BEAUTY ZOOM
Subvert the sultry, classic red lip by taking it into softer territory. The key to making it work? Avoid hard lines, keep things slightly blurry and smile…
Take the red lip into softer territory with these tints
I always do the same old make-up look every day. Is there anything I can do to shake it up?
JENNIFER, SUFFOLK
This is an excellent question, because the answer is resolutely yes. Make-up is there to be played with, and if you take every product option into account, there are a gazillion combinations of ‘look’ you could be doing. Let’s start with the eyebrows. Yes, the eyebrows. They don’t have to just sit there – they can be accessorised like any other part of your face. Let’s be clear how, though: there is a fine line between brow art and brow ‘art’; no one wants to look at a splodge of yellow paint over your entire orbital bone, or a kooky doodle embellishing your hairs. Cool brows are subtle, and beauty powerhouses such as Benefit and Tom Ford have got you covered with their coloured brow gels. Combing over your brows with a teal or even pink formula will hold everything in place and give a chic but subtle finish that lifts your whole face. Really. It’s a simple and surprising touch that makes me wonder why more brands aren’t doing it. And since it’s the festive season, it’s definitely worth considering a gold glitter option. Christian Louboutin Goldmania mascara, £55, works well on brows, too. I discovered this when I brushed it through mine at a press breakfast. OK, I assumed that’s what it was for, but even while the PRs were laughing at my misuse, they were also considering rewriting their press release because the effect was actually quite amazing. I’m calling it tinsel brows, and I’m planning on wearing them myself for the entire holiday period.
OK, moving on – or down. Your eyes are the easiest place to experiment, and seasonal sparkle is the way forward. Stock up on Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow in a neutral shade such as Smoldering Satin, £24 (this makes it much more wearable), and Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow in Aura, £26 (which is a slightly pink tone to warm your eyelids). You cannot go wrong with fairy-light-catching sparkle at this (or, IMHO, any) time of year.
Lips? Yep, you guessed it. Glitter! OK, so it might not be for everyone, but if you do it right, you’ll never look back. ‘Right’ being Pat McGrath Labs’ Lust OO4 Lip Kit, £135, for a resolutely long-lasting and wow-inducing finish. I’ve tested it thoroughly and can report zero transference or grit in your mulled wine. For easier application, Urban Decay Vice Special Effects Lip Gloss, £14.95, is a good alternative.
And finally, on to skin. I have recently discovered a product that has broken my primer resolve – I never thought I needed it before. Becca Backlight Priming Filter, £28, just on my cheekbones, gives my skin the kind of healthy, dewy glow that prompts people to gawk at my actual age. ‘No! You look 28 at most!’ Now that is a versatile product worth investing in. Depending on my mood and plans for the evening, I might layer some Crayola Highlighter Crayon in Desert Sand, £11, over the top, just to boost it further. How’s that for a bit of extra light in your make-up life?