Beautiful You by Suzanne Edmonds

Each week, beauty enthusiast Suzanne Edmonds explores the best ways to take care of ourselves so that we love the skin we're in.

Applying make-up seems to be an eternal mystery with which many women grapple. They find themselves in a quandary: they love the look of make-up on other women and want to do it themselves, but for whatever reason (they feel that they can't, they don't know how or they don't know what will suit them, lack of confidence) they don't. It doesn't have to be that way.

The right make-up can make you feel like a million dollars, everyday. Despite what some think, make-up is an everyday ritual. It can also be super fast and super easy, once you know how, becoming part of your habitual morning routine- no matter how busy you are!

There is help at hand. All department stores have beauty counters and many salons like De Lux Beauty stock make-up and offer consultations. These consultations are often free, especially when you buy a make-up item. If you're not sure, just ask.

The approach is simple: what look do you want to achieve; what's your normal morning routine; and what make-up do you currently have? Once these questions are answered, we can go about advising on a make-up regimen that's going to suit you.

Most women just want a touch of make-up to bring out their best features. In the end, that's what make-up is about- enhancing your features, not covering them up.

A good foundation, liquid or mineral is the first step. Women with great looking skin are usually wearing a great foundation. When you apply foundation correctly and with the right colour match for your skin, you shouldn't even be able to really tell you're wearing it. It should match your skin tone and be applied evenly with either a foundation brush for liquid or kabuki brush for mineral. Fingers are also ok for liquid, but they can add more oil to the equation. Don't be afraid of applying foundation- just use a little bit and use a bit more if the first application isn't enough. Just build up until you're happy with the look.

A finishing powder will set your natural-looking foundation in place for the day, so you won't need to touch-up or refresh unless you really want to. If you're going out after work, a quick once-over with a pressed powdered or finishing powder will often do the trick.

For natural eyes, choose two neutral colours- one lighter and one darker. Browns usually suit everyone, but there are plenty of nuances to suit all shades of skin and eye. Start with the lighter one of over the top of the lid and the crease. This will also make the darker shadow less intense and easier to apply evenly. Use quality brushes and the crease of your eyelid in a semi-circular motion as a guide to apply the shadow. The darker one sweep over the entire lid, concentrating on making it darkest in the crease and on the outside of the eyelid. But even a sweep or two over the lid, using the crease as a marker, will be enough to give your eyes depth. Use a cotton tip or your foundation brushes to brush off any excess or tidy-up the edges.

A wee bit of eyeliner under the eye can give you more definition. A good one, along with the eyeshadow, will stay on all day and won't need touching-up. Black eyeliner creates the most drama, but for a more natural look go for brown.

The finishing touch to the eyes is the mascara and this just takes a bit of practice. When I say practice, I mean a few applications. You can start with light application of mascara and build-up as you grow more confident. Start from the base and flick up slowly in a zip-zag motion.

Lips are super easy if you use a gloss or natural lipstick. If you want more definition, use a lip liner in the morning. Start by lining around the edge of the lip and then 'colour-in' the lip a bit from the edge. This is to soften the initial line and it also helps the lipstick or gloss stay in place for longer.

These are the basic tips, but nothing can take the place of a quick consultation (or a longer one if you have the time) where a professional can show you how to do it and tailor the advice and colour recommendations to suit you personally. Then it's just a matter of practice makes perfect. Do it every morning and it will be become second nature and very fast. But the results will be long-lasting in terms of your confidence.

Suzanne Edmonds is owner of De Lux salon in Cherrywood, Tauranga.

Giveaway!

We're excited to be giving a make-up consultation and a free make-up product of your choice during the consultation to readers of this blog. To enter to, just email us at delux.beauty@xtra.co.nz with something special about your mum and why you'd like to win this prize. We'd love to hear from you!