SPRING 2009 MAKEUP TRENDS

What cosmetics houses have in store for you…

TRICKS OF THE TRADE

FOUNDATION

• Never test foundation anywhere else but on your jaw line, neck or décolletage.
• Avoid foundations that have even the slightest hint of pink in the bottle, they are far too rosy and look unnatural. A foundation with a yellow tint is more flattering and will neutralize any redness on the skin.
• If you can’t find a foundation colour to match your skin perfectly, go for the darker one as you can always lighten it a bit by adding a little moisturizer and using a lighter powder

CONCEALER

• Concealer under the eyes should be two shades lighter than your foundation whilst concealer on the rest of your face should match your foundation perfectly.
• Apply concealer with a small brush to the area / blemish that needs covering, then pat over it with your ring finger to blend. Layer if necessary.

POWDER

• Loose powder sets foundation the best. Apply with a powder puff, rolling and pressing the powder onto the skin then dust off excess using a large powder brush.
• If you want a dewy look, just dust a little powder on the T-zone with a powder brush and leave the rest.

BLUSHER

• Blusher is applied on the apples of the cheeks whilst bronzer is applied slightly below the cheekbones.
• Never use blusher to contour your face. It’s very unflattering having lines down the sides of your face.
• Blush overkill? Don’t grab for a tissue or make-up remover, simply take a clean cotton ball and gently swirl it over your cheeks to remove excess pigment, then follow with a dusting of powder.

EYE SHADOW

• When using dark eye shadows, do your eye make-up first then apply your foundation. This way you can just wipe off any make-up spills and it’s less time consuming than having to try and clean up the mess afterwards.
• If you are clueless about how to apply eye shadow correctly, use this simple technique that suits all eye shapes. Apply highlighter on the brow bone. Smudge eyeliner along the top lash line and halfway across lower lash line. Use a medium toned shadow on the upper lid up to the crease and along the lower lash line. Follow with mascara.

MASCARA

• To prevent your mascara from clumping, never pump the wand in the tube, it forces air into the tube causing it to dry out faster. Also, before each application, wipe the wand clean with a dry tissue then swirl the wand in the tube.
• Don’t throw away your old mascara wand. Wash it with warm soapy water and use it to comb your eyebrows or to remove clumps of mascara on your lashes.
• Want your curled lashes to last all day? Curl them about 5 minutes after applying mascara. If they happen to stick together, just separate them with an old, clean mascara wand.

LIPSTICK

• To prevent your lipstick from getting on your teeth, after applying lipstick, put one finger in your mouth and drag it out. This removes the colour that’s inside your lips.
• Lip liner should never be visible. It should match your lipstick perfectly and only be used to fill in where necessary, after lipstick application.
• Lipstick should match your skin tone, not your outfit.