With the ball season almost upon us and the Skin Centre's big charity ball less than two weeks away, it's time to start thinking about your look.
Lisa Matson, L'Oreal Paris makeup director, shares her tips on how to look your best for a big night out.
• Pick a feature you want to highlight
- eyes or lips. A smoky eye needs a soft-toned lip and strong lips need a light eye makeup - a liquid eye (think a young Brigitte Bardot, or Christina Aguilera) is very chic at the moment.
• Glam up with a little shimmer and shine - try metallic eyeshadows or dust a gold or cream-toned shimmer eyeshadow over cheekbone and down T-zone (not recommended for oily skin types). Alternatively, opt for a glossy lipstick or lipgloss to enhance your pout.
• Wear lashings of mascara - curl lashes and apply two to three coats for Hollywood glamour.
• If you're not confident about applying your own makeup, practise before the night or get a professional to do it. To find the right person, try word-of-mouth or ask people who have hired makeup artists before for their recommendations. And make sure you ask to see their portfolio so you can decide if you like what you see.
• Colours that are on-trend this season include golds, bronzes, russets and chocolates, or brighter shades like purples and blues for eyes and oranges or reds for lips. Deep purple/plum shades are also popular - perfect for the Skin Centre ball's high-glam burlesque theme.
• Ensure your makeup lasts all night with products like L'Oreal's fabulous Infallible 24HR range and waterproof mascara. Also, try to keep your fingers off your face - touching your face throughout the night is a sure-fire way to wear away your makeup.
• Go prepared. Take essential items in your purse, including lipstick and/or lipgloss, a powder compact to touch up any shine through the T-zone and, if you're able to, buy a small lip-balm container to slip a little of your foundation into - perfect for emergency touch-ups.
