Make-Up Artists are good people to know. Apart from the fact that they can do your make-up pre night out, they are also a good source of the hottest tricks, tips and products. I don't go in for magazine, press release or consumer hype but if a MUA is getting hot and bothered about something - then this is a thing and usually quite good.

There are a few products that have been doing the MUA rounds lately as buzz. I am will state that no genuine MUA gives a shit about the following : instagram brows, contouring and getting the Kylie Jenner lip. We see beyond that and look to what is the best or next thing to happen.

So here are a few products and things that MUAs are raving about.

Cleansing brushes
The amazing clarisonic! I am about to buy the Clinique version of this. As someone who is plagued with spots as a result of having teenage acne and also obsessed with skincare, the idea of this is wonderful. It is a really deep clean and it pulls every last bit of dirt and make-up out of the skin. For those who are dubious about using a vibrating, whirling, electrical brush then think about your toothbrush...is it electric? I bet it is. I will report back on how my brush works as it won't arrive until after the 19th of this month but I am so excited. Any good make-up artist worries, panics and is obsessed with skincare. After all, we use a lot of product and I look forward to that moment when I can remove it. All of it. Clean skin feels amazing and I am so excited about this.

Lip Oils
I do love a good lip conditioner. I normally use a waxy texture such as the Origins Turmeric lip balm but apparently the thing now is oil. I will say that I can see the advantage of this as it is more of a treatment rather then a protection thing. It's designed to repair the damage caused rather then protect from strong winds or central heating. I would recommend that its great for those who smoke as this can be hard on the lips - I recently destroyed mine this way and also great after a good scrub to remove flakes. I can also see how this would be great following a matte lipstick look. I normally remove mine after the day and pop the MAC conditioner on immediately after. I use an oil based make-up remover on the lips to wipe off all the color as well. The MAC conditoner is great as it is more oily however the trend seems to be for JUST oil.

Glam Glow
This product is cult. I haven't tried it myself but I do want to. There are is a range of products to suit most skin issues/types and I really want to try it. Sigh....

Melt Cosmetics
Due to the strange shades and the fantastically glam photoshoots advertising the products - Melt have been talked about quite a bit recently. This also happened with Lime Crime back in the day as well but the buzz quickly died down. I am totally into their products as well. It's great to have such different and unique colors available such as wine bottle green, navy or grey. Illamasqua have done colors like this but their lipsticks are beyond dry and hard to wear. While Melt can be difficult to judge as they are only available online in the UK at the moment - it seems to be the buzz company at the minute. I have heard quite a few different MUAs talking about them. Mind you, I have to say that after Christmas they seem not to have bounced back from their order increase as most shades are sold out and have been since the run up to Christmas. I've been on the hunt for the grey and not getting anywhere with it!

Vitamin C
If the latest buzz in beauty is brightening and lightening the skin then you need vitamin C. By brightening and lightening we mean that it improves the radiance of the skin and doesn't change the shade of the skin. It's incredibly effective. Amazingly, a lot of clients think that skin radiance is not caused by skincare and routine but rather foundation. I think that the foundation should be second to skincare. I would rather spend a fortune on my skin rather then my foundation. If one is not right then the other cannot hope to be. It helps to know what extracts do what to the skin - if vitamin C brightens then Shea butter also softens. Seaweed is a great extract for softening and brightening also. I see skincare as a massive thing to invest in when you hit my age group - the almost 30s. This is where your skin changes and it becomes essential that you start preparing for wrinkles and skin changes. You will reap the benefits of careful years of damage control too. But, rant aside, vitamin C. The best brands involved in this right now are MAC and Kiehls who all have ranges including Vit C.