KEEPING UP APPEARANCES:Springtime heralds a new approach to colour and we asked three make-up artists to illustrate the season's key looks
SOFT ROMANTIC
PRETTY, FRESH AND romantic is the theme for the most understated of our looks. Make-up artist Sally O’Brennan showcases the Laura Mercier First Blush palette (€60.30) with an almost nude look that is polished and wearable. Starting with Mercier’s multi-award-winning primer (€41.20), O’Brennan perfects model Veronika Volkova’s skin with Silk Cream Foundation (€48.24) – a base that looks just like skin, but with full coverage, giving a natural finish and illuminating glow. A mixture of tawny, apricot and buff eye shades give a ballerina effect to the eyelids, and a slick of shade Granite gives lining definition. Cheeks are blushed with a sweep of the two shades in the palette, and lips are stained with lip glaze in Naked (€27.13). There is also a cute brush set (¤60.30) as part of the collection, which includes a lip, cheek and angled eye brush – great for travelling.
ETHEREAL SPARKLE
KAREN BIELLI, make-up artist for the Nars range, gives us a runway-inspired look that Francois Nars himself created for the Marc Jacobs show at New York fashion week. “There were 65 models and he gave them all a different look,” Bielli tells me as she applies the company’s new firming foundation (€48). This is one of the new treatment foundations that even out skin tone. Customers are given a sample of their perfect match to preview at home. For colour, she uses the ever-popular smoky eye, but with a twist. Wintry blacks and greys are swapped for soft browns and their key shade this season, Grenadine (€23), a rich garnet which looks rather scary in the pan, but works perfectly alongside frosted strawberry eye duo, Hula Hula (€34). Cheeks are treated to two fresh nude shades using the Hungry Heart blush duo (€41). Bielli finishes off the look with lip lacquer in Chelsea Girl (€24) and applies gloss in Sweet Revenge (€25) for a modern, pulled-together look.
CAT'S EYES
THE MOST DRAMATIC of our spring looks comes courtesy of MAC’s Gráinne Duffy, who loves working with the brand for its products and creativity. Studio Sculpt foundation (€35.50) is a dewy finish gel-based foundation that make-up artists are loving. Duffy applies it over Strobe Cream (€31), an illuminating primer which you can use under, or mixed with your foundation. MAC’s fun and colourful antidote to the recession is the ‘Hello Kitty’ collection featuring Lucky Tom (€30.34), a four-colour eye palette with up-to-the-minute coral and violet. A base colour eye pencil in Hyacinth (€14.50) is then covered with the violet shade, giving emphasis to the lash line, and the coral shade is faded upwards towards the brow. Lashings of Plush Lash mascara (€16.50) are applied before dramatic feline lashes are positioned. (The secret to applying false lashes that stay in place is to glue them to the lash root, and not the eyelid.) Tahitian Sand beauty powder (€24.50) gives shape, and Fun and Games blush (€21.50) puts a pop of pink to the cheeks. Lips in Cream Sheen (€17.50) give the final touch to one cool look.
All products available at Brown Thomas during its special ‘Splash Out’ beauty event, which runs until March 22nd. See www.brownthomas.com for details and appointments.