When doing makeup on clients one of the questions they often ask me is how to get that nice glow and airbrushed finished that they see on instagram and every single page of vogue. What makes the makeup that little bit more flawless and finished?
Keep reading for some of my favourite tips for finishing your makeup and bringing it all together.
Check for the small details
Once you have done your makeup and before you apply any powders go over and check for the small details. Have you brightened and concealed around the eye area? Especially check the inner corner near your nose - this often gets forgotten as you don't always notice it front on. Have you blended your eyeshadow enough? Is it still patchy? Does the shadow stop abruptly or does it fade/transition out? Is the colour even on both sides or is one side blended higher or wider than the other? If you've done a winged liner have you lined the upper water line so that no skin gaps show?
These are a few things that I look for at the end of applying makeup. A good way to check is to stand back from your mirror a little to look at the overall look.
Once you are happy with the look it's time to finish and set your makeup.
Translucent powder
If you ever find yourself accidentally applying too much blush or bronzer and need to blend it out try using a loose translucent powder and buffing it into the skin and around the edges to blur and soften the blush or bronzer. I like Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder and Bare Minerals Mineral Veil (I use this on myself every day). Translucent powder sets your foundation and concealer and stop it from creasing. Just remember to only use a little bit of powder. Tip: tap the excess off the brush before applying.
Finishing powders
A luminescent finishing powder like the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder acts like a filter to smooth the skin and give it that glowing airbrushed look. I also like the new Too Faced Peach Blur Translucent Smoothing Finish Powder which smooths pores and leaves a peachy glow to the skin. Finishing powders are to be used after your translucent powder if you are using it. They will diffuse, smooth and blur imperfections and pores.
Foundation powders
My favourite foundation powder for a while now has been the Bare Minerals barePRO Performance Wear Powder Foundation. It gives you that extra coverage and seems to just glide over your skin with a magic smoothing filter. Love! It also comes with a sponge so you can touch up on the go.
Setting Spray
Hands down my favourite is the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray. It really works. Some sprays say they are setting sprays when they are really just a hydrating mist. Check the ingredients to make sure it contains polymers which really do work to create a barrier over your makeup seals it in for longevity! For a matte version try the NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray.
Do you use finishing powders or setting sprays or both? Do you have some favourite tips for finishing off your look. Share with us in the comments below..
Sarah x