Get ready to assemble your best kit ever - the gospel according to M.A.C...

One way to start the year of right on a beauty note is to give your make up kit a major overhaul. Clear out all of the products that may be on the turn - there may not be an expiration date on every package, but products do have a shelf life. Here's what you might want to ditch:
Liquid Foundation and Nail Polish: If they remain separated after you shake them, they're done. Bin immediately.
Lipsticks: Give them the sniff test. If there's something vaguely chemical about your lippy, it's past its prime. Sticks that are sweating or that have a dried texture are on their way to becoming rancid, but you usually have about three years till that happens.
Liquid Eyeliner: Silicone-based liners are safe for two years, but water-based ones get on the dodgy side much faster. If in doubt, bin it.
Sponges: If yours are brittle, buy new ones. Old, porous ones will suck up your makeup and you'll lose way more money on lost foundation than you will by buying a fresh pack.
Brushes: If the bristles are fraying or falling out, dump it.
But what to replace the above with? I tracked down an extremely busy Amber D - Senior Artist with M.A.C - to get the lowdown on what to buy when you're in the market for a sparkling new kit. She says that we all want to start the New Year off fresh but in the Southern Hemisphere it's more likely to be sweaty and hot, “so people are really wanting to keep things minimal when it comes to what they are wearing a base”. The most obvious choice for a barely there base is a tinted moisturiser, and M.A.C do a fabulous version that has good longevity as well as feeling incredibly light on your face. The internationally loved brand has also just released a compact, creamy foundation in their Mineralize range, which they just can't keep on the shelves. If you like the super natural look, M.A.C Face & Body Foundation is another great option as it can be kept super sheer or gradually built up for absolutely flawless coverage. “It doesn't really look like you've got anything on,” Amber explains, “and it also doesn't sit on the skin but instead melts away into the skin, so is great for any skin type. It's also water resistant, so great for the heat.” She says that the best way to apply any foundation is by using a foundation brush, and to choose which one you want to invest in according to how you like your coverage. “If you're someone that really wants to build up your coverage I'd go for a traditional, painter's style foundation brush,” she says, “as they tend to pick up a little more product and also deposit more on.” Foundation-wise, she also thinks that no woman should be without the brand's aforementioned Studio Sculpt SPF15 formula (a personal favourite of mine), which can be worn relatively sheer or layered up using a traditional foundation brush. She also rates Studio Sculpt Concealer, but stresses that it's essential that you only use the tiniest amount, and blend well.
She says that most women still love to wear powder these days, but that the very traditional make up item has changed a lot in the last few years. “The technology you find behind most powders these days means that you're not necessarily going to end up with a heavy, flat 'mask' look,” she explains, “they still matte out the right areas, but keep your skin looking luminous.” She cites the brand's new Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder as being a personal favourite, “as it's so super fine and doesn't change the colour of foundation despite being formulated for layering up if need be”. It also diffuses the appearance of fine lines, and we won't say no to that!
She says that maintaining your brushes with care is essential, especially those with natural fibres. A great brush should last you a good two or three years or more, and as M.A.C's bigger brushes are handmade they are designed to stick around. One thing I found out that I was doing wrong with my brushes was washing them in very hot water - wanting to be super hygienic and all! - which was dissolving the glue at the base, leading to hair loss. “Just like the hair on your head you should use lukewarm water for the best results,” she adds, “with a super mild shampoo or brush cleaner.”
The well-travelled artist says that no one should be without a really great brow kit to ensure that a thoroughly polished look is always the end result, with M.A.C's Impeccable Brow Pencils and liquid Penultimate Brow Liners the perfect products to choose from. Add their Brow Finisher wax-style grooming tool and you're beyond good to go.
When it comes to blush, she says that everyone seems to have a jones for the Mineralize range, and her personal favourite is the shade known as Dainty, which is a “universal, fresh shade that looks good on everyone”. A light yellow pink with a gold pearl shimmer, it's also a favourite of mine and is a default product that every girl really does need. A multi use product that Amber rates highly is M.A.C's Clear Gloss, a colour-free gel formulated for full-on shine. It adds polish, shine and highlights to bare or made-up skin and may be used on the face or any part of the body where shine is desired. As a lip gloss it's slippy rather than sticky too, and it looks great over eye shadow for a more fashion forward, slick look.
“Every woman should have Shroom,” she says when discussing the staple eye shadow shades that every girl needs in her kit, “which is great as a highlighter or during the day on its own. Woodwinked is a browny gold that is universally flattering, too.” To extend the wear time of your eye shadow she recommends investing in a neutral shade from the brand's Paint Pot range of highly pigmented eye colours that go on creamy but dry to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing and colourfast, they give you seamless coverage without weight or caking. Cream-based, they can be easily mixed with powder shadows and liners, depending on how much colour you'd like to add. A contouring shade is also a good idea to add a bit of drama, and Sable is a super popular universal shade that is pretty foolproof to use. “You can't go past a great black eye liner as well,” she adds, “and I love a waterproof one that just doesn't move. A good mascara is an essential too, and I'm loving our new Zoom Fast Black Lash.” A deeper, darker version of the brand's popular Zoom Lash Zoomblack shade, Zoom Fast Black Lash is an intensely rich, deep, carbon black mascara that instantly combs and lifts the lashes for incredible volume and length. If you like a lash that gets noticed, then this is your tool.
Last but by no means least, we talk lips. This is an area where you can have a lot of fun and try some crazy shades without too much negative fallout (nail polish is filed in the same “E for experimental” box), but it's always good to start with a great nude shade that works perfectly with your skin tone. Amber loves the brand's Peach Stock Pro lipstick, “which is a Peachy Nude shade that you can wear every day, and I love Dazzleglass, our highly reflective gloss range that isn't at all sticky and smells gorgeous. A nude face and any one of those shades is great for every day.”