6 make-up tips we can’t live without

Psssst: here are 6 make-up tips we can’t live without from a top make-up artist Sarah Brock.

As with the ever-increasing expectation to be able to apply textbook perfect make-up, ‘putting your face’ on can rapidly become pretty daunting. Being highlighted and contoured to supreme perfection is harder than it looks… and don’t get us started on winged eyeliner. Anyway, here’s what to do.

1) Invest in a good foundation

My top tip for flawless make-up is to create the perfect base. Get this right and everything else you apply will look better, get it wrong and the whole make-up look won’t be great. You can opt for high street budget brands for your colour products (eyes/ cheeks/ lips), but I always advise ladies to invest more money in the perfect base, as you really do get what you pay for.

2) Less is more

Your make-up will always look better if you apply everything in thin, even layers. Don’t think that you save time by applying products in quick, thick layers, as it really does give the best results if you apply small amounts of all products. It is easy to add a little more, but it’s harder to take products away. Apply in thin layers and blend well in between.

3) Always use a blusher

Everyone looks younger, fresher and more awake with a pop of colour on the cheeks. Don’t think that you can get away with using your bronzer as a blusher either – this will make the face look flat and to brown. Even if you do wear bronzer, complete the look by popping a pretty pink or peach just to the apple of your cheeks. Opt for a cream formulation for the prettiest glow that flatters everyone.

4) Don’t forget your brows

So many women apply eyeshadow and eyeliner but skip the brows. But the brows frame your eyes and if you get this right, not only does your make-up look more polished, it can take years off your face. For the softest, most natural-looking brows: use a brow shadow or a matte eyeshadow, apply with an angled brush in small ‘strokes’ so it looks like extra hair on the brows, then brush through with a brow brush to soften.

5) Always curl your lashes

It still amazes me when a woman tells me that she never uses eyelash curlers. I would NEVER apply mascara without curling lashes first! True, they can be a little tricky to use at first, but practice makes perfect. You can buy the most expensive mascara, but if you don’t curl your lashes first, you are never going to get the full benefit of what it can do. It makes eyes look younger, brighter and bigger.

6) Add colour to your lips

If you are a ‘lip balm only lady’, you may be keeping your lips in great condition, but you are missing out on using a colour that can make lips look bigger, fuller and younger, and also it adds colour to your face. Don’t always think that lipstick takes time and that you have to apply lip liner first. There are so may amazing tinted lip balms/sheer lipsticks on the market that, by simply patting on the lips with your finger, can keep lips moisturised and looking pretty with a hint of colour.