Do it like a pro
No time to study the latest make-up trends? Whatever your image, we have the face to match
IN THE real world, we don’t have time to spend ages keeping up with the latest trends in hair, clothes and make up. Most people have busy lives and to complicate matters, there are never just one or two trends to choose from, but dozens. Just open a fashion magazine or two and you’ll wonder what look is actually in and which one suits you. There seem to be so many. In the UK we have the Edwardian influence going on, the fifties, the sixties thing is still hanging around, anything vintage, old world or period look. Then there is all the other modern, contemporary and new stuff going on. I haven’t even looked in the US or Italian magazines to check what they’re up to.
Whatever the hair and clothes look, there is a definite trend at the moment towards a more natural face, be it pale, ethereal and Victorian or a glowing, post holiday, healthy look with definition on the eyes. Being September, most people around the world, from socialites and supermodels to us normal mortals, have a post holiday tan or glow, so logically make up trends need to flatter this.
Whatever your style, be it casual, working mum or dressy out for the evening in a girly (fifties influence, vintage, classic?) dress or jeans with a dressy top, here is a make up look which will suit most faces, hairstyles and clothes. If your hairstyle and outfit are very directional or strong you’ll need to decide whether eyes or lips need to follow through with the look. Keep in mind that even if you are wearing a girly, fifties, full-circle type skirt or a very dressy dress, go for a natural glowy face rather than matching 50s face or heavy make up. As long as you look healthy and you have just enough colour in you cheeks or lips not to look ill or drowned out by your clothes then you are most definitely IN.
Here’s how to achieve your ‘I’m in fashion’ September look.
If you have a darkish tan, use a bronzing gel (I use Est?e Lauder) mixed with a little foundation and apply very sparingly so that your own skin still shows through. For dark circles, choose a transparent concealer one tone paler than your tan, using also for dark spots or marks on the skin. YSL Touche Eclat no 3 can’t be beaten. Use a little powder over your face only if you look very greasy.
If you are not very tanned, mix a little foundation with a complexion-enhancing, light-reflecting cream product. Try YSL Teint Parfait number 3 and again apply very sparingly. A little loose powder can be dusted over the skin using a large brush to give a smooth but not matt effect. Chanel, Lancome and YSL also do nice natural powders.
For eyes, use an antique gold effect colour and plenty of long lash mascara. Nina Ricci Plush Mono Eyeshadow number 19 looks stunning with tanned skin, use it sparingly over eyelids for day and apply more densely for the evening. Shiseido have an interesting colour called Taffetta Taupe, which will give an antique metallic look to the lids.
An alternative look is black kohl applied to inner eyelids then smudged around eyelashes for a smouldering look. Apply mascara fairly generously. Lancome, L’Oreal, Maybelline and Est?e Lauder have good mascaras. You can combine this look with a hint of the above eyeshadows applied to the middle of the eyelid only.
For lips, keep the mouth quite soft looking instead of densely painted colour and a hard sharp outline. Choose red toned medium to dark brown soft gloss texture lipstick, alternatively anything soft and dewy will work for this look. Mix vaseline with a little soft pink, peach or sparkly effect lipstick to achieve the right look. If you have naturally full lips then choose a warm pale pink, peach, medium to pale brown or maroon tone and apply with finger tips to achieve a matt, ‘hardly there’ effect.
For cheeks, use one of the new blushers which reflect light and give a sheen to the cheeks with minimal colour density. Two great new ones which I’m using a lot at the moment when doing brides or tanned models on shoots, are YSL Variation Blush no. 12 and Est?e Lauder Tender blush in all shades. They have just the right, ‘fashionable right now’ glow to them. Even shimmer effect make up changes in texture and effect every year, so your old shiny bronzing balls or powder might look more disco diva or glitter queen than the subtle ethereal glow your will achieve using this year’s new products. Use the YSL rouge on apple of cheeks then blend in a deeper colour just behind this but not as far back as the ear. On very tanned skin Est?e Lauder Deep Spice 517 looks good as the mauve hue contrasts with yellow tones of a tan and the eyeshadow. If you are not so tanned try the Pink Kiss 102 0r Nectar 420.
