APPLY SPF, never pick your spots, always wash your make-up off.
The beauty industry has many rules, but cleansing your skin before you hit the hay (regardless of how tired, late, or drunk you are), is one we all understand, not least because the results of not doing so are pretty much instantaneous.
Here’s everything you need to know about hybrid make-up[/caption]
“Make-up can trap pollution, dirt, and grime, so leaving it on while you sleep can lead to congestion and collagen breakdown,” says skincare expert Fiona Brackenbury.
However, if you flick through your make-up bag or browse a cosmetics stand, you’ll notice that many make-up products now contain skincare ingredients, like hyaluronic acid and vitamin C.
Known as hybrid make-up, these products promise high performance and skincare benefits, and the industry is expected to boom from £17.25billion in 2024 to £26.99billion by 2032, according to research by Mintel.
“A few years ago, hybrid make-up wasn’t as effective as the traditional formulas, but recent ingredient advancements have changed the game,” says make-up artist SJ Froom.
This hydrating base is packed with collagen[/caption]
Vieve Skin Nova Complexion Balm, £34
We saw hundreds of hybrid make-up products launch in 2024 – such as plumping collagen-packed Vieve Skin Nova Complexion Balm, £34 – while others went viral, like Erborian BB Cream, £42, which contains a skin-perfecting white ginseng complex and sells every 28 seconds worldwide.
So, have we finally found make-up that we can sleep in? Here’s everything you should know.
THE BASE-ICS
Perfect your pout with this nourishing balm[/caption]
Givenchy Rose Perfecto, £32
Skincare-infused foundation is the kind of hybrid make-up you might have heard of already.
“When hyaluronic acid is added to foundation, it may make the product look ‘dewier’ when on the skin,” says consultant dermatologist Dr Sophie Momen.
The acid is increasingly included in lip products, too, such as Givenchy Rose Perfecto, £32, where it can help smooth and soften the skin.
Thanks to the recent hype around lash health, mascaras infused with peptides – an ingredient known to promote stronger, longer lashes – are also appearing on the beauty shelves.
“They’re a fantastic way to ensure you are conditioning the lashes, which can otherwise become dry and brittle,” says Fiona.
Peptides can also be found in blush and bronzer drops, improving the efficacy of the products while delivering hydration.
These bronzing drops are one of TikTok’s most-wanted beauty products[/caption]
Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops, £34
They’re found in the viral Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops, £34, and “help ensure that the product is well-absorbed and pleasant to use on the skin, too,” says Dr Momen.
How To Save Money On Beauty Buys
IF your purse is feeling tighter than ever before and you’re looking to save cash on your make-up routine, have you ever thought of trying out beauty dupes?
Here are five of the best recommended beauty buys that are almost identical to the posh versions, but at a fraction of the price.
FACE BASE If you can’t afford Charlotte Tilbury’s £52 Magic Cream, why not try a dupe that costs just £5.49 from Superdrug?
TONE IT UP If Drunk Elephant’s £62 Protini Cream is out of your price range, you’ll need to check out the new dupe in Home Bargains.
TINTING IT With Fenty’s game-changer skin tint costing £29, a popular supermarket’s affordable alternative might just be the thing for you.
GET COVERED At £29 for a Tarte concealer, the new Primark dupe is much more affordable at just £3.50.
SPRAY YAY For those wanting to smell fresh without the price tag, Aldi’s new Prada and Chloe perfume dupes cost a fraction of the price.
IN THE MIX
While it’s tempting to use a cocktail of smoothing, blurring, hydrating, and brightening ingredients in your skincare routine, there can be too much of a good thing.
Seeking advice, doing your research, and paying attention to your skin is important when using skincare actives.
Thankfully, the ingredients found in hybrid make-up pose less of a risk, because they aren’t as potent and focus on priming and hydrating your skin.
“This is because make-up is often applied unevenly or in thin layers, reducing the effectiveness of skincare benefits, and formulas also contain lower concentrations of active ingredients than dedicated skincare products,” says consultant dermatologist Dr Maham Khan.
However, it’s still worth being mindful – especially of ingredients like vitamin C, which can cause irritation and adverse reactions.
“However, when it comes to peptides and hyaluronic acid, the more the merrier, as we need a lot to make a difference to the skin, so there’s no chance of overdoing it,” says Fiona.
HERE TO STAY?
Sadly, products that do it all are still a pipe dream. While hybrid make-up can supplement your routine, and improve the wear of your make-up, it’s not potent enough to replace your favourite skincare products.
“I would never suggest you only rely solely on hybrid make-up products – instead, see them as a great way to top up, support, and boost your skincare routine,” says Fiona.
And yes, you still have to take it off – while hybrid make-up formulations can help boost our complexions, wearing them overnight is still the ultimate beauty no-no.
“Theoretically, the skincare actives in hybrid make-up might provide some hydration or antioxidant benefits overnight, but even hybrid formulations can mix with environmental pollutants, oil, and dead skin cells throughout the day, potentially leading to clogged pores, irritation and a compromised skin barrier if worn overnight,” says Dr Khan.
So, here’s the bottom line: hybrid formulas are some of the most comfortable, flattering, and skin-loving make-up products on the market – just don’t forget your cleanser at bedtime.
THE NIGHT SHIFT
Make-up fan Milcah wore her foundation overnight[/caption]
Sub-Editor Milcah Farjado braved it and slept in hybrid make-up for a week, here’s what she thought…
I’ve been wearing (and sleeping in) Clarins Skin Illusion Full Coverage Foundation, £39, a hybrid foundation formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid, for seven days.
I’m obsessed with its finish, which is mattifying but not chalky or dry, and it has a smoothing, blurring appearance on my skin – meaning there’s no need for powder!
I have oily skin, but I only have to touch-up or blot my complexion once a day when wearing it, and the foundation has a buildable coverage.
This innovative formula nourishes skin and stays put for hours[/caption]
Clarins Skin Illusion Full Coverage Foundation, £39
When I wear it overnight, there is no transfer to my pillow – a miracle – and I haven’t woken up to any breakouts, which is what usually happens when I sleep in make-up!
This foundation has become my go-to, and while I haven’t seen any adverse reactions from wearing it overnight, I still think I’ll take the advice of derms and wash it off at bedtime to protect my complexion.
HYBRID HEROES
These are the skincare-infused wonders that MUA SJ Froom keeps in her pro kit…
This hardworking base leaves skin fresh and dewy[/caption]
BASE “Estee Lauder Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF30, £34, delivers buildable coverage alongside hydration and protection, leaving skin looking fresh and radiant without feeling heavy.”
Peptides can help strengthen lashes[/caption]
MASCARA “One of my current favourites is No7 Lash Impact Peptide Mascara, £16, which is formulated with peptides to strengthen and nourish lashes while providing volume and definition, long-lasting wear, and no flaking.”
Combine lip care with colour[/caption]
LIPS “I love nourishing lipsticks such as the Ruby Hammer Lip Serum Balm, £18, which combines lip care with colour, offering hydration from ingredients like shea butter while delivering beautiful colour to the lips.”
Hydrating aloe vera keeps your complexion fresh and dewy[/caption]
CHEEKS “ILIA Liquid Light Serum Highlighter, £42, is packed with hydrating ingredients like aloe vera and squalane, giving skin a dewy, natural glow.”
Thanks to Dr Maham Khan and Dr Sophie Momen via The Cadogan Clinic
