A Makeup Artist Just Showed Me How to Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes
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@ELEANORVOUSDEN FOR WHO WHAT WEAR UKAt Studio One Makeup amongst just some of Nguyen-Grealis's kit.
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@ELEANORVOUSDEN FOR WHO WHAT WEAR UKMy makeup after my 1-2-1 masterclass with Lan Nguyen-Grealis.
Lan Nguyen-Grealis not only works with celebrities such as Paloma Faith but also is a regular backstage at fashion week and is the makeup mastermind behind many magazine shoots, too, so she knows exactly how to get your makeup to work for any given scenario, whether it's no-makeup makeup or full-on glam. She founded Studio One Makeup to create a space where people can book in for a dedicated makeup lesson, which is personalised to what you want to learn about makeup. Her ethos is about making makeup work for you, not just following the trends, so you leave with a bespoke look that's tailor-made for your skin and lifestyle.
During my appointment with Nguyen-Grealis, I picked up so many great tips and tricks as well as the key makeup mistakes to avoid, and it's totally changed the way I do my makeup. Below, I shared some of the key learnings on how you can hit refresh on your makeup and the key products I discovered in a top makeup artist's kit bag.
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@ELEANORVOUSDEN FOR WHO WHAT WEAR UKLan Nguyen-Grealis focuses on skincare and priming products that make your complexion glow before applying makeup.
Laying down the foundation of good skincare prep is essential if you want your makeup to stay glowing and fresh for as long as possible. Makeup can only do so much, so having a hydrated canvas to work on will ensure your makeup looks its best. As such, in Nguyen-Grealis's kit, you'll always find an array of skincare, but her favourite variety is from Korean beauty brands. "These typically feature very lightweight formulations that sit well under makeup yet keep the skin hydrated," says Nguyen-Grealis, so you won't end up with quite so much dryness or concealer creasing throughout the day. And it goes without saying that it will make your skin seriously glow, so you might find you don't need to apply quite so much makeup. And if, like me, you have oily or combination skin, you'll want to look for a primer with a silicone formula, which will help smooth skin before foundation and keep your base long-wearing.
Luminescent by name, and luminescent by nature. This silky primer also contains antioxidants to boost your skin while providing the perfect canvas for makeup. It literally blurs pores. This isn't Lisa Franklin's best-selling hero product for nothing.
If you're looking to make your skincare last for a special occasion, a mask is a great way to lock in moisture. You'll always find these among Nguyen-Grealis's favourite K-beauty brands in her kit to help plumps fine lines before makeup.
When Nguyen-Grealis used this smoothing eye cream under my eyes, my concealer application went on smooth like butter and stayed crease-free for hours.
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@ELEANORVOUSDEN FOR WHO WHAT WEAR UKHere, Nguyen-Grealis layered a cream eye shadow before applying a powder eye shadow in the same hue on top.
By Terry's eye shadow sticks are renowned among beauty editors. Bronze Moon is the perfect bronze hue that works just as well for daytime or night.
This neutral antique gold colour works well on all skin tones and is long-wearing too.
Apply a powder eye shadow in the same shade as your cream shadow to help your eye makeup stay put for longer.
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@ELEANORVOUSDEN FOR WHO WHAT WEAR UKWhen brows are filled in too much, they can look too heavy and blocky. I was previously using an eyebrow pencil to shape my brows, but Nguyen-Grealis showed me how I can make achieve a more natural definition. "To fill in your brows, use an angled eye shadow brush and a eye shadow matched to your brow shade. Take the brush and apply upwards feathery strokes to mimic individual hairs," she says. Not only does this create a soft-focus effect, but any mishaps can be easily diffused by brushing through the eyebrows with a spoolie brush.
This handy compact contains two brow shades so you can tailor them to your brows. It also comes in a light kit for lighter eyebrows and a dark kit for dark hair.
This double-ended makeup brush features an angled brush for precision and a spool brush on the other end for perfectly shaped eyebrows.
To keep your brows in shape all day long, finish with a clear brow gel.
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@ELEANORVOUSDEN FOR WHO WHAT WEAR UK
This Shiseido liner is waterproof and stays put, even on my eyes, which are easily irritated during hay fever season. On the other end is a smudging sponge, which is ideal for diffusing eyeliner into a soft wing.
Individual lashes are always in Nguyen-Grealis's kit, as many of her makeup clients are loyal fans of this technique.
With short, compact bristles, this is exactly the kind of eyeshadow brush you need to smudge out your eyeliner for a smoky, diffused finish.
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@ELEANORVOUSDEN FOR WHO WHAT WEAR UKWhile we're big fans of the clean-girl makeup aesthetic (think dewy, glowing skin and lightweight makeup textures), it's not always the most long-lasting. If you really want your makeup to last throughout a busy day, then you'll want to fix any cream or liquid products with a powder, says Nguyen Grealis. Just apply a dusting to your oiliest areas after applying concealer and foundation.
If you find that your blusher tends to fade quickly, layer a cream version underneath a powder blush to lock it in. If you want your blusher to look multidimensional, apply a powder blush in a slightly lighter hue along the tops of the cheekbones for a contouring effect. "This helps to keep your blusher in place and helps to create dimension," says Nguyen-Grealis.
This creamy concealer/foundation hybrid is a makeup-artist favourite for concealing everything from dark circles to blemishes. It's very pigmented and blends undetectably into the skin.
Nguyen-Grealis is a fan of Artis brushes, which have densely packed bristles to effortlessly buff liquid foundation flawlessly into the skin.
A light dusting of powder over your oiliest areas will help keep makeup in place and grease-free.
Adds a glassy flush of colour to cheeks for a natural-looking blush.