Many of us are in the thick of Christmas present buying mode, what with December 25 just over a month away. But if you’re struggling for something to get your make-up loving other half, sister, brother, bestie or Secret Santa, we’ve got just the thing: something from No7’s new Pro-Artist range.
Consisting of 12 carefully curated products whose formulas are high quality but their price-tag positively budget friendly (all items are under £20), the new Pro-Artist range is the ultimate stocking filler.
Whether you’re after a new bronzer, red lippy for the festive season or base perfecting primer, the new No7 range has you fully covered – you can even get them a bundle that contains a whole host of the products for £44.50 – currently on sale down from £90, which is a total steal.
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Having launched a few weeks ago, our fashion and beauty team couldn’t wait to test out a few of its products to find our faves and see if the quality was as good as No7’s Global Brand Director, Helen Garton, says it is. She explained: “The new No7 Pro Artist collection has been designed to deliver amazing results, with luxury-rivalling products and beautiful, easy-to-achieve looks, that means everyone can feel excited about makeup!”
Here’s what our beauty experts had to say.
Eve’s favourite picks from the No7 Pro Artist range:
I love a cream bronzer. Having always been a powder girl, I made the switch to the silkier based products last year and haven’t looked back. So naturally, when No7 launched its new ProArtist range which included a dreamy looking bronzer that has already garnered 9 five-star reviews and is described as going on ‘like a dream’, I had to get my hands on it.
Coming in a round tub — like a face cream — the ‘Soft Glow’ bronzer has a velvet texture and comes in a beautiful caramel colour (with the shade Light Glow). I applied the velvety product to my fingertips firstly, swirling it on the product and dabbed it onto my cheeks. I loved how easily it not only went on but blended — without disappearing or without drying out my skin, as some bronzers can do.
It was pigmented but wasn’t so intense — as the name would suggest — that it looks like you’ve applied way too much. It just gives you a soft sunkissed glow. It’s also buildable to achieve your desired bronzed goddess look.
With it being creamy, the shimmer it gives your cheekbones too is lovely. It injects some healthy colour into your skin and gives it a natural shine without feeling heavy on your cheeks.
I’m also impressed by how long it lasted without needing a top up — a good few hours. While it does cost £19.95 (not the cheapest), it’ll certainly last you a long time as you don’t need to apply much to make an impact.
I love a liquid blush. It’s the ideal product to give your cheeks a rosey glow that it dewy and natural (depending on how much you apply). And while my go-to has recently been NARS’ Afterglow in the shade Orgasm (a lovely peachy rose colour), No7’s new Pro Artist Luxe Liquid Blush, £14.95, intrigued me after seeing a video of Nicola Chapman — No7’s Beauty Make-up Artist Ambassador — applying the product and it coming out beautifully.
Already having a light pinkish toned blush, I tried the slightly purpler shade taupe — thinking it’d work with my darker hair and olive skin-tone.
I applied two dots to my cheeks and immediately found out how pigmented it is as I tried to blend out with my fingers. Turning to my trusty blush brush, I tested out its ‘super blendable’ described and dabbed, circled and blended the creamy product out and was proved right.
It blended out wonderfully and I was met with a dusky rose ‘blurred’ flush to my cheeks that was colder than I’m used to but was actually pretty brightening and still gorgeously glowy. It’s definitely going to become my go-to blush for the winter season.
Bethan’s favourite picks
When I tried out the new No7 Pro Artist range for the first time, I immediately loved a number of the products. But what solidified them as standout in the affordable luxury category, is that many of them have found their way into my daily routine, even having me ditch cult brands like Rare Beauty, Refy and Charlotte Tilbury in the process.
The No7 Pro Artist Base Perfecting Primer costs £19.95 is a gel primer designed to give a radiant glow while creating a smooth base that holds makeup well throughout the day. Its got a really silky texture, but a little goes a long way. The first time I used it, I used way too much and it took a while to sink in, so rest assured that one pump is plenty. The finished effect is really illuminated which I feel helps minimise imperfections, meaning it’s great under makeup for giving glow, but equally works well on its own on no-makeup days to give your skin some life.
