• Prime, and set with powder. A mattifying primer and a light setting powder do most of the work of keeping makeup in place here.

• Thin layers, built up. A thick layer of foundation slides and separates in humidity; two sheer layers do not.

• Waterproof mascara and eyeliner in the hot months, and a proper remover for them.

• Blotting paper rather than more powder through the day — repeated powdering cakes.

Hygiene — Where Makeup Goes Wrong

• Never share eye makeup. Mascara and eyeliner transfer eye infections directly.

• Replace mascara every three months. It is the one product with a firm limit — the wand carries bacteria back into a warm, wet tube every use. Never pump the wand, which pushes air in and dries it out.

• Wash brushes weekly and sponges after every use. A damp sponge in this climate grows mould within days.

• Never sleep in makeup. Double cleanse to remove it properly — oil or balm first to dissolve, then a normal face wash.

• Watch the period-after-opening symbol on each product, and throw out anything that has changed smell, texture or colour.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop my foundation looking grey?

Undertone rather than shade. Most South Asian skin is warm, neutral or olive — a foundation with a pink base reads ashy. Match on the jaw in daylight and check again after twenty minutes.

How often should I replace makeup?

Mascara every three months, liquid foundation and concealer within a year of opening, powders and lipsticks one to two years. Throw out anything that smells or looks different.

Why does my makeup slide off by midday?

Heat, humidity and too much product. Use a mattifying primer, apply thin layers, set with powder and blot rather than re-powder.

How do I know the product is genuine?

Check the seal, the batch number and the expiry printed on the pack itself rather than on a sticker over it. Everything we sell is sourced to arrive sealed and within date, and if what you receive does not match the listing we will put it right.

How much shelf life will it have?

We stock to arrive well within date and do not knowingly ship anything close to expiry. If you need a specific minimum for a particular order, ask before placing it and we will check the batch.