I like to call this one Adventures in Bronzer. Contouring, traditionally, hasn’t really been my thing. I’m pale and where I’m not pale, well, I’m ruddy. The pink undertone in my skin plus my ongoing battle with rosacea means bronzer can often look murky on me, just making me look a bit grubby more than anything else.

Now recently my parents took a mid-winter break to Florida to soak up some sun, seafood and the Mall of America. While they were there I asked them to bring me back a few things from Sephora, and graciously, they agreed. One of the goodies they returned home with was the Tarte Mineral Powder Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess. This bad boy isn’t yet available in the UK but I’ve heard about it from some of my favourite pale-skinned YouTubers on both sides of the pond, so I figured I’d try it out. It’s a light, yellow gold with a pearly finish and so far I’ve really enjoyed using it to define my (non-existant) cheekbones and brush along my jawline and up to my temples. I use the Blushing, Bronzing & Blending Brush from ELF and sweep it on in a “3″ shape on each side of my face. It’s a subtle finish with not a hint of orange, and although it isn’t a matte finish, the shimmer isn’t too much to handle.

Again with the rosacea, my Smashbox Photo Finish Colour Correcting Primer has been a real lifesaver this winter. The cold temperatures have been playing havoc with my skin over the past months and can have me looking like Hell Boy when I step out of the shower, so I like to slather on my Smashbox Primer on days when it’s particularly bad. At £25 for the 30ml, I’ve had to use it sparingly for my debit card’s sake, but nothing can beat it for toning down a serious flare up.

Viva Glam Cyndi by MAC was the first lipstick I fell in love with, around 3 years ago. Best described as a burnt coral-red, the lustre formula means it slides on nice and easy – though for it’s finish I think it has a seriously decent colour pay-off. I find this colour  to be almost perfect for my skin tone, very flattering and versatile enough to be worn with loads of different looks. Sadly now it’s discontinued and I’m down to the last little nub, but I’m constantly on the search for a replacement. Speak up  if you know of a dupe!

Have a skin complaint that’s getting you down? Tell me how you deal with it.