Make-up artist Shahnaz Coler-Wrensch has worked for some of the top fashion magazines, so it comes as no surprise that she’s not only mastered the art of the glowing complexion, but also has a hack for it. Shahnaz’s top tip is to first apply your highlighter to key areas (your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose and your chin) before applying your foundation. If that’s not enough, she recommends sweeping an additional layer of highlighter over your foundation for a truly gorgeous glow.
In between creating gorgeous looks for her brides and clients, artist Gaynor Florence Ingham gives make-up lessons to share her extensive beauty knowledge. One of the looks she’s often asked about is the winged eye, and she has a simple trick to nail it. Hold the straight edge of a business or bank card at the outer corner of your eye, making a slight oblique angle at your temples. Then use your liner to draw along the edge to create the wing. Practice makes perfect, but in the meantime she also has a great solution for uneven strokes: soak the tip of a cotton bud in some make-up remover (Garnier Micellar Water is her favourite) and place it underneath the liner, in line with the bottom lashes, and swipe upward to neaten the edges.
Make-up artist Safiyah Khan has worked with many celebrities, including Isla Fisher, Penelope Cruz, Pearl Thusi, Bonang and Jeanni D, to name a few. The secret weapon in her beauty arsenal is Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, which she uses in a variety of ways to achieve the desired look. Top tips include mixing a little into your foundation to add a subtle glow to your face, and using it to turn a powder blush into a cream one – just tap it on your cheeks after applying blush and then blend it out for a dewy glow.
She co-owns one of the top hair and make-up mobile agencies, hosts sold-out beauty master classes, and is one of the most sought-after hair and make-up artists, so when Renee De Wit speaks – we listen. While Renee is a firm believer that great skin starts with a solid skincare routine, she says foundation is equally important in creating the perfect canvas. Instead of buying different foundations for different seasons and events, Renee recommends customising your current foundation to suit the occasion. If you need to create fuller coverage, add some creamy moisturiser. If it’s a dewy, sheer finish you’re after, mix in a hydrating primer for an all-day glow. For those with dry skin, adding a little facial oil to your foundation will boost its nourishing benefits.
If you don’t already know Vuvu Maseti by name, you undoubtedly know her work. Having recently scored the cover of a well-known glossy magazine, she also creates glamorous looks for television and editorials and is fast becoming one of the ‘It’ hair and make-up artists in the industry. A lover of a bold pout (just look at her Instagram), it’s no wonder that one of her beauty secrets involves lipstick, or more specifically, using your powder blush or eye shadow as lipstick. To start, Vuvu recommends prepping lips with a lip scrub and then adding a lip balm. Then apply the blush or eye shadow with your finger or flat eye-shadow brush. Lastly, add a bit of sheen by applying some more lip balm.
Follow this step-by-step video tutorial for bigger, brighter eyes that stand out beautifully.
Our eyes attract immediate attention, so it’s a good idea to have a few make-up tips and tricks up your sleeve for a striking yet youthful and wide awake look. Your journey to bigger and brighter eyes starts here.
1. Add Primer To Your Lids
Start the process by prepping your eyelids with a lid primer or pat on a little pressed powder. This creates a smooth base that provides grip for the products that follow, ensuring they stay put all day. Avoid priming your lids with concealer, foundation, or any other products containing oil, as this can cause your make-up to smudge or move around during the day.
2. Add Dimension To Your Crease
Contouring isn’t exclusively for your cheekbones – this technique can also be used on your eyelids to add dimension. For the best effect, use a soft, fluffy brush to sweep on a matte eye shadow in the same shade as your skin tone along the crease of your eyelid. Next, apply a darker taupe shade in an arc along the crease, starting at the corner of the lower lash line, gently blending the eye shadow along the way. This will create depth, which is key to making your eyes pop!
3. Apply A Highlighter To The Lid, Inner Corner And Brow Bone
Highlighter is one of the best tricks around for opening up your eyes, creating an appealing, wide-eyed look. Use it on your brow bone to give the illusion of ‘lifting’ your brow, on the inner corners of your eyes to open them up, and on the centre of the lid to brighten your eyes.
4. Curl Lashes using An Eyelash Curler
An eyelash curler is a must. It makes a big impact by lifting the lashes, making your eyes appear larger and more alert. Although it might look like a surgical tool, a lash curler is quite simple to use. Place your upper lashes between the two sides of the lash curler (keeping eyes open), then position the curler as close as possible to your eyelid without pinching your skin, starting at the inner corner of your eye. When your lashes are tucked inside, gently clamp the curler together. Hold for ten seconds, moving outward to curl the entire lash line. Repeat if necessary.
5. Coat The Top And Bottom Lashes With Mascara
To further define and open eyes, apply two or three coats of mascara along the upper and lower lashes. For extra oomph, apply an additional coat near the centre of the upper lash line.
6. Lighten The Waterline With A Neutral Eye Pencil
While black liner inside the lower eyelids will make your eyes look smaller, a brightening neutral shade will open them by creating the illusion of extending your whites. A white eye pencil can also be used, but the more neutral fleshy tones provide a natural finish and help conceal any redness too.
Follow this simple, step-by-step guide for plumped up lips in a flash.
Want to know how to make your lips look bigger with minimal effort? Sure you do. We show you how to work your magic with make-up to create the illusion of a full, youthful-looking pout.
1. Moisturise with a luxurious balm
Start the process with a hydrating lip balm to plump up your pout and create a smooth base for the lip-enhancing products to follow.
2. Outline your lips with a concealer
This will help define your lips, making them pop out more to create the illusion of fuller lips.
3. Apply Highlighter To Your Cupid’s Bow
You might be familiar with the beauty-enhancing benefits of highlighter for your cheekbones but did you know that it works wonders for your lips too? Adding a little highlighter to your Cupid’s bow – the dip above your upper lip – will instantly make them appear bigger, thanks to its light-reflecting effects.
4. Line And Fill With A Lip Pencil
One of the easiest ways to make your lips look bigger is to line them with a lip pencil. Pick a liner one or two shades darker than your natural lip colour, and apply it just outside the natural line of your lips (be careful not to overdo it, you want to keep the look natural). Once the outline is done, fill your entire lip area with the pencil.
5. Apply A Highlighter to the centre of your lips
To further enhance your lips and add dimension, dust the centre of both lips with a highlighter.
6. Use A Nude Lip Gloss
Finish off with a slick of nude or pale-pink gloss. Lighter shades are preferable to darker ones, which tend to make lips appear smaller. Alternatively, apply the gloss to the centre of your lips only, for an attractive lip-highlighting effect.
