Here we are in the middle of the holiday party season! I am getting daily emails asking for tips and tricks on how to better use make up for the season, so I thought I would dedicate a few blogs to the best professional make-up artists' hacks that are easy to use at home.
From creating waterproof make up at home to making your natural lashes look like false ones, to turning any lipstick into a long wear, smudge proof formula, make up artists use tricks that are quick, efficient, and cost-effective.
The Make Up Artist's Trick For Lush Lashes
Professional make up artists need their work to hold up under extreme conditions including long shoots, runway shows, glaring lights, and yes, very wet conditions. Models and actors sweat under the lights and make up needs to hold up or else it will need constant touching up.
For everyday wear, especially this time of year, you can use a little known pro secret to get your make up to be very water resistant. Full waterproof is impossible unless you wear a waterproof formula; but your regular make up can hold up in extreme conditions too. In fact, you can get your regular make up to wear even when fully submerged in water for up to 90 minutes with one simple purchase.
The best make up setting product you won't find at your local drugstore or department store is called D2O.
D2O is a naturally occurring form of water. It is often referred to as heavy water because it has about 10% more density than drinking water (H2O). D2O stands for deuterium oxide and it is a simple hydrogen isotope which changes the behaviour of regular water into heavy water. To be clear you cannot drink heavy water - it would be as dangerous as drinking salt water - but on the skin it is very safe and hydrating.
So how does it work in creating very water resistant make up?
D2O has a high resistance to vaporization. Simply put, it does not evaporate as regular water does. When you spray D2O on top of your make up it creates an intense surface tension that is extremely resistant to water. Regular water will simply bead off the surface of D2O which in turn protects the make up underneath from being dissolved. Also, because D2O is more viscose than normal H2O it does not upset the make up upon which it will sit.
A quick spray of D2O and any make up becomes very water resistant. Just remember the effect is not instant - it does take about 10 minutes for the D2O to fully set make up but it is worth the wait for the effect.
My favourite D2O products are:
Jane Iredale Hydration Spray - $32 for 90 ml
This can only be found online or at a spa. You have to special order it or find a local spa carrying Jane Iredale products. Jane Iredale products are never sold in stores.
Glo Minerals gloMoist Hydration Spray - $22 for 90 ml
Also only available online or in spas this is a great alternative to the more expensive versions on the market. Same benefits for a lower price.
Next week: My top Beauty Buys of 2014 - my annual list of the best products on the market this year!
Here we are in the middle of the holiday party season! I am getting daily emails asking for tips and tricks on how to better use make up for the season, so I thought I would dedicate a few blogs to the best professional make-up artists' hacks that are easy to use at home.
From creating waterproof make up at home to making your natural lashes look like false ones, to turning any lipstick into a long wear, smudge proof formula, make up artists use tricks that are quick, efficient, and cost-effective.
Make up artists rely on many ways to create a full, fat lash effect. While applying a false lash is certainly an option it is often an annoying process at home.
There is a great technique for creating the illusion of full, fats lashes and you probably already have everything you need at home, right now, to achieve the look.
Holiday Make Up Hacks: Luscious Lips With Staying Power
It's called tightlining.
Tightlining is a technique of applying your eye liner between your eyelashes rather than above them. Most people only line above the eyelash line. This creates a defined effect for sure, but tightlining creates the illusion of fuller lashes.
Step 1:
Lift the eyelid so you can see the area directly under the lashes. Carefully fill this area with a dark eye liner, preferably with a brush application.
Step 2:
Looking directly into the mirror use a stiff bristle make up brush (which is small enough to get in between each eyelash) and with a matching shade of matte eye shadow place a dot of make up in between each lash.
Step 3:
Line the table of the eye with the same dark liner used in step one. Be careful to not disturb the make up already in place.
Step 4:
Apply dark mascara from lash root to tip to complete the effect.
Your lashes will look three times more full without adding a single drop of glue or a false eyelash. This whole process should take no more than 3 minutes.
Next Time: Create Your Own Waterproof Make Up
I'm often asked why I don't write more "how to" articles here at Beauty: BUSTED! After all, I am a professional make up artist and it would only make sense to do some "tips and tricks" articles, right?
Truth is I do write quite a few "how to" guides but mostly for other publications. Every season you can read my step by step guides in City Style and Living Magazine. I write a column for that publication called Helen of Troy. Each season I break down the hottest make up trend and how you can create the look at home.
This season I focused on creating a dramatic holiday eye for wearing to all the parties you will have to attend. Below is an abbreviated version of the longer article (published last week).
Step 1: Create highlight all around the eye. The idea is to create a halo effect both across the lid and underneath the eye. Generously apply the highlighter to “blank” out the skin.
Step 2: Use a neutral eye shadow base with shimmer and apply to the entire eyelid. Lash to brow. This creates a reflective underlay.
Step 3: Contour the outer corner with a deep, rich matte eyeshadow. I prefer to match this to the colour of the evening dress. Use black for black cocktail dresses and navy for navy cocktail dresses. Gently soften the matte eye shadow to create “smoke."
How To Wear Your Little Black Dress Everywhere
Step 4: Metallic shimmer overlay. The eye make up can be amped up with shimmer particles and this can be done in a number of ways - use metallic eyeliner at the base of the lash or press shimmer powder across the entire eye make up (without smudging the existing work), or my personal favourite - in the negative space between the matte shadow and the underlay gently blend in metallic shimmer eyeshadow that matches the jewellery you are wearing with your dress - gold with gold, silver with silver and white with platinum. If you are wearing diamonds avoid using a gold eyeshadow and if you are wearing coloured stones match the eyeshade to your favourite stone setting.
Step 5: Eyelashes. I prefer using single inserts and intensifying only as needed, rather than an entire strip of lashes. Another great choice is lash extensions - these give all the benefit of false lashes without any of the work: simply have them applied once and they will stay on for weeks. You have to have this done my an aesthetician.
Dan’s Favourites:
Highlighters
Department Store: Yves Saint Laurent Beaute Touche Eclat
Spa: Daniel Thompson Beauty Absolute Light
Drugstore: Smashbox Photo Op
Underlay Shadow
Department Store: Chanel Ombre Essentielle #45
Spa: Daniel Thompson Beauty Celestial Shadow Cosmos #2
Drugstore: Lise Watier Ombre Souffle Supreme Fairy Tale
Contour Shadow
Department Store: Dior Fusion Mono Matte #91
Spa: Daniel Thompson Beauty Mineral Eyeshadow #CME12
Mass: Urban Decay Matte Eyeshadow Evidence
Metallic Shadow
Department Store: Guerlain Fard Metal #01
Spa: Daniel Thompson Beauty Eyeshadow Palette Rendez-Vous
Drugstore: Make Up Forever Glitters Sand
Lashes
Inserts: Eylure Short Inserts
Extensions: Misencil Extensions
Fashion: Shu Uemura Fantasy Lashes
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