Makeup that actually makes your skin better

Makeup helps us get a perfect complexion in an instant, but harsh chemicals and pore-clogging ingredients can often cause our skin to look worse down the track. It’s a short-term solution that only drives us to apply more product in order to hide the damage.

Quick fixes are not the answer. Here at beautyheaven HQ, we like to play the long game. There’s a new generation of makeup that puts us first, offering skin care benefits that allow you to treat yo self without the sacrifice. When you’ve got great skin, healthy lashes and plump lips, there’s no need for an abundance of products. These miracle workers give us the flawless finish we all crave, with the addition of transformative ingredients that help us up our skin care game.

Say goodbye to one-trick pony formulas, these multitaskers promise to make us better, faster, stronger.

RELATED: The best multipurpose beauty products

Anti-ageing

Foundation should make skin appear more youthful, but old-school formulas can dry out the skin and exaggerate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Thankfully, a fresh, youthful complexion is made possible with formulas that are supercharged with anti-ageing benefits. The It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50+ is a colour correcting, full coverage cream that boasts ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and peptides, as well as SPF 50+. Another anti-ageing hero is Alpha-H Multi-Perfecting Skin Tint, which uses white diamond powder and mineral pigments to hide the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The addition of sunflower and rosemary oil help to eliminate toxins, resulting in smoother, firmer skin. If your skin is extra parched, INIKA Organic Certified Organic Liquid Foundation with Hyaluronic Acid is like a tall glass of iced water. This incredibly hydrating formula provides natural, dewy coverage that lasts all day. Finally, brighten up dull skin by adding a touch of Lush Feeling Younger Skin Tint wherever you need it. This light-reflecting skin tint combines nourishing oatmeal, jojoba and almond oil to give your complexion an overall healthy boost.

bh loves: It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50+ ($58, sephora.com.au), Alpha-H Multi-Perfecting Skin Tint, INIKA Organic Certified Organic Liquid Foundation with Hyaluronic Acid, Lush Feeling Younger Skin Tint

Acne fighting

When you have acne, makeup can be a real double-edged sword. In many cases, the products used to cover the blemishes may actually be the root of the issue. If you’ve been battling blemishes for a while, you’ll be familiar with salicylic acid. In a nutshell, it helps to unclog pores and prevent future pimples from popping up. The great news for acne sufferers is that the complexion-clearing superhero has been added to foundations to create formulas that provide coverage and a solution to future breakouts. Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup actively treats blemishes and is designed to neutralise redness and reduce the appearance of pores. e.l.f. cosmetics Studio Acne Fighting Foundation packs a punch with the added benefits of witch hazel, camphor, tea tree and aloe for a flawless finish that treats acne. For light coverage that gives you a healthy, clear-looking complexion, Maybelline New York Dream Pure BB corrects, clears and detoxifies oily, blemish-prone skin. To avoid a cakey finish, try a primer that’s specifically targeted for blemished skin. The Australis Blemish Buster primer contains argan and primrose oil to heal, smooth and leave you with softer skin.

bh loves: Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Liquid Makeup, e.l.f. cosmetics Studio Acne Fighting Foundation, Maybelline New York Dream Pure BB, Australis Blemish Buster

Longer lashes

We all want longer, thicker eyelashes. Since you’re going to be wearing mascara anyway (and eyelash extensions are expensive), why not use a formula that promotes lash growth and conditions your lashes for a fuller appearance. Designer Brands False & Flared False Lash Effect Mascara is a collagen-enriched formula which helps to build lashes up to their full, fluttery potential. The addition of pro-vitamin B5 and serine nourishes lashes so they are stronger after continued use. Similarly, Eye of Horus Bio Lash Lift Mascara is formulated with 98 per cent organic ingredients, including oarweed which is known for its hair strengthening and growth promotion properties. If your lashes are prone to breakage, Revlon Grow Luscious™ Mascara by Fabulash ® helps to prevent premature breakage and promises stronger lashes with every use. Because HG mascaras are hard to come by, we get it if you can’t ditch your favorite wand. So why not try a lash-boosting eyeliner instead? Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum enhances lash growth with every cat eye.

bh loves: Designer Brands False & Flared False Lash Effect Mascara, Eye of Horus Bio Lash Lift Mascara, Revlon Grow Luscious™ Mascara by Fabulash ®, Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum

Sun protection

Avoiding sun damage with a good quality SPF is EVERYTHING. You should always apply a sunscreen to protect yourself daily, but also using makeup with added SPF protection pretty much makes you a genius – with amazing skin! For your complexion, Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE® Anti-Aging Foundation SPF 30 PA++ has a high SPF as well as antioxidants to protect skin from free-radical damage. Added vitamin C and L-carnosine boost collagen and increase skin elasticity, so you can have your best skin now and forever. Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF 30+ is part skin care, part makeup that brightens, corrects and protects from both UVA and UVA rays. Concealer with SPF is hard to come by. Enter M.A.C Studio Finish Concealer, which offers SPF 35 and effective coverage for blemishes, dark circles and even tattoos. Last but not least, chapped lips are no fun, especially in the summer heat. Protect your lips with Lanolips Tinted Balm SPF 30, which gives a hint of colour and high SPF protection from the harsh Australian sun.

bh loves: Elizabeth Arden PREVAGE® Anti-Aging Foundation SPF 30 PA++, Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF 30+, M.A.C Studio Finish Concealer, Lanolips Tinted Balm SPF 30

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Have you tried any makeup with added beauty benefits? Are you going to try any of the products we mentioned?