Is the rainy weather wearing you down? Worry not! We’ve put together a few clever buys and nifty how-to tricks to help you freshen your make-up finish, and hopefully your mood, instantly.
Read on to see what our experts have to say about the best buys and techniques for a more luminous-looking you.
TIP: Add a touch of the unexpected by applying black mascara to your top lashes first, then wiggling through with a purple or blue shaded one. We love the wow-factor that Benefit’s They’re Real Beyond Blue Mascara, R375, gives!
Add a Natural Blush
With age, our skin’s pores become more noticeable due to the depletion of collagen levels. Therefore, always prep a touch of long-wear foundation to ensure that blusher doesn’t settle or build up, making pores look even more pronounced. A must-try is the ultra-lightweight, matte skin finisher Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet, R745 for 30ml. “Always apply blush to the apples of the cheeks, then blend it up and it into the hairline at the temples,” says Alex Babsky, Lancôme make-up artist ambassador. “A pop of colour just on the apple can make your face appear too full and round.” We love Lancôme Blush Subtil in Brun Roche, R550 for light to olive skin tones, and Mud Cheek Color Crème Compact in Sun Rose, R350, on deeper complexions.
Let Your Eyes Stand Out
Place a soft smudge of smokey makeup under the eye and just at the outer edge using a lasting pencil such as the un-smudge-able Max Factor Masterpiece Colour Precision Eyeshadow in Pearl Beige, R129,95. Then enhance the shape and colour of your eyes with a subtle shadow that looks nude, but not naked. A cool taupe shade, such as Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in the shade Diamond Dog, R350, will do just the trick.
Ever considered skipping mascara underneath the eye? Beauty expert Marica Kilgore says, “Pile it up on top of the lashes instead, as it gives a fresh, light, natural yet glamorous enough finish.” We can’t get enough of Laura Mercier’s Full Blown Volume Supreme Lash Building Mascara, R555.
Glossy Lips
“If you love lip balm, apply with a brush,” says Lisa Eldridge, international make-up artist and Creative Makeup Director for Lancôme. “Then use a lip pencil over the top in a colour of your choice. Step back from the mirror, re-assess how it looks, then touch up by shaping and contouring to get the desired look. It’s a handy way of applying product to the lips throughout the day, too, and they’ll never look dry.”
Try Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Lip Liner & Brush in Toffee, R395, over Vaseline Lip Therapy in Cocoa Butter, RRSP R24,90. Alternatively, try a glossy stain such as The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain in Deep Berry, R170 for 7,2ml or Revlon Kiss Cushion Lip Tint in Berry Lit, R139.
By Beauty Editor Martinique Stevens
