Who needs an Instagram filter when the latest skincare/make-up hybrids do the job for you? Beauty Editor Nadine Baggott looks into the best blemish-blurrers around…
Many of us have seen or played around with Instagram and Snapchat filters – and who hasn't been tempted to give their skin a flattering soft-focus effect in photographs? But imagine if you could do that in real life, too. The great news is that, with the right beauty buys, you can.
Cult beauty companies at the cutting edge of technology are formulating products that go over your moisturiser and under your make-up (or, in some cases, in place of it). They look like serums and lotions but have additional soft-focus particles to blur imperfections. A quick fix that makes skin look instantly – but subtly – better, they take soft-focus technology, a key part of anti-ageing skincare, to the next level.
Skin imperfections such as thread veins, spots, lines and pigmentation are visible because of the high contrast between either light and dark or different colours – imagine a red spot on a white complexion, or a dark, jagged wrinkle on flat, light-reflective skin. Soft-focus particles optically reduce this contrast, effectively camouflaging the blemishes.
This autumn Chanel, Crème de La Mer and Clinique will launch products designed to perfect and hydrate skin instantly while at the same time smoothing fine lines and making pores appear less visible. The secret in all cases is a combination of ultra-light, soft-focus powders and bounce-back, light-reflective particles.
Meanwhile, make-up maven Charlotte Tilbury has added soft-focus technology to her Wonderglow Primer, in which particles cleverly steal UV light from your surroundings and bounce it back, giving an instant boost to tired, dull complexions and minimising the appearance of fine lines and pores.
Find the full story and Nadine's favourite soft focus products in HELLO! on sale now.