By Napoleon Perdis www.napoleonperdis.com
Change was in the air at this year’s Victoria’s Secret extravaganza; everything from the hair, the tans and the lashes (or lack thereof!) seemed to be more pared back than in the past. While the focus was on the individuality of each girl, the beauty theme was beautifully flawless skin but executed in a very natural, understated way.
1. The key to mastering this look is a near-perfect complexion. Start by giving your skin a little love with a hydrating serum. I love to massage serum into the skin instead of using a moisturiser or primer as a serum provides you with long lasting hydration and plumps up the skin without leaving a physical layer on the surface of the skin. Yes, it’s a prime not to crime (!) but sometimes you need to break out the big skincare guns for that super smooth, dewy skin that the Angels wear so well. Subtle luminosity is key for this look, not dance-floor shimmer. Try applying a little liquid or cream luminizer with a large synthetic concealer brush after your serum (or primer). Focus on the tops of the cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose, brow bone and cupids bow. The ideal shades would be: gold (for golden/olive skin), creamy pink (for very fair skin) or bronze (for olive/dark skin). If your skin is on the drier side (or looks a little more dull than normal) try mixing your luminiser with your primer before applying all over the face to add a bit more pep to the skin. Also add a little lip conditioner to your lips at this stage to prep them for the final stages of your routine.
2. After the prep work, consider carefully how much coverage you actually need. Less is more here – there’s nothing worse than cakey, OTT foundation. Start with a sheer veil of foundation over the face (minus the forehead!) and then spot conceal any blemishes or pigmentation. To set the foundation (especially for a look that requires a bit of glow), I love to mix a little shimmer in with face powder for a subtle sheen. Loose eye shadows or pressed luminising powders work best for this.
3. One of my absolute makeup musts is: mascara first, always. After your base is done, make sure you open the eyes with one dense coat of mascara (top lashes only) applied at the roots and extending evenly through to the ends. This will help to simplify your routine; bypassing the need to overline or overdefine. Next up: the cheeks, which should be all about a natural flush; you want a little bit of warmth and a little bit of rosiness, it keeps you looking healthy and feminine. Try a duo product that has a tablet of two shades you can either mix together for customized colour or alternate a different shade for a different look. You can also opt for the perfect blush and bronzer combination. To get the most natural effect, swirl a little of both onto a brush, smile, and sweep softly on to the apple of your cheek. If you take a look at the Victoria’s Secret coverage, The Angels were not overly contoured or sculpted this year, so keep your contouring light handed – and not too high on the cheekbones.
4. When it comes to brows, there’s no major statement here. Think your brows but a little more polished with some subtle defining. Concentrate on balancing both brows and creating a little extra arch to lift your eyes. When you’re applying any product to the brow always make sure to use a brow comb after application and comb through for a finish that mimics actual brow hairs.
5. To finish the look, apply a simple swipe of black liquid liner to the lash line and another coat of mascara. For added oomph to the eye area, try adding a white liner to your water line for clear and bright eyes, or by pressing a soft bronze shadow onto the centre of the mobile lid and around the inner corner of the eye. Keep the lips very pretty and fresh by tapping a rose or nude gloss or lipstick onto the lips. Nothing too glossy and nothing too matte. Sheer and hydrated works best.
Hello Angel!
