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Back to natural
Thamar Houliston
Posted Wed, 09 Jan 2008
Funky make-up is officially out. Unless you are starring in the 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' or going to a dress-up party, ditch the excess make-up and find your natural look so says Bobbi Brown, leading authority on women's make-up and owner of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics. 'Less is more'. Here's how you should be doing your make up in 2008.
Look at yourself in the mirror and for once 'see' what's great about your face. You might have the biggest nose in the world which you hate, but what about your eyes, lips and skin? Perhaps you have been focusing so much on what's wrong with your face that you have forgotten to enhance those features that you should be treasuring.
It's not about the make-up, it's about you.
Bobbi believes that beauty is something every woman can achieve by finding the right colours and products for 'your' face, rather than what the make-up artists in magazines are telling you is 'hot right now'.
You also have to 'see' yourself how you are now. Perhaps you aren't that 22-year-old anymore. Accept yourself as you are now and progress from there.
No more myths just real life tips
Step one: Beauty is skin deep
Skin care is the first step in a make-up regime. The better you look after your skin the less make up you will need. Your skin however changes depending on your lifestyle it may be super-oily now as you run around in summer, even though you have somewhat dry skin. Observe what you skin needs and treat it accordingly.
Moisturisers 'prime' your make-up. Make sure you use the right one for your skin, and remember don't use eye cream during the day as it won't allow for the make-up to sit properly.
Step two: The foundation
According to Eduardo Ferreira, a member of the Bobbi Brown team, you should say goodbye to pink foundation. The first rule of make-up is that your foundation must be 100 percent yellow-based.
When trying foundation at the store never try it on your hand, rather on the far side of your cheek closer to your ear.
Now find the one that blends in completely that one's for you! It should not be visible at all.
Step three: Concealer baby!
Now that you have found your colour of foundation which by the way should change from summer to winter one shade lighter than that is the right concealer for your face.
But before you go ahead with the concealer you need a corrector for those blue bags under your eyes.
Don't put concealer on your eyelids!
Step four: The right tools
You will need a different brush for each application concealer, foundation etc. Using a brush for the foundation will make lines look less visible and allow the foundation to blend properly.
Always remember that you are "enhancing" your face not "covering it up", says Ferreira.
If you chose the right foundation you don't need to put it on your neck.
Step five: Magic powder
Powder is used "strategically" where you "shine" or where your skin is more oily.
Choose a transparent powder which has a little yellow rather than a translucent one, as the latter will look ashy.
Step six: Childish cheeks
Pinch your cheeks this is the colour your blush should be all natural rosy cheeks.
Use a big round brush for application. Smile and then brush downwards diagonally, starting on your cheek. Smiling allows you to see where your cheeks are. Don't make a big round circle though you will look like a clown!
Step seven: Lovely lips
Your lipstick should be close to the natural colour of your lips but should enhance your lips. So if you've got brown lips perhaps try a lipstick that's reddish brown.
Never put lip liner on first and make sure that you use the right colour lip liner otherwise says Ferreira, "you'll look cheap and nasty". Liner must also be shaded in.
Also close your lips when putting on your lipstick.
And it's a myth that red lipstick is for the evening only it could just be your natural colour.
Step eight: Raise those brows
Eyebrows should not be reshaped. You just need to fill in the gaps. You can get a special brow shaper and my personal best kept secret eyebrow mascara. It's clear and just allows you to shape your brows not to colour them in.
Step nine: Natural eyelids
Don't ever wear white on your eyelids, unless you are as pale as snow as can pull it off. Rather you should opt for something more natural. A banana colour for dark skins and a bone colour for lighter skins.
Sorry honey greens, blues and purples are just not cool anymore
Step ten: The right lines
You can chose either liquid liner or a pencil, but Bobbi brown suggests the right brush and a black shadow. Wet the brush and use the shadow it makes a much easier-to-use liquid liner.
Bobbi Brown also has gel eyeliner in their range which is water resistant but not waterproof darling!
Be careful with the liner on the bottom of the eye you don't want to look drugged. The eyeliner on the top of your eyes should be louder than the bottom.
Wherever you don't have eyelashes don't put eyeliner. Cleopatra is dead.
Also the older you are the more necessary it is to use eyeliner. And lastly use black, black, black there's no colour negotiation here.
Bobbi Brown Cosmetics can be found at the following select Edgars stores in South Africa:
Visit their website at www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com
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