Summertime Glow

I wrote the following article for wwwdebsdiary.ie

So, are you glowing? Is your youthful skin radiant as the day is long? Or has the hot /cold Antarctic vs. Adriatic weather of recent played havoc with your skin.

Well if it’s the latter then no need to worry; here are some simple steps to fake it till you make it.

Taking care of your skin
It’s not a easy fix, or a miracle over-the-counter cure, but the good ol’ 8 glasses of water a day thing, does actually work wonders at clearing your skin & if you combine it with a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruit, vegetables and omega rich foods, well you’ll be glowing like a “glo worm” in no time.

Cleanse, tone & moisturize
Whatever your skin type, its important to cleanse you skin with a mild cleanser twice a day & I mean thoroughly cleanse, none of this running over it with a baby wipe business.
It’s also really important to exfoliate, twice a week with a gentle exfoliator, this will help remove dead skin cells & improve circulation, but, be kind to your skin, your cleaning delicate vital organ, not scrubbing the bathroom floor.

Massage a good moisturizer into your face & neck. Sunlight, while giving an instant boost to your complexion is an untrustworthy friend & will come back to haunt you as soon as you turn 25 so I recommend that you use a moisturizer with an added spf of at least 15.

Your base

Foundation
If your skin is blemish free, you may only want to use a tinted moisturizer to enhance your skin tone.

If not, you will need to find something with a little extra coverage. When choosing a foundation, you need to make sure that you are choosing the right colour & consistency for you. A good tip for colour matching is to test the foundation on your jaw line in natural light; it should blend into your skin. For a glowing finish choose an illuminating / light reflecting foundation. If you are unsure, get samples, take them home & wear them for a day or two to get a feel for how the product performs on your skin.

Concealor
Concealor can be applied on blemishes & areas of discoloration such as dark under eye circles or areas of skin pigmentation.
For dark under eye circles, its best to use a pink/salmon toner concealor followed by an illuminating concealor pen (such as the Yves Saint Laurent Touch Eclat)
If its nasty spots that are your problem, then you need a yellow based concealor to kill the red colour & cover the area. Tip, if you are dealing with an outbreak of spots, make sure that you thoroughly clean all your brushes, sponges, etc. after your finished with them as this will reduce the spread of the infection.


Powder
Nothing will give your make up more staying power than a little bit of setting powder & the object of the game here is looking dewy not greasy, so, apply a small amount of powder to your Mr T Zone, remember, less is more & it is easier to re-apply than to fix it if you accidentally turn yourself into a dessert goddess.

Bronzing & highlighting
Contrary to popular belief the correct bronzing method is NOT, a) get a huge brush, b) load said huge brush up with bronzer & c) swirl it round & round your face until you look 3 shades darker.
It IS however, a) get a large powder brush, the softer the better, b) dip into bronzer, tap off excess product on your hand or a tissue & c) lightly apply bronzer to the areas of the face where the sun would normally tan you i.e. forehead, bridge of nose, top of cheeks, chin and blend the product in so there are no discernable lines.
For a natural flush of colour, use a cream blusher. Orange & Coral shades are “In” this summer, experiment until you find a colour to suit you.
Using your ring & middle finger collect a small amount of product & place in three dots in the shape of an inverted triangle & blend together, using the heat from your finger tips to heat the product & pat it into the skin. The blush should start across from your nose & down from the middle of your eye.

A highlighting cream or powder can be put on the cheekbones to enhance them.

Eyes
Your eyebrows frame your face & play such an important role in your overall appearance, once you’ve found a flattering shape, keep them groomed regularly. Fill in any gaps with an eyebrow pencil.
This summer its all about the lashes so spending an extra couple of seconds on your mascara can make all the difference to your look. Prep your lashes by curling them first with an eyelash curler, then with a good, non clumpy, mascara coat your entire lash in the colour. Next re-do both eyes but concentrate on the tips of your eyelashes only, work in short swift strokes adding length & fanning out your outer lashes. If they do clump, comb them through with a lash brush.


So, that’s it, you’re ready to hit the streets & greet your adoring fans.

But what can you do to re-pay me I hear you cry….well I’m looking for your questions, questions on make up that is, questions on rocket science will have to be sent in to another site, but the make up ones, they’re the ones I’m eager to answer. So if you have any please drop me an email at ocallaghan.elaine@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Elaine is a freelance make up artist, based in Cork & providing a mobile make up service within the Munster Region.
Using a range of the highest quality professional products, chosen for their suitability for use in hi definition film & photographic mediums, you can be assured that Elaine will find the perfect look to suit you for your Debs ball. Make Up Lessons & Parties also catered for.
Web: www.elaineocallaghan.net  Mail: ocallaghan.elaine@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   Tel: 087-6617422