So here we are finally, facing that light at the end of a very dark tunnel (hopefully). The past few months seemed never-ending yet somehow they now feel like a blur. We find ourselves faced with a return to our old normality - or what will now be our ‘new normal’. So what is normal now? Is it our pre-pandemic existence? The one where we indulged, made plans, cancelled plans, raced around, spent money and often craved a slower pace, or is it the one we have lived since March? The one where the slower pace gave us anxiety, we had no plans to cancel, no money to spend and nowhere to race to. Or was that some kind of strange limbo? Maybe we should call it the In-Between. Or if you watched Stranger Things on Netflix you’ll probably agree there were many times it felt like the Upside Down.

Pre-pandemic, our lives were full of events, gigs, dinner dates, girly get-togethers and that thing called work. We always put our best foot forward, our outfits were planned in advance and we felt just as naked without perfect makeup and hair as we would have done without those clothes. But now as we emerge from lockdown our FOMO has changed. The fear of missing out has become the fear of moving on. It will be a slow emergence – a reunion with our old selves. We have gotten pretty used to wearing no makeup, washing our hair less frequently and wearing loose and stretchy pyjama/leisure type clothing with the questionable coordination of a 90s raver. The thoughts of wearing a full face of makeup now make me feel as sweaty and restricted as Kim Kardashian in a Balmain Latex bodysuit.

As I emerge from the in-between, I am embracing a more minimal makeup look going forward with a firm focus on skin. The summer has always been a time for a more natural look so paring it back from the norm won’t look out of place. In fact, it feels right for right now. Our makeup needs to work with our new comfy wardrobe as we slowly make our way back out into the world.

Skin

Skincare is a step that can’t be skipped. If you want to glow you need to invest in good skincare. And that includes investing time. The better your skin the easier it is to wear lightweight alternatives to foundation such as tinted moisturisers, BB creams and water tints such my beloved Chanel Les Beiges Eau De Teint which warms my complexion while giving a bare-skin effect. The brush that comes with it is pretty good too! I have just started using Clarins Mineral Care Compact – a lightweight, dewy tint with SPF 30 which comes in one universal shade – and I’m loving it so far. Hide tired eyes and blemishes with a waterproof concealer like Catrice liquid camouflage for good coverage with a natural finish. And it’s cheap as chips!

colour

Makeup should be easy and effortless. Use products that make your skin feel like it can breathe and can be easily applied with fingers. Swap powder products for creams, opting for cream blush, cream bronzer and cream shadows. Using double-duty products where possible saves both time and money. Some cream blushes double up as lip colour such as the gorgeously dewy Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge range. Or use lipstick as a blush for a quick and pretty flush on cheeks to match your lip colour. Both options can be applied with your fingers for minimum effort.

I adore Nars Laguna Liquid Bronzer to add warmth to the complexion. It can be applied over makeup or to bare skin. A medium-sized, soft but firm bronzing brush is perfect for even application. Apply across the forehead, temples, cheekbones and under the jawline for a natural sun-kissed complexion. Keep application light as you are adding warmth, not colour. And if you have been sitting out in the gorgeous weather of late, you will know only too well how easy it is to get that dreaded white neck so don’t forget to bring the brush all the way down there too! And never miss the opportunity to double job your products - sweep some of that bronzer across your eyelids to complete the look. If you feel like putting in some extra eye-time, Zoeva, Bobbi Brown and Charlotte Tilbury have some easy to use cream shadow sticks for added impact.

Brows

Good brows are essential for a natural look. We want the least amount of effort in the shortest amount of time so one sure way to look groomed is to define your brows. Good brows are going nowhere - not even a global pandemic can make bad brows acceptable. Brows have always defined an era. Their shape and style are as representative of a period in time as a style of clothing or an iconic piece of furniture. The brows of today are full and soft. Pairing a sharp or heavy brow with minimal makeup will bring focus to the brow and look severe. Keep a softness to the look by filling the brows where needed with a pencil and set and gently fluff with a tinted brow gel like Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brows.

Mascara

If you’re anything like me right now you’re going to need to turn to waterproof mascara. Having worn little to no makeup since March, I now keep forgetting I have it on. So I inevitably rub my eyes and curse myself afterwards. Choosing a budge-proof mascara will reduce the risk of panda eyes and save you from both yourself and the summer heat.

Makeup for our mood

One of the best things about makeup is its ability to give you confidence. To make you feel human. To make you feel you. We all need to reconnect with ourselves at this time and rediscover those things that make us feel like our old selves again. Maybe the things we needed to lift ourselves in the past will no longer be the things we need in the future. When we had places to go we adapted our makeup to suit an occasion and this occasion calls for something low key. A laid back approach to makeup feels right for me now but that may not last. That’s one of the other beautiful things about makeup. There is no permanency. It reflects a mood and God knows our moods can change. The desire to pare back our makeup doesn’t make it any less important. It is probably more important now than ever. Our little security blanket for when we step out into the world again. Most likely in very comfortable shoes!

Ailbhe Lynch, July 2020.

Have you been wearing makeup these past few months?
Tell us your thoughts on wearing it now in the comments below…