YES, YOU DO NEED TO WEAR MAKEUP…JUST DO IT WITH SUBTLETY
Style Counsel
I HEAR it all the time: “I don’t wear any make up because I don’t know how to apply it…I haven’t got time…Do I need it?…I don’t know what to buy.” Well, there’s no excuse, because cosmetics counters are falling over themselves to teach you how to apply it, and what to get. Admittedly some try too hard and overwhelm you with possibilities, so you’re back to square one. However, in answer to “Do I need it?”, if you care about your image, spend money on looking professional, and want to make a good first impression, then the answer it “yes”. Why splash out on an investment suit, a classy pair of shoes and a good haircut only to neglect the most vital part – your face. That doesn’t make sense to me.
If you can’t put makeup on because you never have and you don’t know where to start, you can always have lessons. Celebrity make up artist Sue Sian (makeup4you.com) gives excellent lessons on natural, professional-looking make up. After all, if you’re not used to it, you don’t want to suddenly appear with false eyelashes and bright red lipstick. You’d feel as uncomfortable wearing it as the rest of your colleagues would seeing it – after all, make up is meant to enhance, not entertain. Believe it or not, a small amount of natural-looking foundation, blusher, mascara and lipstick is all you need (to start with) to look “complete”.
One of Sue’s tips is only apply mascara to the top lashes (twice), then wipe the wand in tissue and rub gently over the bottom lashes. That way they’ll get the colour but no spiders or smudges, and will look really natural. For a “no foundation” healthy glow, I love Clinique’s Gentle Light Make Up or Estee Lauder’s Nutritious Vita-Mineral foundation for winter, when you need a little more cover. Both are very natural. Add a whisper of blusher to the apples of your cheeks and your eyelids, and a smudge of soft lippy, and voila. Your face looks as fabulous as the rest of you.
Sara Hollamby is a business image consultant with WorkingVoices.com email: [email protected].