As a beauty editor, I have access to the world’s leading makeup artists, hair stylists and dermatologists to name just a few. However, as much as I want to, I can’t bring you with me to these croissant-fuelled events, which seems unfair when equally, I can’t share every tip, trick, and quote I learn when writing a new feature.
Hence this fortnightly Beauty Insider column is born, where I get to share everything I’ve learnt over the last fortnight, direct from the coolest events and most knowledgeable experts I have on speed dial.
I figured as this is my first column, rather than sharing tidbits from the past couple of weeks, I’m pulling out the big guns and revealing the lessons I’ve learnt over the past six years that have changed my entire beauty outlook.
That said, here goes…
Lesson one: look to Bob Ross for makeup inspiration
Not to brag, but this one time, Mario Dedivanovic (yes that is Makeup By Mario) did my makeup. It was a career and life highlight all rolled into one, and the rule that Mario taught me that day has stayed with me ever since. Along with the eyeshadow palette I asked him to sign, obviously.
When I submit this column to my editor it will be trimmed, tweaked and polished to make it the best it possibly can be and that my friends, is the exact attitude you have to take into your makeup routine, I have discovered.
It’s up to you to take a step back and know when to put your bronzer brush down, when to stop the powder highlighter that’s emphasising your pores, and when it’s right to add to that red lip.
Being the ‘editor of your face’ as Mario calls it might sound strange and convoluted, but not only does it get easier the more you do it, it’s also extremely liberating.
Channelling your inner painter Bob Ross (Euphoria fans unite) and adding a bit of blush here and removing a bit of foundation there, not only stops things getting heavy and cakey, but also reminds you that makeup isn’t permanent and is there to experiment with.
Lesson two: you’re buying too many skincare products
Don’t get me wrong, I would 100% double tap the contents of your bathroom mirror cupboard if I saw it, but I can’t say the same for a dermatologist.
Like most of you, before beauty was my full-time job, I always assumed the more expensive the better, when it came to gilded pots of creams and potions. Then I started working with dermatologists like Dr Justine Kluk, who showed me what an effective skincare routine should actually look like and cost.
While it’s dependent on your skin type, Dr Kluk recommended to me an entire morning and evening routine that consisted of just six products in total.
Each one starts with a cleanser, followed by what she calls a “targeted treatment.” This is a product that is designed to focus on your current skincare concern. Your AM targeted treatment should be some kind of antioxidant serum like vitamin C to protect your skin throughout the day, while your evening treatment could be anything from salicylic acid for spots to retinol for fine lines.
To put it simply:
Morning routine: Cleanse – targeted product – SPF.
Evening routine: Cleanse – targeted product – moisturiser.
In terms of cost, spend your money on the target products; the rest you can add to your supermarket shop if you’re on a budget.
Lesson three: celebrity hair is all smoke and mirrors
The moment I realised everything I knew was a lie was when I watched celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton recreate some of his most iconic styles at a Dyson masterclass a few years ago.
Every single one – from Kim Kardashian’s bob to Ariana Grande’s ponytail – involved little to none of their actual hair.
Kim’s ‘bob’ was actually a wig, with her real hair plaited underneath. Ariana’s ponytail was a work of construction with her real hair tied into a bun, acting as a platform for her ponytail extension to rest on top. That bun is the foundation of the entire hairstyle, not only giving it height, but more importantly helping it to stay up.
But it’s not just wigs and extensions – makeup is also used, and I can guarantee that any celebrity you see on the red carpet with an updo has a hairline filled with root powder.
If, like me, you’ve inherited a hairline not too dissimilar to Jude Law’s (sorry, Jude), Color Wow’s Root Cover Up, £29.50, Cult Beauty, will be the best product you have ever invested in.
So if you’re struggling to recreate these styles at home, don’t panic or worry too much… it’s all just smoke and mirrors.
Follow me @laucapon for more beauty insider news.
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