The foundation that lasts 25 hours and the mascara you can wear for THREE days: Make-up you really C

Publish date: 2024-07-26

Published: 16:40 EST, 9 February 2014 | Updated: 05:15 EST, 11 February 2014

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My alarm going off at 6am is my cue to leap out of bed and bolt into the bathroom in a mild state of panic.

It’s not that I worry about being late for work. Rather, I set my alarm an hour early so I can keep a secret from my husband: what I really look like. Every day, I apply a full face of slap before he can see me in the morning.

The only exception is when Iain, 54, has taken out his contact lenses and can’t see very well: then, and only then, will he see me au naturel. In fact, in the nine years we’ve been married I can’t remember a time when he’s seen me in focus without a scrap of make- up on.

All dolled up ready for bed! Our writer pictured at 11pm wearing eyeliner, eye shadow, mascara, foundation, concealer and lipstick - all designed to stay put for long periods of time, even overnight

But this morning is different. I will head to the bathroom out of curiosity rather than blind panic. Why? Last night I slept for seven hours wearing eyeliner, eye shadow, mascara, foundation, concealer and lipstick — all designed to stay put for long periods of time, even overnight.

Mary Berry has said she does just that, but for me it is a daring experiment, considering my history. At 41, I don’t have the best skin. Blemishes, red cheeks and spider veins have been the bane of my life since I was a teenager. I now spend an hour each day doing my make-up, and I spend £75 a month on it.

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But it looks like I might be in line for an overdue lie-in. New high-tech make-up products, which claim to regenerate skin overnight if you sleep with them on, have just hit the market.

They are designed for women who work late, party late or travel a lot — or just can’t bear to go without their make-up.

And here she is at 6am the next morning after seven hours sleep in her make-up

So, could these be the cosmetics of my dreams? I had a photographer take a picture of me after I had applied a full face of sleep-proof make-up at 11pm, and again, seven hours later at 6am — just after I had woken up — to find out...

FOUNDATION

Stay Time Foundation, £6.49, Boots
They say: ‘Gives a flawless smooth skin finish and stays put for up to 25 hours.’
Verdict: It delivered full coverage, but looked unnatural when I applied it with my fingers. The foundation stayed put all night, but there was an orange stain on my pillow the next morning, and my face had a greasy sheen. 2/5

CONCEALER

New high-tech make-up products, which claim to regenerate skin overnight if you sleep with them on, have just hit the market

Susan Posnick Color Correct Concealer, £13.50, skinbrands.co.uk
They say: ‘It’s long-lasting and creamy, yet doesn’t crease, keeping your under-eyes bright.’
Verdict: A double-ended pencil, one for concealing and the other for highlighting, this looked so natural. A great product, but my bedtime test proved it to be short-lasting — plenty of my under-eye wrinkles were visible by morning, and some of it had rubbed off. 3/5

POWDER

Bare Minerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment, £45, bareminerals.co.uk
They say: ‘This concentrated powder formula replenishes skin while you sleep so you’ll wake up with a luminous glow.’
Verdict: This coated my skin with a matte, even layer and felt luxuriously soft. Although my skin still felt soft the next morning, and my pores did seem reduced, some of it had come off on my pillow. 4/5

EYE SHADOW

L’Oreal Infallible eye shadows, £6.99, feelunique.com
They say: ‘Lasts 24 hours. Waterproof, resists creases, rubbing and blinking.’
Verdict: This is a creamy eye shadow that blended well with my fingers. The formula is water and smudge resistant and won’t run into the fine lines around your eyes. When I woke up the next day, there wasn’t a speck out of place or on the pillow. Bordering on miraculous. 5/5

EYELINER

Seventeen Tattoo Me Eyeliner, £6.49, Boots
They say: ‘Semi-permanent liquid eyeliner that lasts up to 48 hours.’
Verdict: This made my eyes water when I applied it, although I eventually managed to achieve an even line above the upper lashes. I woke to find it had disappeared from the corners of my lids and my eyes felt stingy. 1/5

The new beauty products are designed for women who work late, party late or travel a lot - or just can't bear to go without their make-up

MASCARA

Max Factor Lashfinity 3 Day Mascara, £18.99, Boots
They say: ‘Just one application of our revolutionary mascara gives you three days of long dark lashes. Smudging may occur during long wear but can be rectified with remover.’
Verdict: My lashes were clump-free and the product didn’t budge after seven hours in bed, though the effect was more like an eyelash tint than a volume-building mascara. 4/5

LIPSTICK

LipSense lipcolor, £22, sheersense.com
They say: ‘LipSense lasts up to 18 hours. It is water-proof, kiss-proof, smudge-proof, and completely budge-proof.’
Verdict: I like the colour and it made my lips feel soft. The recommended three layers were easy to apply, and it felt very light and natural once dry. Best of all, it left no trace on my pillow and my lips looked plumped up the next morning. Genius! 5/5

My husband’s verdict: I did notice the difference the night before, as her make-up seemed heavier than normal. But the real change was in the morning; she had a smudged eye but the lipstick and face make-up had barely budged. I woke up next to a glamourpuss and didn’t have to fight for the bathroom!

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