….Think Differently About Your Face
One of the things you realise very early on as a makeup
artist is the normal woman’s obsession with her perceived flaws.
I use the words “normal” and “perceived” very specifically
here. The definition of a normal women being one who is neither a model nor a
celebrity. Who with the influence of mass media, clever lighting and Photoshop believe
that they suffer from imperfections (spots, lines, dark circles, bad bone
structure….) that women in the spotlight have been granted immunity from?
Our common sense deep down is telling us that this must be
nonsense, however we still cant help but wonder. Yes celebrities have the best
in skincare, make-up artists and even cosmetic surgery. However the real
difference is we are looking for, and at their “beauty”.
Meanwhile looking in the mirror at ourselves, our minds over
exaggerate the areas we dislike. From the condition of our skin to the
structure of our faces, we fixate on and curse the things we dislike. We are
looking at our own “faults”.
So what’s the challenge? Well the issue is that when we
focus so much on our faults and flaws this naturally dictates how we apply
makeup. Therefore to improve how we apply our makeup we need to change how we
think.
Bad skin?? - This encourages thick layers of heavy coverage
foundation.
Dark Circles?? - Heavy layers of concealer under the eye
area.
Pale skin?? - Over zealous bronzing all over the face??
The trend here, we are trying to hide, to cover and to
disguise. By doing so we create a flat, one colour and mask like appearance to
our faces. Where too much heavy coverage makes the skin look dull and product sinks
into fine lines. At the end we have neither brought forward nor pushed back
aspects of our features. Only the same face remains, just like before except with
a thickly covered, duller layer of skin.
So we need to think positive…to start with the things we can
enhance, then at the end maybe cover up the odd spot or dark circle, if we can still
see it that is? The theory being that if we draw attention to the beauty in our
face and skin the other things appear less obvious.
Below I have added some tips to how you can enhance your
natural beauty and some products that will help you with this. But the main idea here is that to be your own makeup artist
….you have to think like they do.
Enhance beauty.
Create beauty. Celebrate beauty.
Tips
Even out natural
skin tone with foundation. A light covering built up gradually on the cheeks,
chin, nose and forehead is all that is needed. To bring out the youthful glow
in the skin use an illuminating foundation or mix in an illuminating primer.
Illuminate the
high points of the face with highlighter, tops of cheekbones, down the centre
of the nose, very slightly under the brow and on the cupids bow. This lifts the
features and gives a youthful glow.
Enhance the
structure of the face with contour and matt bronzer. A little under the
cheekbones, on the forehead and jawline adds depth to the face contrasting with
the highlighter pulling features out.
Blush adds colour
and brightens the face giving it a healthy glow. Keep this high on the cheeks
merging into the highlighter. Avoid bringing this too far into the face (no
further in than the width of the pupils). Blush which sits higher on the cheek
also helps to counteract and detract from dark circles.
A small amount of
powder through the arch of the brow will define at the most flattering point
and lift the features. Avoid harshly drawn on brows and sharp edges. Let the
natural brow show through rather than covering with thick amounts of product.
Running a thin
amount of pencil liner through the lashes will give the effect of thicker
lashes.
Wipe most of the
product off the mascara brush before using to avoid over made up and clumpy
lashes.
Use a small
amount of illuminating concealer just on the precise part you can see any dark circles.
For puffy under eyes a matt eye shadow blended under the eye will push this
backwards.
Use a firmer
yellow undertone concealer for spots, warm up on back of hand and pat onto
spots or very gently buff on with fluffy brush. Build up coverage and avoid too
much product getting onto areas with no spots.
Even out lip shape
with a lip liner very gently tracing the lip line, avoid harshly or overdrawn
lip lines as this can be ageing
