Beauty & Personal Care

How to choose a makeup gift set

Multi-piece sets are the most common beauty gift and the easiest to get wrong, because the piece count says nothing about whether the shades will suit the person.

• Neutral and nude palettes suit almost everyone. Bright or highly pigmented colour sets are a gamble unless you know the recipient wears them.
• Check the shade range against skin tone, particularly for foundation and air cushion products. These are the hardest items to match and the most likely to go unused.
• Count what's actually usable. A 20-piece set with fifteen eyeshadows and one lipstick is really a palette with extras.
• Brushes and tools are the safer inclusion than colour cosmetics if you're unsure of taste.

How to patch test: and why it matters

Reactions to cosmetics are common and unpredictable, and a patch test takes two days of doing nothing.

• Apply a small amount to the inner forearm or behind the ear
• Leave it for 24-48 hours without washing the area
• If there's redness, itching, burning or swelling, don't use the product

Patch test anything new if you have sensitive skin, eczema, or a history of reactions, and always before using a product on the face. If you have a known allergy, check the full ingredient list before buying rather than after. Stop using anything that causes irritation and speak to a pharmacist or GP if a reaction persists.

How to make makeup last through the day

• Start with clean, moisturised skin and let the moisturiser absorb for a few minutes. Applying over damp skin is why foundation slides.
• Less product, better blended lasts longer than more product. Thick layers crease and transfer.
• Set the areas that move, under the eyes and around the nose, with a light powder rather than setting the whole face.
• Blot rather than reapply. Adding foundation over the top of the day's wear is what creates a heavy look by evening.

How to keep makeup and tools hygienic

This is the part most people skip, and it's the most common cause of breakouts blamed on the product.

• Wash brushes weekly with a gentle shampoo, reshape them and dry flat, never standing upright, which lets water run into the ferrule and loosen the glue
• Clean sponges after every use. Damp sponges are the worst offender for bacteria
• Don't share eye products. Mascara and eyeliner transfer infections readily
• Check the PAO symbol: the small open jar icon with a number, meaning months after opening. Mascara is usually 3-6 months; foundation 6-12
• Keep everything out of the bathroom if you can. Heat and humidity shorten shelf life considerably

How to use a facial roller properly

Facial rollers are widely used for a cooling, de-puffing effect, particularly in the morning. They aren't a treatment for any skin condition.

• Chill it first: the cooling does most of the work
• Always roll outwards and upwards, from the centre of the face towards the ears and hairline
• Use light pressure. Dragging at the skin does more harm than good
• Use over serum or oil, not on dry skin, so it glides rather than pulls
• Clean it after each use like any other tool

How to use a toning hair mask

Purple and toning masks neutralise brassiness in blonde and lightened hair. They're pigment, not a dye, and the results are temporary.

• Start with less time than the packet suggests, five minutes on the first use, then adjust. Over-toning leaves a lilac cast that takes several washes to fade
• Apply to damp, not soaking, hair so the pigment isn't diluted
• Wear gloves. Pigment stains hands and, more annoyingly, bath surfaces
• Use once a week at most. More frequent use builds up