Make-up demystified

Part 2 - The eyes

 

Make-up fashion can dictate us what are the trendy new colours and often we fall into the trap of buying a pretty box with a set of shades which months after are barely used and left forgotten at the bottom of our drawer. Follow few simple guidelines and you will reduce the amount of make-up you need to use and make the most of the make-up you already have.

Before considering applying eye shadow you can help brightening your eyes by giving them a good base. Cool products such as eye gel packs and masks give a fresh relaxing feeling while helping reducing puffiness or tiredness. Keeping your eyebrow well groomed with a neat shape is essential. The creation of an arch will give the impression of a lifted eye appearing wider and longer.

Treat your face like a canvas. Any good artist would invest in good tools. So should you! Make sure you have the following as your basic make-up tool box:

•    Powder brushes: Large, domed soft brush to dust off the excess powder.
•    Blusher brush: Smaller dome soft brush.
•    Foundation base brush/ sponges: A brush will allow you a better mix and precision. If only one foundation applied you can use a sponge for a light finish.
•    Eye shadow dome: Best to have 2 of them which will allow you to use a different one for the darker and lighter shades.
•    Angled brush: Great to work in the eye sockets as well as contouring eyebrows.
•    Lip brush: Gives much more precision than your lipstick itself.

Tired of doing your make-up every day and look for a quick fix? You are not obliged to head for the extreme solution of tattooing on semi-permanent make-up. Find the perfect eye shadow and eye pencil/liner that suits you. Make-up texture is key when you blend colours. This can be tricky and can be overcome with the right tool. Here is a list to help you choose from:

•    Powder eye shadow: The easiest to apply and blend. Be aware of the shimmer will accentuate mature skins. Best to stick to a matt finish then.
•    Cream and gel eye shadow: Easy to apply (use a brush for blending). Avoid in summer as it tends to be sticky and messy when too hot.
•    Pencil shadow: As long as the texture is soft, this is a very precise tool for upper and lower lids.
•    Eye pencil: The must have! Everyone should have one and preferably with a soft texture. Easy to smudge.
•    Eye liner: Great for maximum impact. You need a steady hand and precision while applying. Opt for a fine pencil for better results.
•    Mascara: It show-cases your eye. Waterproof is generally preferred, although if you don’t play sport or are heading for a romantic/dramatic movie you can wear a regular one.

These days most make-up brands will offer a handy set of shades. It is a good start if you are starting your make-up bag. The inconvenience lies in the neutrals often used to compose the palettes. You might end up buying 2 or 3 identical shades when choosing from those pre-sold in twos or more.
Which colours look best on you? Look at your skin tone. Here are some colours that work very well together:

•    Fair skins: Use naturals and preferably blue shades for a pink undertone, whereas peach, salmon colours for yellowy base.
•    Olive skins: Copper, gold, orange, cream, purples, bronze and chocolate
•    Buttermilk and toffee skins: Vibrant colours or more subtle shades such as hazelnut, plum, creams for a natural look.
•    Chocolate and coffee coloured skins: Strong colours like reds, purples, black, gold or for a more natural finish try ivory, browns, copper, bronze.

Regardless of your age or eye shape, you can play with your make-up, mix and match colours and fully express your creativity. 

Contact Nathalie Baur Renaissance Image for Make-up lesson details.