EASE INTO GLAMOUR
Buys to boost your looks and your mood
A youthful glow
The road to luminosity is paved with careful skincare prep. ‘Skin gets drier in the winter, so layer a hydrating serum under your face cream,’ says Chanel make-up artist Kay Montano. ‘Moisturising masks are a wonderful temporary fix for dull complexions.’ For a rested-looking complexion that lasts, make-up artist Caroline Barnes applies make-up in fine layers, starting with an oil-free foundation to conceal pigmentation and redness. ‘Buff into the outer sides of the face and go in with a nourishing concealer to brighten the T-zone,’ says Caroline. For healthy-looking colour, pop creamy blush on to the apples of the cheeks, directly underneath the eyes, before mattifying excess shine around nose, chin and under eyes using fine-milled powder and a small setting brush (try Sigma F03 brush, £16). Go back to your skincare for the final touch. ‘Warm a few drops of face oil in your hands and press it on to the temples,’ says Caroline. ‘It emulsifies with the foundation, making skin appear hydrated rather than highlighted.’
A chic neutral lip
Dusky rose, muted mauve, velvety cocoa… does anything sound as delicious as the modern nude lip? These new hues are elegant, luxurious and easier to maintain than look-at-me red, particularly if you need to slip on a face covering. How to choose? ‘A good nude will be the same colour as the deepest part of your lips,’ says Kay Montano. Caroline Barnes recommends prepping with balm and blotting away excess, before lining and filling in lips with a neutral pencil to provide texture for your lipstick to cling to and prevent feathering. ‘To give the illusion of a fuller mouth, create a slight curve outwards as you trace the line down from your Cupid’s bow to the outer corners,’ says Caroline. Follow with lipstick straight from the bullet and push colour gently on to your lips with your ring finger to fuse liner and lipstick together. For extra longevity, blot carefully with a tissue.
An easy eye
The new smoky eye is a dreamy one, with a pretty sheen that works as well by day as it does by night. For an immediate boost Kay uses concealer first, choosing peachy tones (or terracotta for darker skin) one notch lighter than the skin. ‘Pat a small amount in the inner corners and under the outer corners of your eyes to lift and brighten,’ says Kay. ‘Then, take a warm chocolate or aubergine eye crayon that’s soft enough to smudge, and line along the root of the upper lashes, thickening at the outer corners. Looking straight into the mirror, extend the line out and slightly upward, and buff up and out with a small brush or your fingers.’ It’s an elegant cheat to an elongated eye, and if your chosen colour has sheen built in, you’ll find it’s easier to blend. Anchor the look with black mascara and fluffy, natural-looking brows.
The festive mani and pedi
Elaborately jewelled designs were big on the
winter runways. For a more wearable (and easier to create) take, press a single gem or pearl on to each nail; they look especially smart sitting just above the cuticle (we like Elegant Touch Stylist Pre-glued Nail Gems, £3.50). ‘Base coat is key to improving the wear of polish and giving it a smooth salon finish,’ says Delia Turville, nail artist for OPI. ‘Then, apply two thin coats of colour, and when the second is still slightly damp, press the gem carefully into the nail and wait for it to dry before finishing with a top coat.’ We also love metallic transfers, which are best applied once colour is dry. If you prefer your polish without decoration, after-dark hues, such as burgundy suit all skin tones. ‘Moody colours work as well on deeper skin tones as they do on hands and feet that get paler in winter,’ says Delia. Keep the nail length short and chic and file to a uniform oval or almond shape.