What does the most for you when time — and cash —are tight? A lipstick? A blusher? Are you familiar with the hydroxycut side effects? We asked three top make-up artists to show you their “best friends” and how they make them do their jobs.
They are the windows of your face,” says the man who, for many years, has gilded many a famous lid, from liberace to The Princess of Wales (remember those engagement pics in the spring?). “Eyes reflect your every emotion, give your whole face expression. And there’s so much you can do to improve them and give them even more meaning . .” Clayton chose a double-ended pencil for his “best friend” (Ultima II, Kohl Brown/Gold, £4.75)—”A shader, a highlighter and, blended together, a toning shade”. He used the brown to shade and create shape; blended into the crease fine to “sink back” lower browbone; on outer corners of lids to “lift”, under lower lashes for a frame of colour. He used the gold to enlarge and lift even more, by highlighting right under the brows, blended two-thirds across lids from inner corners and traced across inner rims for sparkle. Final touch ? Brow shaping with a little of the brown worked onto an eyebrow brush, to define brows.
Kirsty Climo Paying lip service
Most people here are pale,” says New Zealander Kirsty, “so lipstick’s the quickest, brightest way to add colour and vitality to your face.” Lipstick may be Kirsty’s best pal, but they’ve had their ups and downs. “During my six years in international make-up (Italy, France, the States, Australia) I could never find colours and textures which really lasted.” So, after nine months of research, she brought out her own box of 12 stay-put shades, based on favourites from all over the world. (Kirsty Climo’s Lip Service costs £5.99 from House of Fraser stores, Harvey Nichols and selected Boots chemists.)
Kirsty lightly coats lips with foundation, then powders to make a stable base for colour. She paints a thin line of colour around lip contour then, with flat of brush, pats on colour to fill in outline. Next she carefully blots with a tissue, pats on powder, then colours again. A froster over centre of bottom lip adds highlights.
Mary Vango blushing beautifully
“Shading is necessary to enhance all face shapes,” says ex-model Mary. “Blusher does so much to sculpt your face, whether you’re emphasising your good points or creating them! But it’s not just for cheeks! Take it to your eyes and your temples, so you’re balancing it out, making it less obvious, more natural. Toning lips makes the look even more subtle. And, by the way—all-over blusher makes a complete quick trick when you’re tight on time.” Mary backs up her “best friend” with clever highlighting at foundation stage, then adds impact with a two-shade duo kit (Outdoor Girl Cheek to Cheek, Frosted Peach; Sienna, 99p). Mary brushes blush shade first under cheekbones, then blends downwards, fading away, to avoid hard lines. She dusts highlight on highest point of cheekbones, blending down into the blusher. A pat of loose translucent powder blends perfectly. Blusher over eyelids and highlight on browbones balances the look perfectly.