As someone who has struggled with cream bronzers appearing muddy or too warm, I didn’t hold out much hope for the No7 Pro Artist Soft Glow Cream Bronzer. I was soon proven wrong, and it quickly became my go-to bronzer, taking over from my beloved Refy. It’s really lightweight and velvety, and not too pigmented on the first pass but very buildable, making it easy to control the intensity. The neutral tone flatters pale skin without veering orange, and it blends really well into the skin, working nicely over and under other products in my routine, too. The No7 bronzer is actually more expensive than Refy’s £18 offering, but it is considerably bigger and for an extra £1.95, I think it’s worth it.
Liquid blushes can be quite intimidating because it’s really easy to do too much, even after applying the tiniest dot, as I’ve often found with Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch. But the No7 Pro Artist Luxe Liquid Blush has a silky feel and some powder in the formula that makes it blend effortlessly for a finish that dries down beautifully. The pigment is perfectly balanced and you don’t end up with an uneven finish where you first applied. Much like other products in the range, it’s buildable, so you can be as subtle or as bold as you like. The Pink shade felt perfect for me, giving a fresh flush to the cheeks.
The No7 Pro Artist Eyeshadow Palette: Lights Camera Action, gives the likes of Charlotte Tilbury a run for her money. Costing £16.95, this versatile palette features soft shimmers and blendable mattes that are said to be ‘high pigment but low maintenance’, and I couldn’t agree more. While the colour payoff is impressive, the shadows are very forgiving and easy to work with, even for beginners. I feel like this is great for on-to-go glam — and just in time for the Christmas party season.
Finishing the look with lips, I used the incredibly creamy No7 Pro Artist Precision Edit Lip Liner, which is £12.95. The ultra-fine tip gives precise control to define lips, ready for me to go in with the No7 Pro Artist Matte Muse Lipstick in the matching shade, which was Rose Couture, which is a lovely pink-nude shade that I think will suit most people. I’m not a massive fan of matte lipsticks, though, so I did add a gloss over the top to make it feel a bit more ‘me’.
Overall I was really impressed by No7’s Pro Artist range. While everything is under £20, it still delivers high quality, well performing makeup staples that feel that little bit more elevated — not to mention they provide incredibly flattering results, whether you’re a makeup pro or not.
Rachel’s favourite picks
As a complete newbie to bronzer, after trying No 7’s new Pro Artist Soft Glow cream bronzer, I’m officially a convert. l love the light, buildable coverage and the creamy consistency that glides onto your face. Not being used to bronzer, I was concerned it might look too harsh on my skin, so it was important for me to start with something lighter that I could build up gradually. I love the subtle Light Glow’s shade and the shimmer it achieves to help give my face some definition.
I recently raved about the new No7 ProArtist Matte Muse Lipstick too — it’s become my go-to for dressing up a casual outfit for a coffee date or adding a touch of glam for a night out. In shade Red Carpet Ready, it carries a subtle blue undertone that seemed to brighten my complexion and boost my confidence. It did, like most lipsticks, fade after eating and drinking throughout the day and required a quick top-up, but I loved how moisturising it felt for a matte lipstick. However, if you’re looking for something with a little more staying power, you can’t go wrong with Maybelline’s Superstay Matte Ink in Pioneer — this does not budge.
Lauren’s favourite picks
I’m echoing the thoughts of the other gals here, but the No7 Pro Artist Soft Glow cream bronzer is at the top of my list. In the past, I’ve used powdered bronzer and never thought to try a cream-based formula, but I’m an official convert.
As a fair-skinned girlie, I have to be careful about how much bronzer I apply, but No7’s iteration is a game-changer. It glides across my face smoothly, and it’s easy enough to build up if I want a little more glow. I especially like it for the way it blends seamlessly into my skin to create a subtle finish — ideal for ensuring my pale complexion doesn’t end up looking like a bad fake tan job.
It feels nourishing and hydrating, and it’s long-wearing as well — I can’t remember a time I’ve needed to top it up during the day. Plus, it’s versatile, too; it doubles as a contour (see pic above) and could even be used as eyeshadow.
I also love the Red Carpet Ready Matte Muse Lipstick. Its creamy formula glides on my lips easily, leaving them feeling hydrated and full, and I only need two quick swipes to get my preferred tone. The pigment also impressed, lasting for hours, with only a minimal top-up needed during an afternoon and evening out with pals.
More affordable makeup ranges can be found at Superdrug, LookFantastic and Sephora.
