Much of the discourse around make-up focuses on trending colours, TikTok-famous techniques and transformative formulations. But when it comes to the make-up we actually wear regularly, it’s less about experimentation and more about products we know we can rely upon to deliver day in, day out – a beauty uniform, if you will. We’re talking the creamy blush you tap onto your cheekbones with your fingers every morning, or the tinted lip balm you wouldn’t leave the house without. The brow pencil that makes you feel polished in a matter of seconds, or the tinted moisturiser so foolproof you could apply it with your eyes closed. Sure, it’s fun to play around with beauty trends when you’ve got the time, or to apply a bold lipstick if you’re in the mood, but these daily heroes are the products you reach for when you just want to look like a better version of yourself, without even having to think about it. So if you’re looking to tweak, hone or improve your daily make-up arsenal – or even build a beauty uniform from scratch – here are some of the most hard-working and versatile products for the job.
Skin
When it comes to foundation, concealer and the growing number of skincare-make-up hybrids out there, you’re looking for formulas that melt in to the skin, glide on easily and feel comfortable from morning until night. The sort of easy-to-wear base products you’re as likely to wear to the park as you are to your big presentation at work.
Skin
A huge shade range, a beautiful formulation, and the ability to cover even the darkest of dark circles – a concealer worthy of every bit of hype it has received.
If you’re looking for a little extra coverage every day, IT Cosmetics’s CC+ Cream might well be your perfect fit. A huge shade range, multiple skin-enhancing benefits and SPF 50 protection all combine in a formula that somehow melts immediately and seamlessly into the skin, whilst offering impressive pigmentation.
A beautiful concealer, covering imperfections whilst remaining imperceptible on the skin. No notes.
Lips
Sure, you might be someone whose beauty uniform includes a flawless scarlet lip every single day, but for a lower maintenance alternative, the wealth of great tinted balms and buildable lipsticks out there offer polish without the need for perfection.
Lips
Is there anything more luxe than a Chanel lip balm? This hydrating tinted formula is great for everyday wear – we love the Sweet Treat shade for darker skin tones.
A buildable lipstick that can be layered to your desired intensity, Bobbi Brown’s Lip Color is only as high-maintenance as you want it to be. Blush is a blue-toned pale pink perfect for the palest skin tones.
The adult version of the cherry lip balm you loved as a pre-teen, Fresh’s cult hero offers a wash of sheer colour as well as feeling truly delectable on your skin.
The moisture-boosting formula and barely-there colour of this buttery balm makes it a great everyday choice. If you have olive-toned skin, the peachy Hold Me is the perfect nude, whilst Heartbeat offers a pop of colour that suits everyone.
Eyes and Brows
A quick slick of mascara and thirty seconds spent on your brows – maybe even a little eyeliner too – can make the world of difference with the most minimal effort. Swap striking black for softer brown hues if you want a more natural look.
Eyes and Brows
If your brows are gappy and sparse (read: you over-plucked them in the ‘90s), a great brow pencil has the power to instantly transform. Kosas’s is one of the best, with its smudge-proof and vitamin-enriched formula.
A black eyeliner definitely makes an impression, but a soft, smoky brown makes a great everyday choice. Byredo’s chunky Kajal Pencil in the natural-looking Bhoora Bhoora glides on easily and blends in beautifully – you can’t go wrong.
For some, no make-up look is complete without a flick of liquid liner. Vieve’s felt-tip-style Power Ink makes application as easy as 1, 2, 3.
Everyone has a favourite mascara – and, once they’ve found it, is forever praying it doesn’t get discontinued. Diorshow Iconic Overcurl is so brilliant it surely never will be. Truly transformative.
Cheeks
There are some amazing multitaskers out there, from balm-like peaches and pinks that work across cheeks, lip and eyes alike, to sheer bronzers which can be used to add definition and warmth wherever you need it. Here are some of the best, with shades to suit every skin tone.
Cheeks
As good on lips as it is on cheeks – and, incidentally, great on eyelids too – Byredo’s Colour Stick is the ultimate make-up multitasker, offering a pop of colour wherever you want it. There are plenty of great shades, but Demerara is subtle and natural, and suits all skin tones.
£32
A creamy tint that melts into the skin to truly dewy effect, Flush Balm works really well as a blush/bronzer hybrid – try blending onto the cheekbones, bridge of the nose and top of the forehead for a sun-kissed effect. The brick-hued Fox shade straddles blush and bronzer and suits both light and dark skin tones.
Even the name is so appealing. This versatile blush balm is the make-up equivalent of a winter walk in the park, giving you gorgeously flushed cheeks in an instant.
A sort of highlighter and bronzer in one, Hourglass’s Ambient Lighting Powder simply makes you look like you, but considerately more radiant. A true go-to on days where your skin looks lacklustre and tired, it makes your complexion glow rather than glitter.
The true OG of the “no make-up make-up” movement, this creamy, hydrating formula offers a wash of colour in a huge range of shades, alongside SPF 30 protection. Oil-free and illuminating iterations are also available, but the original formulation is second to none.