A sheer foundation. Stick with a light foundation or BB cream and use a highlighter/concealer on blemishes or pigmentation. A current favourite is 2. MAC's balm-like Next to Nothing Face Colour ($64).
A flannel. If you're on a beauty budget, gently using a textured flannel each time you wash your face will do the work of exfoliators and exfoliating toners - remove cellular debris and leave skin smooth and glowing.
A brow pencil or shadow. Because you don't want feeble brows (and eyeshadow or eye liners aren't great substitutions). A dried-out mascara wand on the other hand...
Multi-tasking mascara. No need for mascara if you have extensions but if you don't, try a multi-tasker like 3. Clinique's Lash Power Flutter-to-Full Mascara ($63). It comes in a tube with three click-in positions - natural, something a little more noticeable, and full-on flutter - essentially making it three mascaras in one.
A super serum. A good serum isn't necessarily the same as a well-formulated moisturiser. Serums are the problem-solvers of the beauty world, capable of brightening skin, lightening pigmentation and preventing new wrinkles. Choose one like 4. Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II ($188), which is packed with anti-ageing ingredients including ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid to leave your skin glowing and rested-looking.
Hydrating lipsticks. Lips need colour but so do cheeks. Don't hesitate to use lipstick for blush (dab it on your finger before applying to cheeks). Even better, pick a lipstick in a crayon formula and start colouring in.
A neutral eyeshadow palette. Brown eyeshadow might sound a little dull but can be anything but, especially when it comes with a metallic sparkle. Pick a palette with a deep brown or grey and make it multi-task as liner. Better still choose and combine interchangeable wet-or-dry eyeshadow shades in Elizabeth Arden's Little Black Compacts ($79).
Read the label: Bacteria
Only a few mainstream companies here advertise themselves as using good bacteria like lactobacillus but watch this space, probiotic skin care is a trend that is picked to take off.
WHY LOOK FOR IT: There's growing evidence that the topical use of ingredients like alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, polymnia sonchifolia root, and lactobacillus is good for everything from acne to eczema.
WHERE TO FIND IT: Nutrimetics' Ultra Care+ Platinum Skin Regeneration Toning Essence ($56) uses a range of ingredients, including lactobacillus, to stimulate skin regeneration. Elizabeth Arden's Superstart Skin Renewal Booster ($155) also employs a probiotic complex to help increase luminosity, smoothness and cell renewal. Boutique brand M.E. Skin Lab also comes to the probiotic party, offering good bacteria in its Complex 27 R Bio Restorative Regenerating Serum ($160), from meccabeauty.co.nz.
