How To Apply Make-up Step by Step, (The Clinique Way!)

Well, this writer, attended a step-by step , hands on, how to apply makeup session organized by Le Meridien for its Star Members at Le Meridien over the weekend. The session was conducted by the very affable Mr Alex Tan , event organiser for Clinique brand of cosmetics and skin care.

We missed the skin care part which consists of 3 steps.Which is cleanse, clarify and tone and moisturize session. Alex, gave some really interesting tips about make-up. He strongly encourages usage of foundation and sunblock to protect the skin. Learn to identify if you are a warm colour (yellow skin and darker tone skin) or colour tone (white and pink tone skin). Choice of make up colours should go by this rule,warm tone skins, very safely go for earth tones and greys, brown skin and darker tones, play with dark shades of any colour. Cold tones go for light blues, greens , yellow and even purple. Green is a good colour to brighten up any face.

Step one:
1) Apply foundation , always choose a foundation colour that matches skin tone. Best way to see if it matches is to try on foundation on cheek and see if it matches neck colour after application. This is very important as you don't want to be seen like wearing a mask if contrast is too big.
Always apply with a brush for a more even and smoother finish. Less is always more as far a foundation is concerned , so squeeze a little out on to hand and apply from the hand. Alex, also believe that foundation should make one look glowing , so choose a foundation with a little more emollient for that glowing look. Foundation according to Alex also acts as a protection for skin and these days , with all the technology thrown in to the make up formulas, fearing that foundation will clog pores should be a thing of the past!

2) Don't go for the dab 5 spot and even it out technique as you don't want to end up with dried foundation marks. Instead, apply part by part of face ie, start with the forehead, then the cheeks the nose, and then the chin. Never on the neck as you don't want to stain your collars.

Any concealer should be used after the foundation is applied so that it can be blended in and also you know how much you need to conceal still.

3) Next, draw the eyebrows. Use a brow pencil and draw from the inside to the outside of brows with flicking motions. Thickness of eyebrow should not be thicker than half your pinky's width.
The length should not be more than the length of eye. Think Marilyn Monroe!

4) Apply eye colour. Choose your colours according to skin tone. Always use only 1 highlighter colour and 1 tone colour. For day wear use the medium highlight and dab it all over eyelid up to brows. The use the darker shade and smooth on from the inside of eye to outer eye and the point nearest to eye. You can also pull up colour to give a slight slant of colour to eye. The use of the darker shade over the highlighter gives a more blended look to the colour appearance on lid.

*You can use the lighter highlight for a more dramatic contrast to eye colour and also if you have fairer skin , you can use the light highlight for day.

5) Draw eyeliner on top and bottom lid. Best to warm and soften liner first with fingers and so that the liner will soften a little and blend in to eyeshadow. Draw as close to eyelashes as possible and should drag up a little to give sexy slant to eyes especially round eyes. For the bottom lid, apply only one third of length of eye, and draw it inside out!

6) Apply mascara by drawing from bottom of lashes ands curl it upwards. Only apply colour under the lashes with long strokes and hold it at the tip for a moment to curl lashes. Do a zigzag motion for a fuller lash look and also to avoid a spider web look. If using lash curlers, it must be done before applying the mascara. Use several layers for maximum effect.

7) The trick to good blushing is to start by first smiling at yourself in the mirror. Hold the smile and identify the apple of the cheek. The blusher should start from the "apple" towards hairline near ear. By smiling, the blusher is located such that it looks like it is framing the smile , (so no more suck in the cheeks technique ladies:). Use a blusher brush and with circular moves sweep outwards and upwards towards upper middle of earlobe. Use warm shades like orange, browns and maroon , for colours use the lighter shades like reds.
Any leftover blusher can be lightly dab onto chin and forehead , very , very lightly!

8) Apply lip colour. Use your fingers and dab colour onto lips, then pat over with lip gloss. Keep lips slightly open but not pursed for a more natural look. For evening, you can choose to use a lip liner. Just make sure that you first apply lip liner, and colour inside of lips with the liner then do the lipstick and lip gloss procedure. This is to ensure that when lip colour wears off you are not left with a harsh outline of your lip liner which tends to stay on longer!

9) Last but not least dab loose powder onto face. The reason is so that all the make up looks more blended in and not appear as spots of colour on your face. Always use face brush. Dust off the excess powder and then gently dust all over face. Final touch up can then be done if colour is insufficient ie on the cheeks . You can now dust some powder on to the neck , if you wish!

Voila...