Monday, 14 March 2011
MAKEUP ARTIST, ELAINE SHOBANJO SHARES SOME TIPS...
Soooo I recently got asked to share tips on how to work your foundation to get an amazing finish! And because its people like you that keep me excited, I've gone ahead and delivered just what you asked..
How many of us have blemishes we'll like to cover up? You know, the things we don't want the world to see? Acne scars, birth marks, pimple, burn marks, 'panda' eyes (dark circles around the eyes), accident scars, the list can go on and on! I know I have 1 or 2.
While the best solution will be to find the right skin care for you, makeup is a quicker alternative (not substitute) and you don't need a doctor's prescription for this. Well, you could hire a makeup artist to show you the ropes...just a thought ;)
It is essential that a woman knows how to put her best face forward without "masking" it in "heavy" layers of foundation. "Heavy" here does not mean how thick the foundation texture you use is, it means how thick your application looks.
You don't want the 1st thing people notice when they see you to be your foundation/powder! If that's the case, then it's very likely that you have too much on. Sadly, this is the case with a few women out there.
Foundation comes in a variety of types. For example; SHEER, MEDIUM and FULL COVERAGE, with sheer being the lightest in terms of consistency. There are also ultra light TINTED MOISTURIZERS that provide that hint of colour/coverage for those who don’t want major coverage. On the other side of the spectrum, you have CAMOUFLAGE makeup that offers immediate full coverage.
Below is an example of a foundation with GREAT full coverage! Easy on the quantity you use!
It is essential that a woman knows how to put her best face forward without "masking" it in "heavy" layers of foundation. "Heavy" here does not mean how thick the foundation texture you use is, it means how thick your application looks.
You don't want the 1st thing people notice when they see you to be your foundation/powder! If that's the case, then it's very likely that you have too much on. Sadly, this is the case with a few women out there.
Foundation comes in a variety of types. For example; SHEER, MEDIUM and FULL COVERAGE, with sheer being the lightest in terms of consistency. There are also ultra light TINTED MOISTURIZERS that provide that hint of colour/coverage for those who don’t want major coverage. On the other side of the spectrum, you have CAMOUFLAGE makeup that offers immediate full coverage.
Below is an example of a foundation with GREAT full coverage! Easy on the quantity you use!
With skilful makeup application, full coverage foundation doesn't have to look caked on. Infact, it can look barely there and amazing!
In the picture above, I am wearing MAC’s Studio Fix Fluid foundation which contains SPF15 (you’ve got to protect your skin from those sun rays!). I set this with MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Dark AND Medium Dark.
“Setting” your foundation helps it last longer and helps to keep your oils away for a while. To keep your oils away for longer, you’ll need a different kind of product but…… I digress. That’s a different topic!
Remember I told you about ‘mixing’ last week? Don’t be afraid to mix foundation colours or powder shades. Here are a few reasons why:
- Unless you are blessed with an even skin tone from your hair line to your chin, you may need to apply different shades of foundation on different areas of your face. For example, if you are light skinned, wear your normal shade on those blemish-free areas of your face and wear a slightly darker shade on those areas that have darkened due to acne scarring, etc. For example, your cheeks. This is because, if you wear your normal shade on a darkened area, you run the risk of looking ‘ashy’. Once the darker shade is on, you can them ‘lighten’ this up by placing your normal shade over it. Sounds confusing but it’s really simple. Tip – Consult a makeup artist for tutorials on this or it could go horribly wrong.
Dark skinned girls can get away with applying their normal shade through out the entire face. This is because, darker foundations conceal more than the lighter shades.
- If wearing concealer under your eyes, always opt for a lighter shade than your natural shade. You want to brighten up that area!
- If your favourite brand does not have a shade that’s perfect for you, why not try mixing 2 colours in the hopes of creating YOUR own perfect shade?
Some more tips on applying for foundation:
- When buying foundation, test it on your jaw line and don’t be shy to take that mirror outside to do a double check in day light! How many times have you tried on foundation in a store only to realise later on that it wasn’t the right shade? Don’t let the lighting in the stores trick you!
- Always use a sponge, brush or your finger tips. Find the tool that suits you best.
- A little goes a long way! Less is more! Build up your foundation – start with a little amount and build up with more little amounts until you reach your desired level of coverage.
I hope this helps ladies! Foundation is NOT evil! People seem to have this preconceived perception of foundation being ‘heavy makeup’. It is not! Let’s look into changing the techniques used and see if your views improve. Have a FABulous week!
**For more tips and tricks, come back next Monday or email eshobanjo@fabmagazineonline.com for tutorials**
In other news, there is sooo much excitement going round in the world of FAB! Our next issue is out in just a matter of days, March 27th to be precise and it promises to be yummmm! Its been tagged as The COOL Issue, aka, the MUSIC Issue and you can expect interviews with your favourites artists and lots more.
Also, the BEAUTY section has been revamped and we have lots of fun articles on my favourite topic - makeup! as well as ohh-so-fresh write ups on Hair, Nails, Skin, and even Male Grooming for our sexy male readers. Let the countdown begin...........xxx
Great article, well written. What about using a primer? What does that do?
ReplyDeleteI like!! I pride myself in knowing a thing or 2 about foundation but found this article worthwhile.. I'll be putting some tricks into use:). Thx
ReplyDeleteAlways glad to be of service!
ReplyDeleteRe Primers, it depends. Are you talking about eye primers or face primers? Either way, they help towards making your makeup last longer.