Pretty Good Thinking: Choosing good make-up

Many of us head out to party in new make-up, so why not choose the good stuff and savour the look all year round.

Even if we forego new shoes or dresses, many of us head out to party in new make-up, so why not choose the good stuff and savour the look all year round.

Last summer, Glow Organic ran a pop-up shop in the North Laines with beauty workshops and products by Living Nature, Botanicals, ZAO Makeup and Lippy Girl. Freelance make-up artist Mel Jenkinson chose these sustainable brands for their stance against animal testing.

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Mel says beauty should not come with compromise. She caught up with me to share her offers online at: www.gloworganicbrighton.co.uk. Festive bundles are perfect for gifting and Mel has packaged two ZAO organic eyeshadows with a liner pencil for £30.95. ZAO is Ecocert certified and uses micronised silver as a natural preservative.

Each colour selection flatters either blue, green or brown eyes and the pre-wrapped gifts come in a luxurious box with red ribbon.The dark brown matte eyeshadow blends easily and could easily double for brows. Mel understands that customers like to try before they commit to full sizes, so tester samples of the powder, liquid and cream products are on offer for £1 each, which is really handy. I also tried the brown liquid liner with a slightly metallic sheen and very fine brush in a refillable bamboo case, £16.95.

I first mentioned INIKA last Christmas, and have worn more of the Australian range through the year. This mineral makeup is vegan and free-from synthetic or harmful ingredients like chemical talcs, GM, fillers and PEGs.

I just tried a new 81% certified organic INIKA Pure Primer to tamp down my rosy cheeks, £29.50 for 50ml.

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The Primer creates an even canvas for longer lasting foundation coverage and I particularly like its morning fresh smell. Hyaluronic Acid increases your skin elasticity while the Lavender, Lemon Myrtle and Jojoba essential oils nourish and hydrate the face.

I used to just apply a light moisturiser with fingers first, followed by foundation by hand, but this using this primer combined with decent brushes has considerably upped my game. INIKA also make one of my favourite daytime lip colours, Cosmic for £15.50.

The terracotta shade is a bit pinkish, with a shimmer tint and fresh taste from peppermint oil. Apparently it is reformulated, but the only difference I noticed was extra gold script on the push-up casing.