Good day to you Love My Dress readers, how the devil are we all? It’s Kylie here, you may remember me as the makeup artist from such gorgeous weddings on Love My Dress as this, this and this (I actually had my own wedding feature on these beautiful blog pages too!). I’m so happy to be joining the Love My Dress team as contributing beauty editor and am excited to be sharing my inaugural post with you today. By the way, I’m also delighted to be listed in this gorgeous new wedding directory launched by Love My Dress recently, have you had a chance to look through Little Book For Brides yourself yet?
So, on to our little beauty tutorial for today. Moving over to another French fancy is the beautiful products sent to me by Clarins. I’ve loved Clarins for years and each time they send me something new to try I fall in love with it!
Today I’m going to show you how to create a simple smoky festive look with glowing skin and interchangeable lip. This is perfect for evening winter weddings or Christmas parties with loved ones.
To start, curl your lashes then make sure your face is moisturised and primed, for this look it’s also important to add an eye primer from your lashes until your brow bone.
Your primer is super important as it’s stops your make up from sliding down your face when it rains/ you get too hot. If you’re a under eye dark circle smuggler like myself, create the look and add your foundation and concealer after.
Once your eye primer is matt on your lids, gently smudge Clarins Intense Violet Crayon Kohl along your top and bottom lash line. Build the line so it becomes very intense.
Add a layer of Gold Brown from the Clarins Pretty Night Palette (I’m using my much loved Summer collection which is very similar) blending half way up the lid continuing under the bottom lashes stopping just before the inner lid.
Build more depth with the Crayon Kohl around the eye, layering and smudging. Add the liner under the lash line, if you’ve lovely large eyes and want to intensify further, add to the bottom lash line too.
Build your lashes with Clarins Volumising Mascara waiting for each coat to fully dry before adding another.
Colour match your foundation by picking a shade closest to your skin by eye then using the one either side of that shade to swatch on your cheek. The shade that blends into your natural tone seamlessly is your shade. If you’re torn between two don’t be afraid to mix to get your perfect colour. Blend your chosen shade with a foundation brush, patting with the fingers to get a beautiful finish. I’m using a fine layer of Clarins Extra Comfort Foundation in 110.
Using a light layer should cover minor imperfections whilst showing your skin at it’s natural best. Adding a second layer fanned out under the eyes will cover those darker areas.
I love a vibrant blusher. I also love cream blushers. Clarins Crème Multi Blush in Peach is perfect for model Marie- Sophie’s complexion. Apply with a stippling brush in soft, vertical and circular motions.
I’m finishing the skin with a liquid illuminator, perfect for colder winter nights where luminous and glowy skin looks simply beautiful in candle light. My current favourites are Clarins Champagne and Rose Instant Lights, pictured. Apply with your foundation brush and brush along the highest point of your cheek bones, under the brow bone to really set off that smoky eye and using your little finger or a very small pointed brush the inner corner of your eye lids.
You’ll notice I haven’t used powder yet. I’m not a massive powder fan if I’m honest. I find that if you use the right skincare and foundation for your skin type, you shouldn’t really need it. I’m a fan of luminous skin that isn’t made too ‘flat’ with powder. Should you feel you really need it, apply lightly over your concealer, under your eyes, along your jaw line and the t zone.
Finish the look with either a nude lip- Nude Rose lip liner partnered with either Joli Rouge Watermelon (a pink tint perfect for you clear skinned ladies out there) or Coral Dahlia (perfect for those prone to redness and uneven complexion). Our model Marie preferred the Coral so we went for that!
The shimmer in these is perfect for those that like the look of lip gloss without the sticky feeling as it cheats it for you. Clever huh!?
For those wanting more of a dramatic look (that’s my girl!) line as before, and add Rouge Eclat in Coral Pink for an intense daytime look, Red Paprika for you vintage loving ladies or Red Fuchsia for those wanting a fun pink tinted alternative to a classic red lip.
Get practising ladies, and let us know in the comments or perhaps over on our Facebook page or Instagram account what you think of the look! Don’t forget to enter our ‘Chanel and Love My Dress ‘exclusive reader’s event too. We’re excited about being able to provide one of you to an early Christmas treat.
Much love,
Kylie x
A useful roundup of products used in this feature
- Clarins Intense Violet Crayon Kohl
- Clarins Pretty Night Palette
- Clarins Volumising Mascara
- Clarins Extra Comfort Foundation in 110
- Clarins Crème Multi Blush in Peach
- Clarins Champagne and Rose Instant Lights
- Nude lip- Nude Rose lip liner
- Joli Rouge Watermelon
- Coral Dahlia
- Rouge Eclat in Coral Pink
- Red Paprika
* Subject to availability
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Feature author Kylie McMichael is our new contributing Beauty Editor. She is also a member of our beautiful new wedding directory, Little Book For Brides. You can connect with Kylie through Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
