Style and beauty editor Melanie Kruger talks to leading British beauty blogger Stephanie Butcher. Read about her favourite beauty products, her daily makeup routine and her favourite hairstyle for a glamorous night out.
1. What is your signature scent?
An airy floral top note with a fresh fruity middle note. Giorgio Armani Si is my go to perfume.
2. Which three beauty products couldn’t you live without?
Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation, Pixi Glow Tonic Exfoliating Toner and Garnier Micellar Water.
3. Talk us through your morning and evening skincare routines. How are they different?
My morning skincare routine is much quicker than my evening, it consists of few products that sink into the skin quickly but still give me a perfect base to start my makeup. I usually freshen up with the Garnier Micellar Water as this removes anything off the face for me to then go in with the Pixi Glow Tonic and I finish up with a light moisturising serum from Superdrug. My evening routine is more in depth, I start by removing the majority of my make up with the Garnier Micellar Water, I then go in with the Nip&Fab face wash using the Foreo Luna Mini for my second cleanse, and either use a clay face mask or an exfoliator to remove dead skin and draw out impurities afterwards. I then apply the Pixi Glow Tonic underneath a thicker moisturiser with much more hydration than my morning one.
4. How does your skin type affect the sort of makeup you wear?
I have quite oily skin so this really affects not only how makeup sits on my skin but also how it wears throughout the day. I find I need a good mattifying primer to hold back on oil build up as the day progresses and I have to set a liquid foundation with a powder to reduce shine and to help prevent the products breaking down as they wear.
5. Talk us through your everyday makeup routine.
For work my routine is pretty simple, it consists of a mattifying primer, a lightweight (usually matte) foundation, concealer, powder, blush or bronzer, a little highlight on the cheeks, a brow gel and mascara. I will also run a matte brown eyeshadow through my crease and highlight the inner corner of my eyes as I wear glasses so find this makes me look more awake and my eyes appear bigger.
6. Strong eye or strong lip?
Strong lip.
7. What’s the best piece of beauty advice you have ever been given?
Never go to bed without washing your face because your make up will never look flawless if you don’t look after the skin it’s sitting on.
8. Everyone loves a Sunday night pampering session. Talk us through yours.
Sunday’s are definitely when I get some me time. I don’t usually have a routine as such but it will consist of a relaxing bath with a book and a face mask, painting my nails, using a hair oil treatment and of course enjoying a glass of wine.
9. What is your most decadent beauty product?
My Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow.
10. What’s your favourite hairstyle for a glamorous night out, and how do you achieve it?
I usually opt for curls with a little pinned back to give more volume. I achieve curls with my ghd hair straighteners, my hairdresser taught me how to get glam curls that last days by pulling the hair through the ghds and rolling it around the barrel. I then spritz a little sea salt spray through the ends to give more texture and hold, this also helps break the curls up a little too.
