Cabinet Confidential: Holly Shortall, Fashion Illustrator

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Skincare

“Even though I’ve taken my make-up off the night before – obviously! – I use baby wipes when I wake up. I just like to run over the face – it’s like a bit of fresh air before I get into the shower.

“I love Boots Skin Clear range, it’s like a copy of Clearasil but a third of the price, and I have a cleanser, an exfoliator and a little spot fix. I’m 26 and I still get spots.

“I don’t buy really expensive things – I’m going to leave that until I’m 30 or 35. You know when people spend €100 on a tub of Creme de la Mer and they’re 17… a bit of Sudocrem would be fine!

Sometimes I like to not put anything on my face, just to let it breathe.

“On my face, I’d only use an exfoliator maybe three times a week – I can find them a little bit harsh and my face goes all red.

“I moisturise every day – I just use a Cuticura moisturiser from Lidl, it’s gorge. I use that on my face when I’m not going out anywhere; the days I’m not wearing my make-up, I lash the moisturiser on. But sometimes I like to not put anything on my face, just to let it breathe.

“I literally have a Nivea night cream that I use at night, and in the morning it’s just cleanser and toner before I put my make-up on.

Make-up philosophy

“I don’t wear make-up every day. I used to, then my New Year’s resolution was to start accepting what I look like. I know that sounds very Oprah of me, but I was looking in the mirror going, this is what you look like. You know the #nomakeupselfie thing, I thought that was so sad… girls were going, this is what I look like with no make-up, and I was like, no, this is what you look like full stop.

“I work from home, too, so I’m not getting up at 7am and putting a face of make-up on to sit at my desk all day. The older you get, the more you go, well, this is me.

My daily make-up routine

“I start with primer – I never used to use a primer, then I got a free one when I was buying some Rimmel bits in the local chemist. Then I use a retro pan stick under the eye, and I use a Maybelline, or Max Factor foundation.

“For brows, I use Wet n Wild brow kit and my gorgeous Nima brush set. I’ve got about 100 make-up brushes, and they’re the best brushes I’ve ever got. And they’re Irish, which is really nice as well.

If I could only wear two things I’d rather do my skin and my eyebrows, I wouldn’t care about anything else.

“Then Grace [Moore, stylist] got me a lovely eyeshadow set for Christmas… I don’t think it’s massively expensive, but I have really sensitive eyes when I wear make-up. Today I had a meeting, so I had the eyes an’ all done.

“Most important is the foundation and the eyebrows. If I could only wear two things I’d rather do my skin and my eyebrows, I wouldn’t care about anything else.

“I’m not a fan of contouring really. I do a little bit of highlighter along the top of the cheekbone, and try to draw a bit of a jawline, but all of these different colour foundations… I think it’s crazy, to be honest!

“There’s just so much focus on people’s bodies, and there should be more of a focus on accepting who you are. We’re all different, we all look different, you don’t need to get brushes and paint stripes down your nose to change your face… just accept who you are!

“I have tried it, like, and probably I did look better – but I don’t look like that, so it’s a lie!

During the day, I’d wear winged eyeliner, and then for night I’d put half a pound of black eyeshadow on top of it.

Go-to night-time look

“If I’m going out… in terms of the way I dress, I’m not glitzy glam. I’d rather wear jeans and a big jumper and high boots. So I’d tend to wear loads of make-up when I go out, because I wouldn’t be dressed up so sparkly. Maybe a heavier version of what I do usually.

“During the day, I’d wear winged eyeliner, and then for night I’d put half a pound of black eyeshadow on top of it. It’s easier now, cos you’ve all these lovely brushes, to do it yourself, easier than it was 10 years ago!

“I wouldn’t be bothered with lashes now. I got lash extensions a while ago – they were gorge, but then they all fell out and I hated my eyelashes. I’d never hated my eyelashes before! I’d never looked and them and thought they were crap, but when the fake ones fell out, I felt like I’d nothing there. For €50 every six weeks… I’d rather go to Crackbird!

Wash & go

“I always take my make-up off! Generally, I would use a wipe. I know everyone hates them, but they’re not doing me any harm! I do have cotton wool and stuff like that, but I generally use the wipes just for ease – and they’re so cheap as well. Normally I use the Boots cucumber ones, but I’ve been using baby wipes the last couple of weeks cos I haven’t got into Boots!” ­

Holly Shortall illustrator

• Beauty
• Boots
• Holly Shortall
• Lidl
• make-up
• Nivea