The Over-Makeup Mist That Won't Pill Your Foundation In The Heat: What TV Makeup Artists Actually Use
This week I had a lovely catch-up with my friend, the TV makeup-artist Donna May on my podcast Smiling Gives You Wrinkles®. Donna had just finished working at The Chelsea Flower Show where she is in charge of doing the hair and makeup for the TV presenters. And as Donna was dropping stories about giving directions to King Charles 👑 (or Charlie as she calls him lol) and er, hugging SIR DAVID BECKHAM swoon 🪭 we got onto the subject of all the products she was using behind-the-scenes.
Donna tells me that it was so hot in London during the show! Heatwave hot! And if there’s one thing I’ve learnt during my 28 years working behind-the-scenes on shoots as a Beauty Editor, is that makeup pros like Donna know how to handle makeup and skin in the heat! So I quizzed her on what she used.
THE OVER-MAKEUP SPF MIST THAT WON’T PILL YOUR FOUNDATION
The Pro Product: La Roche Posay Anthelios Anti-Shine Invisible Fresh Mist SPF 50+
If you’re sick of your sunscreen balling up into little grey flakes the second you try to blend foundation over it, Donna says you must stop putting SPF face cream underneath your makeup, especially on hot days. Instead use a spray like this one.
THE FAKE TAN ALTERNATIVE THAT BLURS ‘PASTY LEGS’ AND BLUE VEINS
The Pro Product: Vita Liberata Body Blur
If you hate the patchy, streaky nightmare and awful biscuit-smell of fake tan, try this one - it’s one of Donna’s favourite instant bronzers! It’s great if you want to tan quickly and you can wash it off if you make any mistakes. There’s no smell plus it’s great at concealing any veins or pigmentation patches.
THE BODY GLOW PRODUCT THAT ISN’T STICKY
The Pro Product: REFY Body Glow.
For getting ‘expensive looking’ skin - you know, that glossy sheen that makes your arms, shoulders and collarbones look really glowy - Donna has recently discovered this. She loves it because it doesn’t leave your skin feeling sticky which so many other similar products do.
THE BRONZING DROPS FOR FIXING PALE, WASHED-OUT SKIN
The Pro Product: Weleda Sunkissed Bronzing Serum Drops
Donna’s easy hack for adding instant warmth to a pale face? Just mix a couple of drops straight into your daily moisturiser or foundation. She also loves (as I do too) the Naked Sundays Cabana Glow SPF50 Drops, especially if you’re looking for extra protection!
THE SLEEP-IN HAIR MASK THAT FIXES COARSE, STRAW-LIKE HAIR
The Pro Product: L’Oreal Elseve Hydra Hyaluronic Mask
We also discussed how I am on the lookout for a hair product to use in-between shampoos to help smooth out dryness and frizz. Donna swears by this mask which she ‘whacks’ onto damp hair after her shampoo and conditioner and then either leaves her hair to air-dry or finishes it off with a blow dry. She says it’s amazing for fixing menopausal straw-like dry hair! I have some on order already…
By the way….there seems to be all different names for it depending on the country it is stocked in. Elvive…Elvital…Elseve…they all look the same so pretty sure they are!
