Back in the days of yore (that’s an actual historical period you know), make-up wasn’t created in laboratories and tested on rodents/people. But I’m sure you know this from your History GCSE. In fact, women had to make do with what they could get their hands on, and believe me, it wasn’t great. Consider the poor old Elizabethan ladies. Not only were they forced to be attracted to men in codpieces, they were expected to have a flawless, alabaster complexion. Far from easy when The Pox was rife, and I don’t imagine those with sensitive tendencies had a hypoallergenic skincare range to fall back on either.

So, for the fortunate few, whiter-than-white skin was achieved by an early form of foundation called ‘ceruse’, which was a terrifying – and expensive – mixture of white lead and vinegar. I bet they were gagging for Ye Olde Clinique Shoppe to open in their neighbourhood. Because unsurprisingly, smearing lead on your face came with a few ‘issues’, like making your skin grey and shrivelled.

Alternatives to counter both this and the rather more serious lead poisoning were mixtures of alum, ash and sulphur, as well as pastes made using boiled egg white and talc. They would even sometimes draw false veins onto the skin to give a really transparent look. Nice. Thankfully, times have changed, and now that we’re done with make-up that actually kills you, it’s time to move on from make-up that doesn’t do anything. Yup, you’ve guessed it: make-up that actually does you good. Who knew?

I harped on about mineral bases last week but allow me to harp a little more. They are the way forward. To the point where – wait for it – you can go to bed without taking your make-up off. I wouldn’t make a habit of it, but imagine a foundation that does your skin so much good it’s OK to leave it on? I am aghast. So, along with Clinique’s number that I reviewed the other day, I’ve been trying out Laura Mercier’s Mineral Foundation Primer (£27 from Space NK and other stockists), which although designed to be worn under foundation also does as a light base on its own. It’s one of those ‘liquid to powder’ formulations that feels very silky when it goes on. That Laura really knows what she’s doing.

I’ve mentioned Sue Devitt before and although hard to come by at the moment in the UK, I’ve only got good things to say about her range. Her nutrient-rich cosmetics suit all ethnicities and are packed with minerals and vitamins to promote healthy, radiant skin. As one of my fellow make-up devotees said, it all pretty much applies itself. Great if you’re as cack-handed as me. Her Silky Blush, (£15.50, available at Harvey Nichols and QVC) contains gentle Water Lily extract to ‘soothe and nurture’, glides on a treat and comes in six cracking shades. Check out the rest of the collection too.

Now for some mascara. I thought I’d try some make-up from a skincare brand I have a lot of faith in: Dr Hauschka. I wasn’t that impressed to be honest. For £16.33 (which is a LOT considering my ‘mascara du jour’ is a Max Factor one that gives you change from a tenner) you get ‘a natural mascara which gives vibrant colour to the eyes as well as protecting, strengthening and enhances the lashes’. Which is fair enough, but for that price I’d be looking for fewer smudges and something that dried a little more quickly. But that’s just me.

It’s not exactly breaking news that some lip colours contain ‘beneficial’ ingredients. In fact, ‘moisturising’ lipsticks have been around for years. It’s only more recently that they’ve been throwing in SPFs, antioxidants, plumpers… you name it. My recommendation from a choice of hundreds comes from another skincare brand, Korres. Did you know they also do make-up? Well now you do. Their Korres Colour Cherry Gloss (around £10.75) contains cherry oil to hydrate the lips and vitamins E and C to offer antioxidant protection. It tastes nice too. And don’t be fooled by the name, it’s not cherry-coloured – there are in fact eleven shades. Mine is ‘cinnamon’, a suit-all nudey brown. I shall not be teaming it with any lead or ash based foundation though, thanks. Well, not this season anyway.

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