FLUSHED CHEEKS
Adding colour to your cheeks is a quick way to bring a dull complexion back to life. This season, cheeks should look naturally flushed using soft pink- or peach-toned blushers.
Apply the colour across the apple of your cheek to create a just-been-pinched look. If you can’t find the apple of your cheek, look in the mirror and smile: it’s the “pillow” created.
If you add too much colour, tone it down with translucent powder. To achieve a bronzed look, sweep bronzing powder over your cheeks.
RED LIPS
It’s official: red is summer’s hottest shade. Look for red lipsticks and glosses with black undertones, such as plum, raspberry and cherry.
For a perfectly painted pout, trace the outer edges of your lips with lip liner to define your lips and prevent your lipstick bleeding. Paint the entire lip area with the lip liner to ensure you’re not left with an obvious line when your lipstick fades.
Finally, apply your lipstick with a brush. For a more muted look use your fingertips.
FLAWLESS SKIN
The first step to achieving a fresh-faced look is to select the right shade of foundation and concealer.
Give your complexion an extra lift with a primer – it will add a radiant glow to your skin.
Cover blemishes with a firm concealer, such as a stick, and use a creamy liquid concealer for dark under-eye circles.
Apply your foundation lightly and blend well, particularly around the jawline. Fix your foundation with translucent powder using a volumious brush for a barely-there effect.
SMOKY EYES
To get the look, prep the eyelid with a primer or oil-free foundation. Apply eyeliner to the upper and lower lash lines.
Next, apply a light base eye shadow colour over the lid from your lash to your browbone.
Using the base colour as a guide, choose a slightly darker shade.
Start at your lash line and blend the colour up. Don’t go above the crease line that’s created when your eye is open. For added drama apply the darker shade to the bottom lash line.
Finish with several coats of volumising mascara.
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The endless whirl of parties during the festive season can take its toll on even the most organised social butterfly’s beauty regimen.
A glowing complexion is one of the best party accessories, while smooth and supple skin will provide the perfect base for applying make-up.
To achieve this, Bobbi Brown, MiNDFOOD’s exclusive beauty columnist, suggests a daily skincare routine that ensures a fresh-faced glow throughout the holiday season.
NIGHTIME REMEDIES
Resist the impulse to jump straight into bed after a night out. Removing your make-up is a must if you want your skin to look fresh the next morning.
Follow your normal nightime routine and prop your head up with more than one pillow during the night to avoid puffy eyes the next day. For an extra boost while you sleep, apply a nourishing face oil, such as Trilogy CoQ10 Booster Capsules, RRP $49.
TONERS
The latest toner formulas are alcohol free and don’t strip the skin of its protective natural oils. A toner can clean away the last remnants of oil that your cleanser may have missed. Try Lancôme Tonique Douceur, RRP $64.
MASKS
To give your partied-out complexion a boost, use a mask once a week. Clay masks draw out impurities from the pores. Hydrating masks, such as Chanel Précision Anti-Fatigue Gel Mask (RRP $90), contain essential oils or glycerin to give moisture back to the skin and leave it feeling soft . Glycolic acid masks exfoliate and help unclog pores.
SERUMS
These concentrated liquids are typically packed with vitamin C and other skin-nourishing nutrients that work to improve the skin’s appearance and help prevent visible signs of ageing. Apply a serum, such as La Prairie Anti-Ageing Longevity Serum (RRP $365), after cleansing and before moisturising.
EXFOLIANTS
The heat of summer can leave skin feeling extra oily and prone to break-outs. Use an exfoliant, such as Estée Lauder So Polished Exfoliating Scrub (RRP $65), at least once a week to ensure the party season’s grime, sweat and make-up has been scrubbed away. Look for a product that’s designed specially for the face.
COLOURED NAILS
Nothing says glamour like well manicured nails in a rich new shade. Add a few coats of chip-resistant polish an hour before you head out the door. Black nails are still fashionable this season while all shades of red, including berry and plum, are proving to be popular for summer. Try O.P.I Nail Lacquer in Petersburgundy, RRP $23.
TIPS FOR THE SILLY SEASON
• It’s best to start with a small amount of foundation and build up coverage in stages. Less is always more.
• Blending your foundation is imperative. Make sure your neck and décolletage match the shade of your face.
• Apply your make-up in a well-lit space and look in more than one mirror to ensure a flawless result.
• The right tools can make a big difference to make-up application. Keep brushes and sponges clean and make sure pencils and liners are sharp.
• Apply primer to your skin before moisturiser and foundation to ensure your make-up lasts through the night while giving your complexion extra radiance.
• To stay looking fresh, day and night, slip some make-up remover wipes, cottonwool buds and concealer in your handbag for on-the-run touch-ups.
• The morning after a night of excess, splash your face with cool water to boost circulation to the skin. Moisturise well. Use brightening eye drops to treat tired-looking bloodshot eyes.
• Spritz your skin throughout the day with a reviving spray to keep it hydrated.
• Drink water, and lots of it, during the party season to prevent dehydration.
• If exhaustion starts to show, hide dark under-eye circles with a creamy concealer.
OFFICE-TO-PARTY BEAUTY
If you’re stepping straight from the office into the night, you can still achieve dramatic results.
First, freshen your make-up with pre-moistened wipes. If you don’t have time to re-apply all of your make-up, remove your eye make-up only and apply a darker eye shadow and eye liner.
Touch up any imperfections with a dab of concealer and apply foundation, only where needed, using a brush or your fingertips. A sweep of bronzing powder along the bridge of your nose and cheeks adds an instant glow while blusher will highlight your cheekbones.
Finally, refresh your face and “set” your make-up with a hydrating spray, such as Dior HydrAction Deep Hydration Refreshing Spray, RRP $55.
