Last week I was one of twenty lucky ladies to experience an exclusive NARS masterclass at Selfridges: a personalised make-up tutorial led by Pro Stylist David Scheffen and his elite team of NARS stylists.
I discovered that giving your make-up routine a few professional tweaks enhances, not just your overall appearance, but also your confidence, and I found that the simplest adjustments made the most impact. With the encouragement of David and the team, the class experimented with shades and products that we would instinctively have shied away from and were amazed by the results.
Here’s what I learned:
1. Colour matching
When colour matching a shade of foundation to your skin, instead of applying to your jawline, as is often advised, apply it to the centre of your face; the area that most needs the coverage. The skin around the jawline is, typically, in perfect condition and is unlikely to need foundation applied to it at all. The problem areas are typically around the t-zone and the cheeks so test the shade on these areas. It is also important that you leave the foundation for a few hours as the natural oils within the skin often alter the colour of the foundation throughout the day.
2. Concealing
The most effective way to conceal blemishes or uneven skin tone is to gently pat your foundation and then your concealer onto the skin, as opposed to rubbing, or brushing it on. Patting the products onto the area allows more coverage to build up. Swiping only wipes the product away, so you’ll end up applying more.
3. Eyeliner
I, like thousands of women, find applying eyeliner an absolute nightmare. Whether it’s a pencil or a liquid product, my wobbly hands never allow me to draw a straight, even line. Benoit, my personal NARS stylist for the session strongly advises using a handheld compact mirror when applying. “Tilt your head up BUT look down into the compact while you’re drawing it on”, he instructed me during the class. He also told me that the hand you write with determines which corner of the eye you should start applying the liner to; I am right handed so with my right eye I started halfway across my lid and applied outwards. With my left eye I applied from the outward corner inwards. If you’re left handed, try this in reverse, it helps to give a fluid, even line.
Having had a taster of the impact a few simple beauty changes can make I’d encourage any woman to try the NARS ‘Wardrobing’ service. Available at all NARS counters, you’ll find the right products based on your lifestyle and personal preferences.. The NARS ‘Wardrobing’ service costs £25 if booked in advance (0800 123 400) but is redeemable against purchases made the same day.
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