It’s easy to assume that, as a beauty editor, I enjoy experimenting with makeup. However anyone who knows me well will tell you that my everyday makeup routine is actually fairly low-key, minimal, and natural-looking. Now don’t get me wrong, given the opportunity and the occasion I will still dabble with a bright eyeliner, a smoky eye, or a full-coverage base, but on the whole, I do tend to play it safe and stick to products that simply serve to subtly enhance my natural features.
For this reason I do tend to gravitate towards brands that lean into a similar aesthetic—one that’s all about fresh, radiant, natural-looking skin. The likes of Laura Mercier, Merit, and Refy are amongst my go-to makeup brands, and you’re more likely to find lightweight skin tints, cream blushes, and brow gels in my makeup bag than a 20-shade eyeshadow palette or a thick cream foundation.
Another brand that I know I can rely on for minimalist makeup pieces is Trinny London. Founded by Trinny Woodall in 2017, the brand caters towards the person who wants simplicity and ease, with enough product range to cover the basics (and beyond) of the average makeup routine. Its products feel more grown up and premium than many of those on the market right now, while remaining reasonably priced and innovative when it comes to packaging design and formulation.
Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to try a number of products from the brand—some of which have become long-term staples in my makeup bag—but I recently was tasked with reviewing the brand for Who What Wear and realised just how much the product range has expanded since I last shopped Trinny London. Scroll down to discover what I think are the standout items from the brand.
1. Trinny London BFF All Day Foundation
Rating: 8/10
Like I said, full coverage foundation is really not my bag and I do tend to wear skin tints and BB creams for my everyday makeup base. This foundation sits somewhere in between, with a medium coverage that feels light on skin, but can also be built up if you do want more coverage. The finish is more matte than those I typically reach for, but certainly doesn’t mattify my skin’s natural glow—nor does it ever look cakey or powdery. I was surprised therefore by just how much I like this foundation, but have found myself reaching for it on days when I know I really need my makeup to last. My only criticism? The shade range in this product is, unfortunately quite lacking.
2. Trinny London Golden Glow
Rating: 9/10
Cream bronzer is one of my favourite product types for adding a subtle warmth and sun kissed glow to my complexion. I’ve tried many, but this one ticks all the boxes for me. It’s easy to apply, blends beautifully, is free from glitter and shimmer, and the shade Jensta isn’t too orange-toned for my fair complexion.
3. Trinny London Flush Blush
Rating: 8/10
Likewise, I am very much a cream blush kinda gal, and can’t actually remember the last time I reached for a powder blusher. What I love about cream blushes (and this one in particular) is that they leave skin with a fresh, dewy finish that looks really natural and serves to amplify that healthy flushed finish that is so on trend right now. Unlike powder formulas, cream blushes don’t settle into pores and emphasise fine lines. Instead, you get a really seamless finish and pigment that doesn’t fade away throughout the day.
4. Trinny London Lipglow
Rating: 8/10
Not quite a lip gloss and not quite a lipstick, this dewy lip tint is exactly the kind of everyday lip product I like to keep in my handbag for on-the-go, mirrorless touch-ups. The balm-like formula delivers a sheer (but buildable) colour with a shiny (but not sticky) finish, and leaves lips feeling hydrated and plumped with moisture.
5. Trinny London Eye2Eye
Rating: 10/10
Eyeshadow certainly isn’t an everyday makeup product for me these days, and when I do wear it, I much prefer a single shade blended over the lid than the faff of trying to figure out how to blend multiple shades together. Fortunately, that’s exactly what Trinny London’s eyeshadow offering, Eye2Eye set out to achieve. Each pot features an individual colour, but should you wish to create a more complex look (or simply have more options), you can stack multiple pots together to create your own totally customised eyeshadow “palette”. My personal favourite shade is Vision, a delicate mauve-pink which really makes my green eyes pop.
6. Trinny London T-Kit Makeup Brushes
Rating: 9/10
Okay, I know, featuring makeup brushes amongst my favourite products might seem a bit random, but trust me on this one. Packaging design is clearly a key factor that Trinny London considers—they’re known for their stackable pots system, which is a dream if you often travel with your makeup or apply it on the go. They’ve applied the same innovative design to their makeup brushes. This sleek and seemingly singular brush is actually three brushes, which slot together via a magnetised design. What’s more, the brushes multitask and can be used for everything from concealer and eyeshadow to lip liner and brow pomade.
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