Pre-Event Beauty Tips From An A-List Make-Up Artist
All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products.
Choose Your Tones In Advance
“As a rule, I tend to use warmer shades of colour on yellow, golden or peach skin tones. Cooler shades tend to work best on those with pink, red or blue undertones, but if you have more neutral undertones you can venture in both directions. I am a big believer on working with your natural colouring to get the best results from your make-up.”
Curl The Right Way
“There is a knack to using lash curlers. Try using one hand to hold up your eyelid, keeping it taut. Then look down – this way the eyelid won’t get snagged in the curler – and press down gently a few times before releasing. Practise makes perfect but this technique always achieves an even lift. To curl your inner lashes, look outwards so you catch the smaller ones from the base of your lash line. The same goes for your outer lashes – look inwards then curl, always holding the eyelid taut.”
Try Light Therapy Devices
“I swear by SolaWave and use it every night, and always on my clients before events. I also like to apply a sheet mask – like Shiseido’s Vital Perfection Mask – before spending five minutes working the SolaWave tool over the skin where there will be some slip. You want to work it across your face in an upward and outward motion – it instantly boosts glow and helps the hydration from your mask penetrate into your skin.”
@NAOKOSCINTU
Powder Your Brows…
“To ensure your brow make-up lasts, I always use a super finely milled translucent powder before drawing on any definition. It keeps everything in place for longer and provides the perfect base for product to adhere to. I swear by Jurlique’s Rose Silk Finishing Powder – it doesn’t get nearly enough credit.”
…& Use A Few Shades
“When it comes to grooming brows, I use a few different shades to create depth and tone. I find it looks more realistic than using a single colour – I keep a few shades of SUQQU’s Liquid Brow Pen handy at all times. It is without doubt the best product for mimicking the appearance of hair and building believable definition. My biggest tip is to work from one brow to the other when you’re applying product – go back and forth so they eventually match. Your brows will look much more even using this technique.”
Prep With Primer
“One of my go-to products is Armani’s Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer. It immediately enhances your skin, giving it some speedy glow. I like to apply it with my fingers, massaging it into the face and the neck, allowing the blood to come to the surface and the product to really sink in. Doing this helps increase circulation and in turn, gives skin a smoother and more hydrated appearance.”
@NAOKOSCINTU
Line Lips Carefully
“When using liners to sculpt and define the mouth, I like to stay ‘on the lip line’, or only venture outside of the natural lip line by about a millimetre and a half – that’s my rule. Anything more than this looks unnatural. I always use a cream lip liner too – these are easy to work with and are very flattering. To give lipstick and liner extra staying power, I powder the outer lip line before applying any product. A tiny dusting helps enhance the pigment of your lip products. If I am using a brush to apply colour, it’s always with My Kit Co’s 02 Precision Concealer tool.”
Up The Hydration
“Skin prep is everything before a big event. I always get my clients to up the hydration ante, asking them to drink plenty of water to ensure their skin looks as plump as possible. I also give them H30 Hydration Sachets by Rejuvenated. These top up your electrolytes with natural vitamins and minerals. As for skincare, I’ve mentioned masks and tools, but it’s important to layer up the moisture. I love Omorovicza’s Omoressence and Queen Essence followed by the Luminous Silk Primer. Sarah Chapman’s Sheet Masks are brilliant too, as are Elemis’s Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks – they instantly brighten and soften skin. I’ll finish the routine off with La Roche-Posay’s Dermallergo Soothing Eye Cream. It’s soft and delicate, and keeps the thin skin in this area luminous and smooth.”
Prevent Any Pilling
“Layering skincare can cause make-up to pill – the trick is to use products that work in harmony. This means using formulas that are water-based or oil-in-water formulations together. When they share similar textures and ingredients, you won’t get any pilling or rolling of product. Plus, you need to work every layer in properly using your hands.”
@NAOKOSCINTU
Sculpt With Cream-Based Products
“If I am sculpting or contouring skin, I like to use products that mimic the skin’s actual texture – this means less powder and more cream-based products. I also like powder products that transform into creams upon contact with the skin – like Armani’s Luminous Silk Glow Fusion Powder. I use these for bronzing and powdering, and often use a couple of shades to sculpt and define the face. The finish is so natural and glowing. I love Clé De Peau’s Cream Blush for the warmth and definition it gives. You can use it on the eyes or cheeks – try mixing a few shades together for a more bespoke colour.”
Boost The Shine Of Your Hair
“If time is of the essence and I need to add a bit of shine or hydration to the hair, I’ll use Olaplex’s No1 and No3 treatment before any big event. Both will add immediate shine to strands with minimal effort or faff.”
Apply Liquid Shadows
“I’m often asked how to do a quick, smokey eye. The answer is simple – use liquid shadows, especially ones with the large, doe-foot applicators. When you have products like this, you can’t go wrong. Just blend them out with your fingers. Liquids often dry down into powders too, so they aren’t messy and set fast.”
Finally, Know Where To Powder
“Brows and lips aside, your face only needs a tiny amount of powder – focus on the T-zone and on any blemishes. You don’t want to lose the dewiness and glow, so keep your placement strategic. If you don’t want to use powder, use oil absorbent papers – these are lightweight and don’t interfere with make-up. Cigarette papers are a great blotting tool, but failing that DHC do some brilliant ones. They also prevent any build-up or caking on your skin.”
Follow @NaokoScintu for more beauty tutorials, tips & advice.
SHOP NAOKO'S PRODUCT EDIT
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.