Must-have beauty trends from Melbourne Fashion Week part 2
OUR beauty guru Carene Chong shares more beauty trends from Melbourne Fashion Week, as well as L’Oreal makeup director Elsa Morgan’s secrets for getting the looks at home.
Wow brows
Image: Lucas Dawson Photography
Most women I know can pretty much ace the perfect base, lipstick and eye makeup but couldn’t care less about their eyebrows.
This is a massive no-no because your brows frame your face and when you shape and fill them properly, they make such a huge difference to your overall look.
The term ‘wow brows’ doesn’t mean you have to do something dramatic to your eyebrows, like change their shape entirely or use a neon blue pencil to fill them in. It’s about finding the shape that’s right for your face, trimming your brows accordingly and filling them in with the right tools. That’s really all you need to give your brows the wow factor.
If you’re stuck on what kind of brows you should have, here are some pointers. If you have a round face, opt for arched, longer brows. Girls with heart-shaped faces are lucky as any brow shape works, while if you have a squarer face, go for a natural, gentle curve.
Use your brow pencil like a protractor to find your perfect arch angle and where your brows should end. Align the pencil from the tip of your nose along the pupils. Where the end of the pencil sits is where your arch should be. Align the pencil along the outer eye. That is where your brows should stop.
Always pick a colour that is one or two shades darker than your hair colour for a natural result. But if you have jet black hair, L’Oreal makeup director Elsa Morganrecommends that you pick a dark brown colour as black is simply too harsh a shade for the brows.
Our beauty picks:
From left: Etude House Mini Brow Class Drawing Guide, $8.65 from Ebay;
Natio Brow Kit, $19.95 from Priceline;
Koji Spring Heart Long Lasting Eyebrow Pencil, $5.80 from Sasa.com.
Flawless face
Image: Lucas Dawson Photography
Eye shadow, liner, and lippie are no use if the base on your face is not prepped properly.
Whether you’re after a dewy or an entirely shine-free look, it’s all about pinpointing the right foundation and shade for your face.
But the age old question is, how do you find that perfect shade? And no, trying it on the back of your hand doesn’t help.
The best thing to do is test it along your jaw line. If it disappears into your skin, then it’s the right shade for you.
Do you need primer? Elsa says yes, as it fills in any fine lines for a smoother base application and it also gives your foundation something to hold on to – helping it last longer.
After smoothing a pea-sized amount of primer all over your face, apply your foundation with either a foundation brush, sponge or your fingers. Then gently dab concealer on any areas that are still discolored, such as the under-eye area, blemishes or the sides of the nose that are prone to redness.
From here, you can apply a powder to set your base, but Elsa suggests using a bronzer and highlighter instead to contour and lift the face. For a slimmer visage, apply bronzer that’s one or two shades darker than your skin tone under the cheekbones, across the temples and along the underside of the jawline.
Then dab highlighter onto the apples of your cheeks and other areas of the faces that catch the light, like the bridge of the nose and brow bone for a glowing complexion.
Our beauty picks:
From left: Elf Mineral Face Primer, $12 from Crush Cosmetics;
Maybelline New York Fit Me Shine-Free Foundation Stick, $15.00 from Priceline;
Face of Australia Contour and Highlighter Palette (Leopardess), $9.20 from Fashionaddict.com.au.
Bright matte lips
Image: Lucas Dawson Photography
Put aside your usual go-to nude or baby pink lippie because bright and bold colours are the shades to wear on your lips this coming autumn/winter season.
Think show-stopping colours like classic reds, neon pinks and bright corals.
While you’re at it, forget the lipgloss and make it matte. When lipstick shopping, look for labels that specify a matte formula instead of a pearl, satin or high-shine finish.
Do note however, that matte lipsticks don’t tend sit well on dry, flaky lips, so make sure you exfoliate with a lip scrub or a toothbrush to get rid of any unwanted skin on the lips. Then apply a non-shine balm for a hit of moisture.
When picking your shades, remember that cool reds and pinks suit skin with pinker undertones while warmer colours suit Asian skin with yellow undertones.
There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to applying lipsticks. It can be straight from the bullet or with a lip brush for a more precise application. Elsa also suggests dabbing your lippie on with the fingers for a softer wash that will stain the lips for longer wear.
For a more defined lip shape, line the cupid’s bow (the V-shaped dip on the upper lip below the nose) with a nude kohl liner or highlighter.
And remember, pair a statement lip with toned down eyes and cheeks to avoid overpowering the face.
Our beauty picks:
From left: Rimmel London Matte Finish Lipstick, $9.95 from Priceline;
NYX Matte Lipstick, $11.95 from Crush Cosmetics;
Australis Velourlips Matte Lip Cream in MAL-I-BOO, $9.95 from Priceline.
Do you have any on-trend beauty tips of your own to share? Let us know below. Check out our other beauty tips from Fashion Week in part 1!