Favourite makeup

I don’t wear much makeup. Eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow and lipgloss. I am really bad at reapplying my lip colour, so I tend to do it when I brush my teeth before I go to work, and then never touch up during the day. I wish I could be better at it.

Mascara (always black or dark brown)

• Huda Legit Lashes
• Pixi Lashlift 188
• Lancôme Hypnôse
• Yves Rocher 360° length mascara
• YSL False lash effect mascara
• L’Oréal Paris Double extension mascara
• Clinique Lash Power mascara

I am not too fussy about mascara, as long as it has staying power and does not smudge or crumble. I prefer separating lengthening mascaras to volumising mascaras. I usually apply two layers to my lashes, sometimes three, depending on the mascara.

I don’t use waterproof mascara, and I tend to switch to a new one when the current one goes blobby or dry. They do say that you should replace your mascara every four to six months but if I use it every day I replace it every three months maximum.

I wish mascaras would not be discontinued as often as they are. The competition on the market means that there is always some new gimmicky brush that is supposed to be the best ever.

I am allergic to Dior and Maybelline mascaras, which is strange because I am not allergic to anything else in my life.

I tried Dior Diorshow mascara and my eyes just swelled up to two red slits. I phoned the store and asked if I could have a refund due to the allergy. They told me not unless I could show that it irritated my eyes. So I took my swollen self to the Dior counter where I bought it and hung around frightening the customers until the assistant finally relented and refunded me.

Tip: if you are coming to the end of your mascara (or it has dried up a little), put it in a cup of hot water for a while. This liquefies it more so that you can use it for a little longer.

Eye Shadow (browns and beiges)

• Clinique Chubby Stick in Lots o’ Latte
• MAC Paint Pot in Groundwork
• The Body Shop Colour Crush powder eye shadows

I prefer cream eyeshadows these days because powder shadows never last on my lids, even with a primer.

Eyeliner

• YSL Dessin Du Regard Waterproof Eye Pencil

I have used this and only this for over a decade now. It sits like a rock and is so easy to apply. I wear liner inside my waterline because I am completely unable to make pretty lines or use liquid liner.

Lip colour

• Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (my go-to for decades). This has been discontinued several times but is always brought back by popular demand.
• Clarins Lip Perfector in Plum Shimmer
• Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Super Strawberry

I do sometimes wear blusher and some kind of face tint, but then I normally use free samples or sachets or things I have received in gifts with purchase. I don’t use them enough to purchase a full size.

I have bought, and enjoyed

• Erborian cc cream
• Body Shop bb cream

but I use this type of product so seldom (maybe once a year) that it is just a waste of money. I convince myself now and then that I am going to be more ‘polished’ but after three days I give up. My eyes and nose both run due to the cold here in Sweden and that ruins any facial cover I use. It is also the reason I use waterproof eyeliner.