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BEST QUICKIES EVER

 

We’ve hunted, gathered, rummaged and ransacked everything you need to know to get party-worthy gorgeous and out that door - quick!  Anna Magee reports

 

The race is on.  It’s party time, you’ve had a busy day at work but absolutely MUST look fantastic, stunning and ravishing tonight (has to be all three!) - slight problem, it’s 7.02pm and you’ve approximately…err seven-and-a-half minutes before that cab pulls up and whisks you into the night. 

 

Typically, December is a big party month. It’s also a month when most workplaces get somewhat hectic…This year (and we’re only assuming here, as not even we have lived through a millenium before) could be a little more frantic - perhaps even nervous-breakdown-inducing - than others. So what does this have to do with beauty? Well, everything - the point is, there’s a massive rush in parties and work ahead - and as U readers, you’re obliged to look gorgeous (and tell everyone where you get your beauty advice!) -  so read our quick tips and learn them off by heart (that is a joke!) - and get from the office to the party in a few quickly applied, breakdown-free minutes!!

 

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AM - MORNING GLORY

 

What you do in the morning will make a huge difference to your ‘transformation’ from hard-boiled office professional to sex siren later on.  Get up a little earlier and give your skin a really good cleanse and massage to get circulation going (especially good if you’ve been out the night before).  And don’t forget the sunscreen.

 

Take advantage of the extra time you have and the morning light and apply a good, long-lasting foundation and concealer that you only need touch up with powder or touch-stick at night.  “Even if you’ve got great skin, a light powder or oil-free liquid base is essential, all over the face - even lips and eyes - to help make-up stay true,” says Annie Gribbin make-up artist and director or Dublin’s Make Up For Ever.  “Make-up needs something to adhere to.  Otherwise colours disappear and by the end of the day, you’re left with a big mess.”

 

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Making It Last

Believe it or not, it’s the emolliency of the moisturiser you use that actually determines whether or not your make-up will stay on, and of course as the formulation of the foundation you’re using. For oily skin, make sure your moisturiser, concealer and foundation are all oil-free.  Powder blushes and shadows will last best on oily skin.  Drier skins should use a creamier moisturiser and can use cream blushes and eyeshadows.  To really lock in your base apply powder with a velour puff as a final step - to really set the make-up at the beginning of the day.

 

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Stick with neutral, matte colours during the day, as these are easiest to build on later and don’t require messy cleansing.  While still looking good your face will remain a ‘palate’ to which you can add some funky colour and highlighter at night (more about that later).

 

Gribbin also points out that eyeshadow is just not necessary, even at night.  If you’re not experienced with eyeshadow, bypass the risk of making a mess by leaving it out,” she says.  “Take advantage of convenience products like bronzing powders that you can use as blush and on your eyelids, to cut down make-up time.” 

 

Don’t skimp out on eyelash curling.  Get a 2-way eyelash curler £5.50 from Make-up For Ever with a snazzy extra gadget for those hard to get at lashes.  Only 15 seconds on each eye is time well-spent.  Take the curler with you.  Add a touch of mascara (choose something water-resistant not waterproof as that can often require paint-stripper when removal time finally does come!), build on it later.

 

If you use a good lip brush and a neutral lippie - avoid the liner.  “Lip liner is not that big anymore, stain and gloss is much bigger,” says Gribbin.  And most experts agree - even with strong, precise colour the use of a lip brush makes all the difference.

 

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Change Tactics

According to Bobbi Brown, the logic behind adjusting make-up from day to night is this:  Light is usually much lower and softer at night, so make-up needs to be better defined and somewhat stronger to show up.  She suggests switching to a darker, deeper or brighter  lip colour like red or burgundy.  On the other hand you can wear a pale shimmering lip colour and line the eyes in dark, smoky shadow.

 

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HOT TIPS FOR A QUICK EXIT

 

