The Hour

Are you ever scouring the shops on Christmas Eve wishing you had listened to all those hints your girlfriend gave you? If this is you, then don’t panic! Help is at hand with expert Julie Hannah selecting a couple of the best beauty buys to pick up this Christmas.

Skin products are an essential part of any make-up bag and there are some great products available to brighten up skin.

The Ren Glycolactic Skin Renewal Peel Mask, which costs £27.50 from John Lewis, is a gentler alternative to chemical peals and ideal for sensitive skin.

“It is about renewing and exfoliating your skin,” Julie Hannah said. “This product is a real wonder product.

“It has fruit acids in it to help take off that top layer of dead skin.”

After exfoliating, the next step on the list is to give your skin a freshened up look. There are many sheen products in the shops at the moment but if you want to splash out, then the Philosophy Divine Illumination, priced at £50, is the present for you.

“This will give your skin a really nice, bright sheen,” Julie said.

If you are on a budget, then Boots No7 Skin Illuminator, priced at £10.50 is a good alternative to this product.

Moving onto make-up, No7 Natural Blush Cheek Tint (rose), priced at £8.75, is Julie’s top recommendation.

“It is a cream blusher so you just pop it on the fullest part of your cheek, blend it in really well and it just gives you a nice, fresh glow. Because it is a cream, it is not going to look powdery, it will look youthful.”

Black eyeliner can be quite ageing so Julie suggests wowing your partner with your beauty knowledge by purchasing eyeliner in a grey or brown tone.

Chantecaille Eye Lines in Viola, priced at £20.55 from Space NK, is tipped by Julie as a winner however if you are looking for a cheaper option then Boots Natural Collection Soft Grey Eye Liner, priced at £1.95, will do the job nicely.

“It is a nice alternative to black and a lot softer as you get older,” she said.

No make-up bag would be complete without a good lipstick and Julie has just the treat in mind.

Priced at £14, Bobbi Brown’s Rich Colour Gloss is a cross between a lipstick and a lipgloss. This means it has the coverage of lipstick but still includes the soft feel of a gloss.

“Full colour lip stick can be quite ageing, especially during the day,” Julie said. “It’s not tacky so it’s not the sort of gloss that would stick to your hair.”

Follow this advice and you should be on your way to a successful Christmas shop.