I’m a Beauty Editor – 9 Best Makeup Launches for Perfect Skin Under £13

NOW that the summer holidays are over and the kids are back in school, mothers are finding time to focus on themselves again.

Beauty salons are teeming with women looking to freshen up their looks and try out the latest trends.

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According to marketing agency Mintel, the back-to-school season is a peak time for beauty sales, as the transition from summer to fall brings a flurry of new products that tap into seasonal trends.

But with the huge range of products available, it can be difficult to choose what to buy.

Boots found that more than half of consumers get confused when buying make-up.

So whether you’re looking to freshen up your foundation or are in the market for a new lipstick, here beauty expert Claire Coleman (pictured) brings you the best of fall’s beauty launches.

LIPS

Bourjois Healthy Mix Lip Sorbet,

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THE good news is that lip formulas have really improved in recent years, and whether you’re looking for a lipstick, a gloss, a oilor a balm, there will always be a product for you.

The lip sorbets that Bourjois launched earlier this year meet many requirements.

Thanks to a mixture of vegetable oils, they have the texture of butter or balm, but the color you get from a lipstick.

These come in six shades and are buildable in depth. Apply and blot for a subtle wash, or layer for a glossy finish.

EYESHADOW

Revolution The Enchanted Icon Palette, £8.99, revolutionbeauty.com

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Normally I’m not a fan of big palettes because you often only use a few shades. But this one looks very practical.

There are two cream eyeshadows in beige and brown that you can wear alone or as a base. There are also dark brown powder eyeshadows that you can also use as eyeliner.

And there are also shiny and metallic shades for a striking evening look.

If you’re a Charlotte Tilbury fan but on a budget, this is for you.

You can also use a setting spray with some shimmering shades to prevent the glitter from falling out.

Blushing

NYX Buttermelt Blush, £8.99, superdrug.com

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Gone are the days when blusher was a matte powder or a cream that you could smear on your cheeks within minutes of applying it.

Today’s hybrid textures promise the best of both worlds.

These pigment-packed blushes look like old-fashioned powder blushes, but contain mango butter, almond butter, and shea butter, allowing them to glide smoothly over skin.

Available in 12 shades, from soft baby pink to electric fuchsia, coral and orange, there is sure to be a shade to suit your skin.

Apply it with a brush and blend it, but do it gently.

These cuties pack a punch of color and are long-lasting.

EYE LINE

PS Pro Eyeliner Felt Pen, £3, Primark

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PERSONALLY, I’ve never been a fan of pencil liners.

Despite trying for years, I’ve never been able to nail the perfect cat’s eye move.

Instead, I opt for a patchy, smoky kohl line that’s more forgiving of my clumsiness.

But this budget liquid eyeliner from Primark’s latest PS Pro makeup collection might just have changed my mind.

For starters, it comes in a chocolate brown color, which is always softer and more flattering than black.

Plus, it has a super fine precision point, which allowed me to get the tip right into the corner of my eye and then lay the entire length of it along the base of my lashes, giving me a neat, even line that didn’t smudge.

Yet I still couldn’t make a single film with it.

MASCARA

Rimmel London Thrill Seeker

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THERE ARE SO MANY HARD AND CHEAP MASKED MASKED MASKED MASKED MASKED MASKED MAKING A CHOICE.

The latest addition to the party is this one from Rimmel London, which calls itself “ultra-volumizing.”

In the past, this all too often resulted in thick, clumpy lashes that stuck together.

That’s not the case with this formula, which is buildable, meaning the first coat only appears to lengthen, separate and define lashes, while you can use more to get that dramatic, “big night out” effect.

PRIMER

Tight Lifeproof Hydrating Radiance Primer, £12.99, boots.com

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Have you NEVER used a primer? See if this changes your mind.

It’s a halfway house between skincare and makeup and contains grapeseed oil to hydrate the skin, leaving you with the perfect prepped and plump skin to apply your makeup.

It spreads pleasantly and is easily absorbed. The skin looks softer and smoother.

Whether you want your makeup to last longer or make it last longer, this could be your new beauty BFF.

FOUNDATION

Maybelline Super Stay 30H Lumi Matte Foundation, £12.99, lookfantastic.com

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When it comes to foundations, Maybelline has had some hits lately (check out their Super Stay Skin Tint and Perfector 4-in-1 Glow if you’re not into traditional foundations).

And this latest launch is just as good.

While I’m not convinced anyone needs to wear foundation for 30 hours, this is a great choice if you’re looking for a long-lasting formula that provides medium to full coverage without feeling too thick.

Available in 22 shades, matte but not flat.

I got the best results by applying it with a slightly damp sponge.

BRONZING DROPS

17. Bronze Drops, £4.50, boots.com

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BRONZING drops aren’t new: TikTok went all out last year with the £34 version of Drunk Elephant.

Launched last summer under the Boots’ 17 brand, these bronzers owe a lot to celebrity makeup artist Daniel Sandler’s Watercolour Liquid Bronzer.

You can apply the drops of bronzer directly to your face as you would any other bronzer and then blend it out with your finger, brush or sponge.

Or, if you’ve been sun-bitten and are worried that your usual base color is a little too light for you, add some foundation for a more sun-kissed tint.

These come in three shades – light, medium and dark – and are probably better suited to those who like a bronzer with a hint of sparkle rather than a more iridescent sheen.

CONCEALER

L’Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer, £10.99, boots.com

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My biggest problem with concealer is that it applies beautifully, but dries out and becomes cakey within a few hours.

That’s why I always recommend using a hydrating eye cream before applying concealer.

Now L’Oréal Paris thinks they’ve done even better by developing this serum concealer.

It claims the product “corrects like a concealer and conditions like a serum,” thanks to a hyaluronic acid complex that helps hydrate your skin.

Available in 17 shades, it features an iron-shaped applicator that tapers to a point, so you can easily reach the corners of your eyes.

It spreads well, but be careful with the product or it will build up in the creases.