A Make-Up Artist Shares Her 10 Best Make-Up Hacks
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@JESSICAKMAKEUP; @ZILLAH.PHOTO
Use Concealer To Lift
The easiest way to manipulate and give your eyes that wide awake look is to find a concealer that is half a shade lighter than your foundation and apply it with a flat concealer or foundation brush. Place it under the eye and pull it diagonally up towards the hairline – think about creating a line that would sit directly under the flick of your eyeliner. Apply the concealer in an upwards motion, then to set it into place using a translucent powder in the same motion over the top. It really pulls the face up and brightens the area, too.
Make The Most Of Your Bronzer
A good bronzer can be one of the hardest working products in your make-up bag because it can be used in multiple ways. If you’re creating a strong eyeliner look with minimal eyeshadow, use your bronzer to gently carve out a crease. Just don’t overload the eyelid. Alternatively, use your bronzer as a base colour under shimmers and darker shades to build a soft, smokey eye. You can also use it under your lower lashes as a softer lined look. In terms of sculpting, you can also contour the sides of the nose and tuck a little under the jaw for a soft contour. My favourite bronzer is hands down the Victoria Beckham Brick Bronzer, which comes with two shades for sculpting, warming and contouring – or even setting your skin in the warmer months.
Layer Mascara
Both in the rain and sweltering heat, I prefer to have a waterproof mascara to see me through the day. Sometimes, however, I want to build a dramatic lash so I layer my waterproof mascara over the top of my favourite non-waterproof mascara to lock it all in place. My favourites for this are the Lancôme Lash Idôle Waterproof Mascara and the L'Oréal Volume Million Lash Waterproof Mascara.
@JESSICAKMAKEUP
Embrace Your Colours
I feel like almost every makeup collection has a couple of colours that are deemed too daring for everyday but incorporating them into your look can be much easier a than you think. I love using bright colours under my bottom waterline with soft browns to complement the lid. If you have a light shimmer colour, you can pop it just into the inner corner of the eye and pair it with a skinny liner. Or if you have a bright liner that feels too bold for the whole lash line, draw your eyeliner with a black line first and then add a coat of the colour just over the top of the flick.
Use Powder To Soften Your Look
I tend to reach for powders in my kit rather than liquid formulas when I want to create a softer finish. I like to use cool toned powders through the front of my brow for example, and sometimes I’ll use a powder to gently buff a shadow under my cheekbones and blend it perfectly with a peachy blush.
Don’t Underestimate Lip Balm
If you are looking for a dewy, natural glow, use a lip balm to get that juicy finish – especially on your cheekbones. Once you’ve applied your base, blush and cream bronzers (you are going to want to keep your base super light) you can take a little bit of lip balm – preferably a liquid or another very soft consistency – and place it in the centre of your palms. Press your palms firmly and directly onto the tops of your cheekbones and out towards the hairline to get that glossy glow.
Melt Your Liner
If you’re going for an edgier night-time eye look, make the most of your eyeliner. I like to take a kohl pencil and gently warm it up before I apply it. I do this by using a hair dryer to soften the tip just a fraction. It means the product is a little softer so it’ll work better in between the lash and waterline – plus, you can blend it all the way up the lid. Try the Charlotte Tilbury Rock ‘N’ Kohl for best results.
@JESSICAKMAKEUP; @MATTLAINPHOTO; @MICHBT
Move In An Upward Motion
When I’m using a lip liner on my top lip, the one rule I always follow is to apply the liner in an upwards motion. Start at the corner of the mouth and drag the liner up towards the cupid's bow allowing the line to slightly come slightly bigger than the mouth. This way you can get a fuller lip but without pulling the mouth shape downward.
Apply Lipsticks With A Fluffy Brush
I love a slightly blurred ‘just been kissed’ lipstick to finish a date night look and I find the best way to do this is to ditch strong lip liners and flat lip brushes. Instead, use a fluffy eyeshadow brush and take the lipstick from the bullet straight onto the brush, before buffing the colour onto the centre of the lips, up to the lip line and blurring it out to the corners. My product of choice is usually the YSL Rouge Pur Couture Slim Lipstick.
Finally, Always Set Your Lipstick
When I’m using a bolder lipstick colour, I quite like a retro matte finish. Just take a single ply of tissue paper and some loose powder on a puff and blot the lipstick with the tissue while you tap powder puff over the top. Once it's been powdered you can always add an extra coat of lipstick for more drama.
Follow @JessicaKMakeup on Instagram.
@JESSICAKMAKEUP; @KIMBERLYHAWMMOND
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