A makeup artist fills in a model’s eyebrows backstage at Jason Wu’s Fall/Winter 2013-2014 runway show.
Photo: Luca Cannonieri/GoRunway.com
Photo: Luca Cannonieri/GoRunway.com
Vanessa Elese is an Emmy Award-winning celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert.
As a makeup specialist, one of the top questions I am always asked is this: “What are your master makeup tricks everyone should know?” It only takes me a moment’s pause to think of my essential checklist for transcending time and trends, resulting in effortless beauty that can easily be achieved by all.
It’s often in our rush and habitual formation of beauty rituals that we skip the very steps we need most, deeming them non-essential to our final face. However, there are certain tricks I believe every woman should know for creating refined, precise and lasting results built to stand the test of countless hours of wear and time. Without them, touch-ups may become more frequent, a less balanced look is achieved, and you are not placing your best face forward — bottom line.
Fads come and go, but there are some bankable beauty secrets every woman should master. Take your beauty regimen to a whole new level of refinement and precision with my timeless beauty checklist:
Brush Those Batting Beauties
Mascara evolves with new and different formulas. As you find your favorite brand, make sure your batting beauties are always clump-free. Even with the most technologically advanced wands and top tier formulas, there is room for perfection, so take charge on your end. Enlist a small clean mascara wand and comb through your lashes just before they dry. This will not alter the desired effect from your brand, but will help de-clump so you can flaunt full, luscious lashes. Others will beg to ask, “Are those lashes yours?” and you can coyly reply, “Well, of course!”
Mascara evolves with new and different formulas. As you find your favorite brand, make sure your batting beauties are always clump-free. Even with the most technologically advanced wands and top tier formulas, there is room for perfection, so take charge on your end. Enlist a small clean mascara wand and comb through your lashes just before they dry. This will not alter the desired effect from your brand, but will help de-clump so you can flaunt full, luscious lashes. Others will beg to ask, “Are those lashes yours?” and you can coyly reply, “Well, of course!”
Compliments of Coral
This is the color that complements us all. My beautiful grandmother always used to sport her favorite coral shade and I can honestly say it’s one of my favorite shades too. It is a warm, happy color that can enliven and brighten any complexion instantly. Coral is truly timeless, and it’s a color with a variety of shades that can transition for the more natural makeup-wearers to the more glamorous beauty seekers. Whether choosing a blush, lipstick, gloss or nail color, you can never go wrong with coral. It’s flexible too, offering fool-proof perfection for lips and nails.
This is the color that complements us all. My beautiful grandmother always used to sport her favorite coral shade and I can honestly say it’s one of my favorite shades too. It is a warm, happy color that can enliven and brighten any complexion instantly. Coral is truly timeless, and it’s a color with a variety of shades that can transition for the more natural makeup-wearers to the more glamorous beauty seekers. Whether choosing a blush, lipstick, gloss or nail color, you can never go wrong with coral. It’s flexible too, offering fool-proof perfection for lips and nails.
My Lips Are Sealed
We all tend to have a slight redness that might creep around the corners of our mouth. When applying a natural lip balm or lipstick, as a last step, try defining the corners of your mouth with your matching shade of concealer. This helps to tackle any redness, as well as define the corners. It also creates a barrier to eliminate the color from traveling.
We all tend to have a slight redness that might creep around the corners of our mouth. When applying a natural lip balm or lipstick, as a last step, try defining the corners of your mouth with your matching shade of concealer. This helps to tackle any redness, as well as define the corners. It also creates a barrier to eliminate the color from traveling.
Frame Your Face
Eyes are the window to the soul, but I like refer to brows as the frame to your beauty. Nothing can awaken a face faster and even lift a tired eye than a manicured brow. Whether using a powder or eyebrow pencil, take notice of any areas that are slightly sparse or less evenly filled than other areas. I like to begin about 1/3 of the way in from your inner brow and gently fill while easing towards a taper, just beyond the arch. Select wisps of color can be added to augment your shape, creating a defined and groomed brow. I like to combine colors for a more natural fill that always creates an immaculately groomed brow. Try choosing a complimenting shade, as well as one that is slightly lighter than your natural brow color for the perfect fill. An optional — but great — last step is to apply a clear mascara to seal in your shape for lasting definition.
Eyes are the window to the soul, but I like refer to brows as the frame to your beauty. Nothing can awaken a face faster and even lift a tired eye than a manicured brow. Whether using a powder or eyebrow pencil, take notice of any areas that are slightly sparse or less evenly filled than other areas. I like to begin about 1/3 of the way in from your inner brow and gently fill while easing towards a taper, just beyond the arch. Select wisps of color can be added to augment your shape, creating a defined and groomed brow. I like to combine colors for a more natural fill that always creates an immaculately groomed brow. Try choosing a complimenting shade, as well as one that is slightly lighter than your natural brow color for the perfect fill. An optional — but great — last step is to apply a clear mascara to seal in your shape for lasting definition.
Perfectly Prime
The days of multi-step and multi-product beauty are long gone, but the tip to prime remains just as essential. Although now, it is executed with much more ease, especially with the introduction of CC creams. You can moisturize, protect, combat, diffuse, prime correct and cover — all with one product. Primer is essential for use before makeup application, and depending on its varying attributes, it allows for seamless application, it minimizes pores, and it prevents what I like to refer to as “the crease settle.”
The days of multi-step and multi-product beauty are long gone, but the tip to prime remains just as essential. Although now, it is executed with much more ease, especially with the introduction of CC creams. You can moisturize, protect, combat, diffuse, prime correct and cover — all with one product. Primer is essential for use before makeup application, and depending on its varying attributes, it allows for seamless application, it minimizes pores, and it prevents what I like to refer to as “the crease settle.”
Timeless beauty is not necessarily about the big things, but small steps that are the essential keys to perfection.
*This story was originally published in Fox News Magazine.
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