  • So you didn’t bring your toothbrush, grab an apple.  Sounds basic but if you chew it slowly the pectin in the fruit can really cleanse your breath - we hope this precaution comes in handy…
  • Forget cleansing at the end of the day, it only makes a mess.  If your skin is shining and oily though, separate a tissue and blot it all over.  Remember, paper absorbs oil, so if you’re stuck somewhere with no powder and a shiny nose, grab a napkin and head for the bathroom.
  • For a long-lasting blush and a great pick-me-up try a cream to powder blush like Elizabeth Arden’s Cream to Powder Cheekcolour  in Enchantmet £7.50.
  • Remove excess mascara by placing a folded tissue between upper and lower lashes and then blinking a couple of times.
  • Mascara Mistakes? Take some oil-free moisturiser on a cotton tip and dab it onto the spot that’s gone to the wrong place then follow with powder.
  • Dry nail polish quickly by giving it a blast of cold air from your hair dryer.
  • In the evening, try using an all-in-one powder foundation like All-in-one Powder Foundation from Make-up For Ever £18.50 to give instant coverage matte the skin down.  Use wet for opaque coverage or dry for a sheer effect.
  • Minimise eye make-up mistakes and shadow ‘fall’ by having a look at applicators and your own technique of application.  Investing in good blending brushes can cut your application time by half.  When applying shadow with a brush use short, patting motions is if you’re dabbing spots of paint - not the long, sweeping strokes of days gone by.  Always blow excess shadow off your brushes before applying.
  • Annie Gribbin also recommends sacrificing your eyeliner and lining the eyes with eyeshadow instead for a much softer and more precise effect.  “I very rarely use eyeliner.  I think it can look hard and drag at the skin.  It’s much softer to take a dark coloured eyeshadow and dab it along your lash line.”  Annie tried this on me and yes, the result was softer than the harder eyeline I am used to. 
  • Remember, when you’re in a rush prevention is better than cure.  To prevent mascara clumping, wipe your wand before using.
  • Day into night make-up is never complete without a great highlighter so you shimmer and shine all night.  Milk it’s benefits by applying it to brows, cheeks, shoulders and cleavage.  For a ‘pouty lip’ look add some to the centre of your lips, over a strong colour like burgundy or red.
  • Keep a clear make-up case if you can.  This saves time rummaging through products trying to find the one you need.
  • Don’t touch your face through the day or the night.  For skin, make-up and general poise, little fingers (bacteria-laden) fiddling with face equals not a good look
  • Keep a tiny bottle (little plastic ones are available at Boots for £1)of liquid eye-make-up remover - Clarins make a great one for £12 - in your make-up case and some cotton tips.  If you’ve ended up with lop-sided lips or eyes dip a cotton tip into the remover and gently dab the mistake away.  Cover with a touch of powder.

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    In A Hurry?  Don’t even think about…

    *Liquid Eyeliner - too much potential for disaster.  Enough said.

    *Eyebrow plucking, redness takes time to go down

    *False eyelashes unless you have a spare hour and want to carry around glue, toothpicks and strips.  Think of the risk of a badly applied one coming off during that embrace you’ve coveted all year…

    *Liquid foundation.  We’re talking big leakage and mess potential here. With all the great touch sticks around that really give precise coverage with little mess and blending - what’s the point.

     

    CHANGING LOCKS - Fast Hair Fixes

    Hat-head, fuzz-ball and general bad-hair days can strike anywhere, anytime.  For fast fixes keep a little hair kit at work or in the car (not in the evening bag!).  Your locks will thank you.  It should contain:

    ¨Volumizing spray - Especially good for fine or straight hair that’s gone flat.  Spray ot on the roots of the hair and flip your head under the hand dryer while brushing the hair forward.  Voila, instant hair.  Try Wella Liquid Hair Spray £**

    ¨Silicone-based moisture balm like Pantene Essentials hair Revival £10.  For end of the day unruly fuzz due to drizzle or humidity, it’s unbeatable.  Warning:  The silicones in these types of product give them incredible spreadability - Use Sparingly.

    ¨A rounded, natural bristle brush.  These give more control, for up or down styles and help eliminate static electricity.

    ¨Hair elastics and combs.  Many a bad-hair day has turned into a totally-glam hair day with a successful up-do.  Pony-tails or French rolls, kept simple and soft can be sexy! 

     

    QUICK STUFF  [- this preferably to start on a separate single page]

    Beauty companies know we’ll be rushing around madly before parties, so they’ve come up with some convenient, time-saving brainwaves to calm us down and make us up.

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    Christian Dior Multi-Touch Colour compact for Eyes, Lips and Cheeks £16 - seriously gorgeous and small enough to fit in the bag!

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    Lancome Palette Mix - compact including concealer and foundation/powder £15

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    Revlon Liquid Lip £7.95 - unbelievable - as usual Revlon make new ground in make-up by developing a long lasting gloss.  That means moisture, spreadability and staying power without flakeis.  The packaging means you don’t need a lip brush either.  I loved their neutrals but there are brights available too.

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    Tesco One-Step Make-up £5.20 created by Barbara Daly in hot new minimal packaging and top formulas - funkier than you might think.

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    Aveda Lip Color Pus Two £** - Two shades, one pencil can be used as liner and colour - great texture.

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    Elizabeth Arden Cream-to-Powder Cheekcolor £16.50 (check price) in Enchantment shade, can be used as a great highlighter too!

     

    The Future Of Face - STICK FOUNDATIONS

    You want fast, lasting, effective and super-easy to apply?  Touch-stick foundations are fantastic.  Take care to really match the tone to your skin then just glide it on the face and blend. The result is usually more precise than sponge or liquid application because you control exactly where cover goes.  Sound heavy?  Don’t worry I was scared of them at first too, but after trying Prescriptives Exact Matchstick [product enclosed - no shot] £22 for the last six months, I’m a convert!  Other great formulations include:

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    Lancome Stick Express - Teint Idole £21

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    Maybelline New York Express make-up 3 in 1 (conceals, covers and finishes) £7.99

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    L’Oreal Quick Stick (oil-free) £10.99

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    Clarins Smart Stick Foundation £18

     

     

    COPYRIGHT  ANNA MAGEE 1999
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