Dear Caroline

May 12 2007

By Caroline Donnelly, The Journal

I've just arrived back from Rome where I combined a great holiday with attending a wedding there between two very good friends of mine in a beautiful location near the Coliseum. When I was asked to attend the wedding, I asked my friend if his wife-to-be would like me to provide my make-up services! He was ecstatic and said he was sure his (Roman) girlfriend would be too. She wrote me a very excited email and we started discussing looks. She (Alex) doesn't normally wear too much makeup, so we agreed that applying lots of colour wouldn't be her. I suggested using lots of texture and skin tones to make the skin look fresh and glowing and just enough around the eyes, on the cheeks and on the lips to accent her pretty features. I used MAC Strobe Cream moisturiser first to give her skin a gentle glow, MAC Lip conditioner to prepare and soften her lips and MAC Fast Response Cream around the eyes to tighten any puffiness and soften any fine lines. I then applied MAC Prep and Prime Skin to calm and smooth the skin. Allowing this preparation stage to settle in I began on the eyes. Using MAC paint to start, I applied a colour from this range called Sublime Nature. This has a satiny finish and is a beautiful mid-tone naked beige. I chose to use MAC Paint first as it's a hi-tech, high performance eye shadow. It's absolutely ideal for an eye make-up which needs to last and not to crease. I applied lashings of MAC Loud Lash mascara in black, which I knew would not budge if she got emotional, to complete the eyes. Story continues ADVERTISEMENT Next I moved onto the skin. I chose to use Hyper Real foundation on Alex's skin, which is a smooth pearlescent foundation as I wanted to make the skin reflect a natural health and vibrancy. I then contoured the face slightly using another of my favourites, Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powder. On the cheeks I used a small amount of MAC blusher in Peaches and topped off the cheekbones in Shell, MAC Cream Colour Base for an almost colourless, gentle glow. To finish the look off I chose a lip colour from the MAC Pro Longwear Lustre Lip colour range as I wanted a product which would last throughout without further application. Good choice as there was loads of kissing and the meal was nine (remember this was Italy) courses long! I chose Liscious for her as she really suited the muted Peach with gold pearl. She, her husband and her mother loved it and Alex was so, so thrilled by it. They looked beautiful all day and night! Q. I have slightly dark circles underneath my eyes that I like to cover, but everytime I use concealer I feel it's quite dry and ages me. What else can I use to cover them up? A. I feel as though you may have been using a concealer which is too dry for your skin in this area. I would suggest using a creamier, softer texture or one which contains moisturisers. I love MAC's Select Moisturecover Concealer generally, but think it's incredible around the eyes and around the sides of the nose which are areas which can be slightly drier. I use this on almost everyone from customers, to models, to celebrities. It's quite light in texture so never looks heavy and blends in luxuriously. My favourite way of applying this concealer is to place a few dots of products with the easy to use applicator and to then use a brush to blend out to a natural, line softening, satin smooth, ultra moisturised finish. A mouth full - but I can't praise it enough! I'm not a stickler for using a brush just because it's classed as a certain brush - I'll use whatever works for me. The £194 concealer brush is perfect, but I love to use eye shadow brushes £224 and £239. Not all at once! When choosing your colour, ask for advice. The MAC make-up artists on counter are experts at choosing the right shades, and the colour they choose may not match your foundation and surprise you. The colour will blend with your skin and foundation, but it's all about colour theory and what is needed specifically for the tones found in the skin around your eyes. Caroline Donnelly's column appears weekly in The Journal. If you have any questions, email hannah.davies@ncjmedia.co.uk and we will pass them on.

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