Every woman wants clear, eventoned skin. But many of us are in the dark about how to actually achieve it.
Do we use a blanket approach and slather on foundation and concealer, covering up our flaws – and natural beauty, too? Or should we go au naturel because it’s simply easier? Neither. It turns out that there is a fussfree approach that gives you just the right amount of coverage. Follow this fast fourstep process. It takes only five minutes from start to finish to ensure your skin looks its beautiful best.
STEP 1 SMOOTH
Foundation is one of the first things women skip, yet it’s key to looking flawless. That’s because this “base layer” helps make-up last longer, and colours (like blush) will look truer than if you applied them to a naked complexion. The newest options are so light and sheer, no-one will know you’re wearing it; they’ll just think your skin is naturally luminous. There’s no secret to picking the perfect shade – it’s just a matter of testing. Hold bottles next to your face and narrow down the closest shades, then swipe each where skin is most uneven (usually your cheek); if it blends in, you’re set. Once you’ve nailed the hue, sweep a bit along your forehead, nose, chin, and cheekbones, then blend it outward to help it disappear into your skin.
STEP 2 COVER
Concealer is every woman’s favourite tool for hiding it all – from under-eye circles to blemishes. Apply it over foundation and you’ll need only a small amount, which is ideal. The less cover-up you work with, the more natural your overall look will be. For perfect results you’ll need two concealers: one that’s a shade lighter than your foundation to downplay dark, blue-toned under-eye circles – it will make skin appear brighter – and the other should match your foundation to help hide reddish blemishes or broken capillaries. Use a thin make-up brush and apply the concealer to the innereye corners first (by the tear ducts, where circles tend to appear darkest) and feather it outward.
STEP 3 BRIGHTEN
Luminiser is the secret weapon you should be using – but maybe aren’t. It comes in liquid or powder form and is made with opalescent, pearl-like particles that give skin a sheer finish and a subtle, sexy sheen. When light hits your face, your complexion emits a soft glow.
Available in pink, white, gold, or bronze hues, the best one for you is the shade closest to your skin tone: pink and white luminisers complement fair skin, while gold and bronze suit medium to deep colouring. Keep in mind that a little goes a long way. Use a clean fingertip to dab a pea-size drop onto your brow bones, along the tops of your cheekbones, and at the innermost corners of your eyes. Be sure to blend it well to achieve a barely-there radiance.
Comments