As the festive season approaches, many of us will have a ‘do’ to prepare for. It might be a night out with work colleagues, a family gathering, or Christmas cocktails with your besties. Whatever the occasion, it’s always good to have the opportunity to get dressed up in your best party-wear and turn the glam-o-meter up to 10!
If you’re a make-up lover, and the process of trying new products and techniques brings you joy, the chance to go ‘full-beat’ for a special occasion is always exciting. But what if you prefer to keep things simple or you’ve found yourself in a make-up rut? I asked Lauren Meredith, make-up artist at Bobbi Brown in Jarrolds, to help me out by creating a soft-glam festive make-up look that will work for just about anyone. And I roped in my lovely friend and work-wife, Hannah, to be our model.
Lauren started off by preparing Hannah’s skin. She used a soothing cleansing oil which smells delicious, vitamin enriched eye base around the orbital bone (but not too close to the waterline) and then extra repair moisture was used over the rest of the face. The classic Bobbi Brown vitamin enriched face base, which combines primer with moisturiser, was the final stage of creating the perfect blank canvas.
Colour matching your foundation should never be rushed. Lauren chose three colours and tried them on Hannah’s jaw line before selecting the closest to Hannah’s natural colouring. A quick note, never try to colour-match foundation by dabbing it on the back of your hand! Because Hannah prefers a more natural look, Lauren opted for a light, weightless foundation that can be layered up, depending on the effect you’re looking for.
But before applying foundation to the face, Lauren focused on the under-eye area. 'I use a colour corrector first, to neutralise any blue/purple hues, and then pop a concealer over the top, in a slightly lighter shade than the foundation. This will brighten and add a little more coverage to the under eye. I then take a foundation brush to work the foundation over the rest of the face, starting from the centre and working outwards. Most people find that by working on the under eye area first, which is where most of us feel like we need more coverage, they end up using less product over the rest of the face, which really helps with creating that more natural skin like finish.'
The next step was a light sweep of bronzer across the outer edge of the cheek bones and the brow; anywhere the sun would naturally catch the skin. Once a natural glow had been achieved, Lauren selected a cream blush, in a neutral pink, which she applied along the cheek bone, patting it into the skin to create a gentle flush, rather than a solid line. 'Your blusher and lip colour should be in harmony, so I always start with a subtle blush which I can add to once lip colour has been applied,' Lauren says.
Many people overlook their eyebrows but they really do frame your face so it’s important to pay them some attention. 'Hannah has beautifully tattooed brows, so I used Bobbi’s natural brow shaper to add just a touch of texture,' says Lauren. 'Because this look is for a night out, I used a longwear pencil to define outline, creating a touch more drama.'
And now to the eyeshadow. Lauren started by applying a neutral cream shadow base right across the eyelid, tapping it on with the ring finger and leaving it to set. Using the new Bobbi Brown Smokey Gleam palette, Lauren used the lightest colour on the inner corner of the eye and then blended the mid brown from the outer third of the lid, up to the socket. She used the darker brown for additional definition on the outer section of the lid. It’s important to remember that different eye shapes require different makeup techniques. If you have hooded eyes, as I do, take the darkest eyeshadow further up the lid to give the impression of more space. For a touch of festive sparkle, Lauren used her finger to tap on a tiny amount of moonstone eyeshadow across the eyelid.
Eyeliner, when applied well, can transform a look. Lauren showed Hannah how to use the tightlining technique; working gel eyeliner tight into the lash line, to create fuller looking lashes and make Hannah’s blue eyes pop. She then used a brush to apply a line of dark brown cream eyeshadow above the lashes. The beautiful, soft smokey eye was completed with a delicate, smudged liner below the eye, joining up to the line above, and a layer of intensely pigmented black mascara.
I believe that anyone can rock a red lip, but you need to choose the right red for your complexion. While Hannah usually goes for a more orangey tone, Lauren persuaded her to try the Bobbi Brown Luxe Matt Liquid Lipstick in Red Carpet, a classic, rich red. And it looked fantastic. Lauren first used a natural lip liner to define the natural shape of Hannah’s lips, and then applied the liquid lip colour with a brush to create a bright, but not dominant, effect.
Lauren added a touch of powder blush on the cheeks to create balance of colour and then Nude Finish Illuminating Powder through the T-zone to ensure the beautiful make-up would stand up to an evening of festive fun.
And Hannah’s verdict? 'I love this look! The smokey eye is gorgeous, and I’m a convert to the classic red. And best of all, I don’t feel like I have lots of heavy make-up on. I still feel like me, just a more party-ready version.'
If you’re looking for festive makeup inspiration, pop into Jarrolds in London Street, Norwich, to see Lauren.
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