Ask The Experts

Posted

by Mister Makeup,

aka, David Maderich DavidMaderich.com

This month Mister Makeup has reached into his mailbag to answer beauty questions from his dear readers. Rather than answer the questions myself, I’ve decided to try something novel – I’ve enlisted my fellow celebrity makeup artist friends to lend their thoughts and ideas.

Let’s get started:

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT FOUNDATION FOR ME?

Jo Strettel’s happy clients include Madonna, Charlize Theron and Salma Hayek.

First off, various foundations have different moisture levels – be sure to choose one that matches your skin’s needs – dry, oily or combination. Try to find a light and creamy formula. I love Bobbi Brown’s Foundation Sticks ($40, bobbibrowncosmetics.com) that softens your skin and gives it a little drink – avoid anything that is sticky or gluey.

To find the right color, run the foundation down your lower cheek and onto your neck – if the color disappears, you have found your match. If you have a big stain on your face, it’s the wrong color. Also, be sure to check the color in natural light – not the fluorescents at the department stores.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO COVER A PIMPLE?

Laura Mercier is known for her skills at achieving the “flawless face” with makeup. Her clients include Madonna, Julie Roberts and Sarah Jessica Parker.

The biggest mistake is to use a creamy under eye concealer to cover pimples. What you need is a product with a thick consistency (try Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage $28, lauramercier.com) that will stay put and not slide off pimples. I like to use a tiny brush (try Bobbi Brown Concealer Brush $25, bobbibrowncosmetics.com) and carefully cover the pimple with a small amount of product. Set with a light touch of powder (Make Up For Ever’s HD Microfinish Powder $30 at www.sephora.com) and you are done.

HELP! I HAVE NO CHEEKBONES!

Mally Rancol to the rescue – she has worked her magic on Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez:

To get instant cheekbones that shake, shimmer and glow, you need three colored powders – a light shimmering shade, a colored blush that matches your skin tone and a darker powder for contour (try Mally’s Shimmer, Shape and Glow Face Designing System $40 at amazon.com).

First, brush the shimmering powder high on the cheekbones, then apply the contour powder in the hollow of your cheek (make a fish face to see where it goes) – remember, you don’t want to see a racing stripe, just a soft shadow. Finally, smile into the mirror and swirl your blush color onto the apples of your cheeks. Be sure to softly blend the colors together for a seamless finish.

There you have it – instant gorgeous cheekbones.

I AM AN EYEBROW VIRGIN – HOW DO I GET FABULOUS BROWS?

Anastasia Soare is known as the queen of brows. She has shaped the brows of Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Lopez, Oprah, Eva Longoria and Madonna.

For brow virgins, I always suggest waxing first to create a basic shape and to grab tiny hairs that tweezers can’t reach.

After seeing the shape achieved by waxing, I then go in with a tweezers to perfect the arch. If you have any holes or bald spots, fill in carefully with a brow powder – try Anastasia’s All About Brows kit ($75 at sephora.com) with six tools to solve all of your brow problems.

Remember, eyebrows should start at the inner corner of the eye and end slightly past the outer corner – with the highest point of the arch at the far end of the eyeball.

Try to maintain your brows by monthly brow appointments or by catching new hairs with daily tweezing.

MY LIPS ARE SMALLER THAN ROHDE ISLAND – HOW DO I GET THAT ANGELINA POUT?

Laura Mercier tackled this one:

Whatever you do, don’t overdraw your mouth with a dark pencil like Joan Crawford!

To make lips look fuller, I use a lip pencil in a brownish pink (try Wet N Wild’s #712 $1, drugstore.com) and start at the center of the upper lip and edge the pencil slightly over the cupids bow to the make the lips appear thicker. Repeat on the bottom lip; apply lipstick (try Make-up Designory (MUD) Sheer Lipstick in Sandy Beach $15, mudshop.com) and a touch of shimmery gloss (Glominerals Glogloss in Coconut $18 at glominerals.com) to the center of the lower lip for a soft pout. Also, keep in mind that shimmery pale colors reflect light and make the mouth appear larger whereas dark colors make the mouth look smaller.

Always look in the mirror to be sure you have not overdone the pencil – you won’t be fooling anyone.

I LOVE EYELINER, BUT IT ALWAYS SMEARS UNDER MY EYES AND MAKES ME LOOK LIKE A RACOON. HELP.

Mally Rancol answers:

As we all know, eyeliner is the perfect tool to make the eyes pop. Unfortunately, it does tend to smear.

Here is a great trick I use to keep my celebrity clientele smudge free – it takes a few extra steps, but as every woman knows, if it works, it’s totally worth it.

First, take your pencil (try Clinique’s Quickliner for Eyes $14.50, clinique.com) and line your eyes as usual. Then take a cotton swab with loose translucent powder (try Laura Mercier ‘s Loose Setting Powder $34, lauramercier.com) and run it right on top of the liner. Next, take a dark shadow (try NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Pandora $32 at sephora.com) and go over the line again to deepen the liner. Finally, one last touch of translucent powder and you are finished. This process takes a few extra minutes, but believe me, that eyeliner is staying put.

Okay boys and girls, take these tips and go get beautiful!