Open Your Eyes

You are now ready to start on the eyes - use an eye primer to make your colour last all day. Your first colour, applied over the whole lid and up to your brows, should be an off-white shade. Then, apply your second darker shade over the lid, working out to in, leaving the inner area of your eyelid clear. This will create the 3-dimensional effect. Use your darkest shade on the crease only, to add depth. A good crease brush is a must, it works much better than a flat brush on this area. Use a blending brush to bring the shades together. You can add more of the off-white shade to the area under your brows and on the inner area of you lid.

Eyeliner is a personal choice, you can use liquid or cake liner for a dramatic look, or a sharp pencil in black or brown for under the eyes and above the top lash line. An extremely fine paintbrush from your local art shop is great for liquid and cake liner, it makes the application easier. Keep a cotton bud handy for those mistakes! Glitter liners are perfect for evening looks. Eyelash curlers are great to open up your eyes, use them before mascara. Mascara brushes come in different shapes and sizes, you will by experience, find the one perfect for your lashes. Again, black and brown are the best for daytime wear, navy and purple can be worn at night.

Make-Up 101

Creating The Illusion of Flawless Skin

The first step in preparing your canvass is to ensure that your skin is in good condition. This means exfoliating and moisturising regularly. Look for an exfoliator with very fine particles, that won't damage your skin. A good primer , like MAC or Laura Mercier,will create an even finish, and keep your foundation from wearing off too quickly. The success of your foundation, tinted moisturiser or mineral powder relies on achieving an exact match to your natural skin tone. Ideally you should match your foundation to your jawline in daylight, bearing in mind that you might be getting a tan for the occasion. If the foundation looks too pale, you can warm it up by adding bronzer (Rimmel Sun has all the shades) t o the areas that usually get caught by the sun - forehead, nose, chin. Bronzer is a great contouring tool, use it on the areas you want to minimise and use a shimmery highlighter on areas you want to draw attention to, like cheekbones. ( Barbara Daly does a good one ). Concealer is the next step. Use it on scars, blemishes, red lines and shadows to create a flawless finish. Look for a heavy-duty one if you have tough blemishes, (like Vichy Dermablend) , and use only on those areas. Use a lighter-textured concealer under the eyes, as not to emphasise fine lines or drag at your skin. An illuminating pen is perfect for all ages. Finish your face with a translucent powder, either pressed or loose, to set your make-up. You are now ready to add colour!

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