We all want perfect skin and typically that one big spot or that pinkish hue always comes up just when we want to look our best = fail.
But, with the right techniques, you can always fake it and appear to have your skin under control, looking fresh, natural and luminous = win!
This season is full of events and catch up xmas drinks, so you might just be applying more of your ‘going out’ make-up look than a normal month. This can lead to build up, skin can look dull and oils can be more present than usual, especially with the warmer weather.
Balance is the key!
Make sure you are cleansing the day away every night and applying some sort of recovery or repairing serum at night, so in the morning you are starting your make-up with a really fresh, clean base.
Always use a water based hydrating moisturizer under foundation in summer months as it instantly refreshes skin, infusing moisture quickly. Richer creams are better at night where they take longer to penetrate through the skin.
I am known, especially when the skin is dehydrated or looking dull, to mix a slight amount of moisturizer, serum or my favorite, a primer into my foundation so the application is smoother, leaving a seamless result as this dilutes the ‘heaviness’ out of the foundation.
Some women wake up, skin dehydrated, looking a bit drab and then slap on huge amounts of foundation…This will only look heavy and mask like as the foundation is sitting on top of the skin, not melting together to become one which adding a primer into foundation skin will achieve.
My favorite water based moisturizer and primer for the above tips are the Biotherm Aquasource moisturizer and the Laura Mercier Primer.
Image: Biotherm AquaSource RRP: $63 and Laura Mercier Primer RRP: $32
MB Pro Tip: Not to prime is a crime! Foundation will look separated from your skin and more noticeable if you do not apply something underneath or mixed in.
One product that is so important to get right and to me, even more important than foundation is the trusty concealer! Many women skip this step, or buy incorrect textures or shades leaving the look cakey, patchy or worse off than before the concealer was applied.
In some cases during this summer season, you might not even need foundation as most concerns are with the eyes looking dark, tired and maybe some redness around the nose or chin. Women see these concerns and for some reason cover their entire face, when they only need to spot correct the actual concerns leaving a fresher more natural look and saving time – gotta love that!
If the above concerns are all you have, rather than an entire face full of needed corrections, use your concealer across mobile eyelid as most are great as a primer for any other make-up products, like eye shadow, to last longer. Next we apply concealer in a dabbing motion, only on dark circle area under eyes, following shadow to middle of eye, as soon as you apply on outer areas, you are applying product where skin creases and can age you = definite fail! Also apply a small amount of concealer on skin at lower lash line as this area can have redness.
By applying correctly and layering product to gain desired coverage not applying too much on outer areas, this already can be a big lift to your look, becoming more bright eyed!
If redness occurs on the face, mix a little primer into your concealer, apply with fingers over nose and chin to eliminate this concern. If you do not mix, you might have patches, mixing allows for a melting coverage = seamless!
If a big spot has decided to come up and say hello, simply dab the concealer, starting off in small amounts over the spot, keep dabbing for blend around surrounding edges. You will be surprised what the right concealer can achieve rather than always grabbing a foundation, which can be more difficult to blend carefully when in a rush. Your concealer is a quick spot treatment and great for your clutch for touch ups!
I love the Lancome Effacernes Longue Tenue Concealer Tube! Great consistency for coverage, but lubricating the eye, added SPF and a great eyelid primer!
Image: Effacernes Concealer RRP: $53
MB Pro Tip: Choose your concealer shade correctly! Try to go more peach to yellow base rather than to pale or pink based, as it will not have the power to eliminate redness or dark shadows. Concealer should not always match your foundation shade, as it is a corrector that needs depth in colour to make a difference.
Once you have an even skin tone, eliminating redness, brightening dark shadows and a smooth looking complexion it is up to you how you add colour. You can go as simple as a bold lip and a lash only, or a full makeup, either way; everything else will only work if your base is perfect.
I love me a highlighter, it is the best way to ‘Fake’ a dehydrated, dull and tired skin. Having light on the face adds brightness, and a more translucent, luminous skin making any foundation looking fresher.
Some women grab their bronzer to quickly and apply heavy amounts to ‘add colour’ thinking it will give them a glow, but sometimes it can just look dirty, especially if the skin is already tired looking.
Highlight before bronzer, and then see if bronzer is needed for a hint of colour or contour.
The best places to use a highlighter, preferably a liquid or a cream version, is above/on cheekbone, under brow on arch, cupids bow area on lips and if not oily, through the centre of the face.
I like to use my fingertips than a brush as my fingers can really dab the product, melting the texture into the skin creating a beautiful glow.
Once highlighter has been added, use a blush or a bronzer as a contour – even sweep these over eyelid for quick colour and don’t forget about lashes!
A bold lip can be an easy way to dress up your new complexion and this season brows are in – add a little colour to them to frame as we generally do not wear as much eye shadow in summer.
Love this MeMeMe Product, Arch Angel as it is a Tinted Brow Gel and Highlighting cream in one! I love Multi-use!! Could even secretly use the Brow Gel on the lashes.
Image: MeMeMe Cosmetics Arch Angel Eyebrow Gel RRP: $24.95
So ladies, take time to prime and your skin will be glowing all season.
By Michael Brown
Twitter: @mbrown_beauty
Facebook: facebook.com/michaelbrownbeauty
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