Often it’s hard to find a balance between makeup for a night of club hopping, and Sunday brunch with the boyfriend’s parents. Sometimes enhancing your face’s natural beauty is what you need to make a strong statement. Try these tips for a fresh faced look that’s understated yet gorgeous.
BB, it’s all you
BB Creams, or Beauty Balms, originated in Germany in the 1960s, have been a Korean and Japanese beauty staple since the 1980s, and only made it to Western markets in the last few years. This is the perfect all-in-one product. Coming in a limited number of shades (usually light, medium, dark), and carried by high-end brands such as Dior, all the way down to the wallet-friendly Garnier, it’s suited for all skin types and budgets. BB cream is a moisturiser-primer-sunblock-foundation in one simple and sheer application, promising to even out skin-tone and look flawlessly natural. Throw this on with a flattering shade of blush and your base is done. When picking a blush, try matching the colour your cheeks turn when you pinch them (don’t pinch too hard!). Go for a cream blush, or a tint. Try NARS The Multiple in G-Spot.
Emphasis on the eyes
We’re going for natural, but better, so we can lie a tiny bit. Easiest place fib is with our eyes. When picking an eyebrow pencil, gel, or pen, blondes should go to a shade darker than their hair, and brunettes a shade lighter. Brush eyebrows upwards to create the illusion of fuller brows, and then lightly draw in. You want to layer the colour in short strokes until the desired, natural, look is achieved (Chola eyebrows were never a good thing). Lining the underside of your upper lash-line with a dark brown or black pencil gives the illusion of fuller lashes. While at a mirror, pull the upper eyelid up, exposing the underside of the lash-line, and trace it gently with eyeliner. Line your waterline with a skin tone pencil (Bright Eyes by Benefit is made for this) to make your eyes appear even bigger and more alert.
Skip the lipstick
Opt for a lip tint in a fresh pink or berry hue. Stila’s Lip and Cheek Stain comes in a great range of shades (try Cherry Crush), as does Revlon’s Just Bitten Balm line (Crush is flattering for all). Layering cream blush over lip balm as also a cheap and quick option that keeps the look consistent.
