For most of us, leaving the house without make-up is not an option, but this doesn’t mean we have to spend hours behind the mirror before we head out the door. We share the easiest ways to achieve the most effortless look- for day or night.
The speedy smoky eye
Use quick crayons
Avoid having to apply eyeshadow and blend it with a brush. Eye crayons are quick and easy to apply, and super blendable too. Apply Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes, R275, on the lid and Gosh Forever Eyeshadow Stick, R145, on the brow bone. Be sure to highlight the inner corner of the eye and below the brow to open the eye. Use a soft, creamy eye shadow such as Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Vanilla, R425, and finish off with a quick coat of long-wearing, black mascara such as Clarins Be Long Mascara, R285.
The subtle contour
Use blendable cream
Contouring with a loose powder can look blotchy and too dark if too much is applied. Go easy on your face and use a blendable formulation as it makes the application more even, and a little goes a long way. Try the Smashbox Step by Step Contour Kit, R580, on the cheekbones and temples to highlight your facial contours. Beautique’s Kabuki Brush, R79,95 gets into the contours and helps you achieve a natural finish. Simply draw a figure of 3 on both sides of your face, starting from the centre of your forehead, down to your cheeks, jawline and chin.
Just-bitten lips
Use your fingers to blend
Don’t worry about using a lipstick that you’ll have to reapply in the next 10 minutes! Use a hard-wearing stain instead like Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick, R245, straight from the tube, and then dab a super high shine gloss like Chanel Ideala Rouge Allure Gloss, R505, on your cupid’s bow to give the illusion of a pout.
Beautiful brows
Use light, delicate flicks
Use a powder or eyeshadow instead of a pencil to fill in any brow gaps, and remember: the faster you go, the more natural they’ll look. Pencils can be blotchy and take more time as they’re darker, and if you touch it, there’s a chance it might smudge.
Mimicking natural hairs by flicking with a brush and shadow will prevent brows from being too overly-dramatic (we all know that ‘surprised’ look!). Finish off with an instant highlight. Sweep Lancôme’s Teint Miracle Highlighter, R390, under the middle of your arch for an instant lift.
Rosy Cheeks
Use multipurpose products
Many lipsticks can double up as cream blushers, which saves you time, and money. We love Clarins Blush Prodige in Rose Wood, R360, as well as Benefit’s Benetint, R385 (not nearly as potent on as it looks in the bottle), and the bargain Catrice Illuminating Blush, R69,95.
