6 Smart beauty investments
If you only have the budget to buy one beauty item, consider these picks. Some make an instant difference, others can do double, even triple duty.
1 Tweezers: Groomed brows instantly add polish to your face even when you’re not wearing any other makeup.
2 Foundation stick: A great double-duty product. You can use to even out skin tone and cover blemishes.
3 Blush: A pop of colour on cheeks makes anyone look prettier.
4 Tinted moisturiser: Hydrates face and evens out skin.
5 Dark eye shadow: Use it to line your eyes and define your brows. When you’re in-between hair colouring appointments, you can even use it to cover up roots.
6 Balm: Use it to moisturise lips and cuticles. Pat some on cheeks after applying makeup to give yourself a soft glow. Smooth it on brows to keep them in place.
Savvy beauty know-how
How to do:
The smoky eye
Once mastered (it’s not as tricky as it seems) the smoky eye is a fail-safe party look. Keep in mind it doesn’t have to be created with black either ‚Äì you can use browns, greens, purples or dark blues.
To begin:
1 Apply a light base shade all over the eyelid and then follow with a darker shade along the lash line, getting right in at the base of lashes.
2 To soften the colour, buff it out with an eyeshadow brush, graduating as you move up the lid. Next, apply a complementary shade of soft pencil along the base of the eyelid and into the lash line, blending well and smudge a little under the lash line on the lower lid too.
3 Dot on a bit of clear gloss on the centre of the upper lid to catch the light and add dimension and complete the look with a few coats of mascara.
How to wear: Red lipstick
It’s a myth that only certain people can wear red lipstick, as Max Factor Make Up Artist Kate Conkey explains it’s all about choosing a shade that suits and then, careful application!
Choose the right red Determine this by applying a colour and looking in the mirror to see whether it drains your complexion or enlivens it. A good trick is to see whether the shade of red makes your teeth appear yellow.
For thinner lips Use the make-up artist’s trick of blurring the lip line by dabbing over with a clean finger once lipstick has been applied to make lips appear fuller. Enhance this effect by adding highlights of gloss around the lip line, Cupid’s bow and on the centre of the bottom lip.
For fuller lips Create the perfect line by sketching in using a pencil in a matching shade first. This will help to stop lipstick from ‘bleeding’ then fill the shape using the pencil and follow by painting over with lipstick.
