Cool unconfined

Whether you’re posting on social media or simply looking forward to real-life socialising once more, Stephanie Smith finds expert advice on taking your lockdown look up a level (or two).

In past times, lockdown might have meant exactly that – strictly confined to the home, only seeing, and being seen by, those you live with. If sartorial standards slipped and personal appearance took a turn for the dishevelled, no one would know.

But the irony is that lockdown 2020 is, for many of us, a rather visible affair. There are cameras everywhere, on our phones, our tablets and laptops.

Keeping in touch with family and friends, colleagues, clients and collaborators means video calls, while many are taking the opportunity to embrace social media and post selfies to share their experience of lockdown life.

This feels like the right time to take stock, learn new skills and take on projects. Project You has to be the best place to start, so here is expert advice on undertaking a gentle wardrobe rethink, plus an easy make-up lesson.

With a background in television advertising and costume styling and a keen interest in fashion and make-up, Leeds-based Ash Fehners retrained as a hair and make-up artist several years ago and regularly works backstage at London Fashion Week with the MAC Cosmetics Pro Team for fashion houses JW Anderson, Roksanda, Ashish, Halpern and more. She can also be booked for bridal make-up.

Ash has created this striking and simple but effective make-up look to try at home, perhaps to impress on social media or at a Zoom or Houseparty garden party – and of course to practise and keep in mind for when real-life dinners, parties and nights out return to our lives. Here is her step-by-step guide, using MAC Cosmetics UK:

First, prep. Apply MAC Strobe Cream and massage into skin.

Apply a veil of MAC Face and Body all over the face and take it down the neck to blend. “I use my hands for this as it warms the product up and gives more coverage,” says Ash.

Apply MAC Pro Longwear Concealer where needed, a little on the inner corner and underneath eyes and on any areas with redness or blemishes.

Using MAC Mineralise Skin Finish (here in medium tan) to warm up the skin, sweep over the cheekbones, across the nose and forehead to give a summer glow. Ash says: “I also sweep a little through the crease of my eye to make my eyes appear more open and lifted.”

Curl your lashes to open the eyes and show your lashes off to their full potential with the right mascara.

Now for the make-up...

Tap MAC Reflects Glitter in Gold gently on to the eye.

Take a small amount of MAC Pro Brilliance Gloss. “I like this one because it’s not sticky,” says Ash. Tap it over the movable part of your lid so it makes it look more hydrated and smoother and reflects light as the gloss catches the sun.

Apply your favourite mascara to your curled lashes. Ash says: “I use MAC In Extreme Dimension. Be sure to get to the root of your lash and mimic the natural fan shape of your lashes to make them look as full as possible.”

Highlight cheeks. “I like to use a cream rather than a powder,” says Ash. “It looks more natural and is suitable for all ages. Take a small amount, warm it on your wrist and then gently tap on to the high points of cheeks. I like to double up with a more gold and rosy tone highlight to create depth and add a little colour. I use MAC Pearl Cream Colour Base and MAC Hush Cream Colour Base.”

Tap a tiny amount of MAC Strobe Cream on top of the highlight for an even more dewy look.

Brows – “I use Clear Brow Gel to brush brow hairs up, giving a fuller, fluffier texture and fill any gaps by mimicking brows hairs using MAC Shape and Shade Brow Pen in Taupe – it’s a great little pen with a really fine tip so perfect for light hair strokes.”

Now the lips. Ash says: “Start by filling the Cupid’s bow and then the middle of lower lip, connecting the edges. Now the lip shape is already sketched you can go ahead and apply straight from the bullet of your lipstick. Here I have used a bright and vibrant shade called MAC Lady Danger.”

You’re good to go – even if it’s just into your own garden.

Ash Fehners is on www. ashfehnersmakeup.format.com and Instagram @ashfehners and @ bridal_by_ash @ashfehners

1:

STYLING: STEPHANIE SMITH / PICTURE: JAMES HARDISTY /HAIR: EMMA TIERNEY, OF ROSS CHARLES HAIRDRESSING YORK, ASSISTED BY KENNEDY WATSON / FASHION ASSISTANT: ABIGAIL TURNER. STAND- OUT STYLE: A make-up look created two years ago by Ash Fehners for a fashion shoot in York with Abraham Moon, www. moons.co.uk.

Left, make-up artist Ash Fehners begins by prepping her skin with MAC Strobe Cream; right, the finished look – Ash with her simple garden party make-up look finished with MAC Lipstick in the shade Lady Danger.

BEFORE AND AFTER: