Lessons in concealment with Cover F X

When it comes to make up, I'm certainly no authority. For years my makeup routine has been shamefully basic. A dab or two of concealer, a flick of black eyeliner, black mascara, and a quick dust of blusher. Once the sun goes down I might amplify the eyeliner, go heavy on the Ruby Woo and if I'm feeling really brave I'll wrestle with false eyelashes but it's all just variations on a theme.

When it comes to applying make up with any finesse, my skills begin and end with the application of liquid eyeliner. That I can do in ten second flat, on a bus trundling down a cobbled street with a mirror the size of a postage stamp but that's it. It's only in the last few months that I have even ventured so far as to wear foundation and even then its only light coverage and not everyday. This is because my skin is sensitive to the point of hysteria coupled with a tricky skin tone. A mix of Scottish and Hawaiian parentage bestowed upon me a complexion that tans easily in Summer with a liberal scattering of freckles but in the depths Winter is sallow yet pink cheeked. If I have ever found a colour match, the chances are that it will irritate my skin so when Cover FX invited me to their new counter at Edinburgh's Harvey Nichols for a colour match, I though they would have their work cut out.

I am pleased to say that I couldn't have been further from the truth. I had the pleasure of meeting Lee Graff, President and Co-Creator of Cover FX and Wanda Longo, International Communications Director who taught me more about Cover FX and its origins. You can read more about it here but in short the range has been specifically created to provide natural coverage for those suffering from skin conditions such as acne or even facial scars. This means Cover FX boast over 30 different shades of foundation, which are all paraben, fragrance and oil free. Meaning they cater for all manner of skin tones and are perfect for sensitive skin.



I have to admit, when I'm shopping for a new product it is only with extreme reservation that I sit down in a make up artists chair, especially if the one wielding the brushes is deep shade of terracotta. I need not have worried, Victor was charming and fresh faced. In fact, his skin was so flawless that I wondered if he was wearing any make up at all. When I asked him, he assured me that it was all Cover FX and that was simply the beauty of the brand.

While I sat there, brushes flying, talked me through all the steps - primer, powder, foundation, concealer, a little more powder finished off with the most perfect shade of lip gloss some bronzer. Again, I have to admit that I was still thinking what a lot of make up but once again I was wrong. When I saw the finished article I was quite literally amazed, first of all the colour matched so perfectly and how is it possible to wear what, to me is a lot of make up and look so fresh faced.

I took these pictures the same afternoon (aside from adjusting the white balance they remain unedited) and after seeing the result on screen I still couldn't believe it. I was sure that in my hands, instead of those of a professionals it would not look nearly a good. Wrong again, I've used it every day since and I am a complete convert. However, I have learned one important lesson- Foundation is best applied with a brush. Not a cheap sponge or - Quelle Horreur, my finger tips as I had done previously. While I would fully recommend all of their products, for me the reigning champion is the Clearprep FX primer, after wearing it for two days any blemished I had disappeared and my skin has stayed clear ever since.

Thank you Cover FX!