If You Could Turn Back Time
Words by Andrea Claire
Dying for that youthful, radiant, lit from within look that everyone vies for? Us too. So we dialled up Andrea Claire, a Canadian celebrity hair and makeup artist located in Singapore with over 30 years in the beauty business and asked her for all the insider tips for creating a simple day-time makeup that can help us to look our radiant best.
From primers and foundation, to cheeks, lips and eyes, Andrea has rounded up her facvourite products for creating that flawless beautiful make up look.
primer
On a good skin day, primers can be worn on their own, you only need to layer with foundation if you desire more coverage or if you are going out and / or being photographed.
Try Charlotte Tilbury Brightening Youth Glow or her WonderGlow which is warmer with more of a candlelit feel.
Colour correction
As we get older, redness becomes an issue, be it from flushing or veins. FACEatelier Skin Perfect Colour Corrector in green, worn under foundation, cancels the red and is seamless without you crossing over to Kermit. Under eye darkness can also have the obnoxious ‘you look tired’ comments ramp up to overdrive, dark circles are usually colour corrected with peach or orange, Becca Cosmetics Under Eye Brightening Concealer works like a lucky charm. Apply sparingly as too much can travel and crease.
foundation
There are endless options for foundation. FACEatelier, Illumalift, Charlotte Tilbury and Shiseido are on top rotation in my kit and personal use.
Cheeks
I prefer a texture of blush that has a multidimensional quality. NARS Orgasm is beautiful for all skin tones. Recently they have introduced creams, liquids and loose powder with their famous hue. I love pairing blush with a hint of bronze, MILK Makeup in Baked or Blaze blended under a blush gives a lush, skin-kissed quality to the skin.
Eyeshadow
Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerise is truly the best cream eyeshadow to base your eye makeup with. Marie Antoinette is a perfect day colour for light to medium skin tones, while Mona Lisa is great for darker skin.
Eyeliner
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Liner (pot formula) dubbed as ‘liquid-like’ is my preference for a defining eye look. It layers without flaking, the pigment is strong and you can apply with control whether opting for a thin line or a dramatic wingtip.
Mascara
I have always recommended black mascara plus pairing with a blue/black lash tint is divine. L’Oreal Paris Voluminous delivers the luscious lash that I love but I generally find that mascara is mascara is mascara. Reach for your fave.
Brows
As we get older we need to give our brows some structure but don’t get sucked into Instagram Sharpie looking brows, a natural, but defined look is the most flattering. MAC Cosmetics Veluxe Brow Liner gives a feather-like texture. Liquid or cake brows are better paired with your costume when making balloon animals at kids’ parties.
Lip Liner
Lip liners need to be used for good and not for evil. Just say no to harsh lines. Try Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Iconic Nude a Nude beige for a basic pout. Laura Mercier Longwear Lip Liner in Pink Peony, a light dirty pink for when you need a hint of colour. Nars Cosmetics Precision Lip Liner in Jungle Red, a vivid blue red.
Lips
By the time one gets to a certain age, a little line for definition is good. I prefer to soften the line with a cotton bud so it’s not too harsh. I also find that we tend to have our signature lip, which can range from a bare lip to nude to coral to red, and all those in-between. Starting from bare to whoa there! My fave’s are: Charlotte Tilbury Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir which for the simple lip lover, it hydrates with a healthy shine that smooths and plumps your lips without looking like the OTT dripping gloss of the 90s. NARS Afterglow lip balm in Orgasm, a moisturizing sheer peachy-pink with gold, also great to wear under other lip shades. Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips 2 in DanceFloor Princess, a moisturizing pop of gentle pink. YSL Beauty The Slim Sheer in Rouge Devetu a red with a matte texture that wears all day.
five fresh faced facts
Always apply makeup over skin that has been freshly moisturised. The slippage helps for a smooth, even finish.
If your mascara is a bleeder, check how emollient your eye cream is before you bin your ‘crappy’ mascara. Creams sometimes need to absorb for a few minutes.
Don’t neglect your décolletage. Apply your creams across your neck and shoulders and then dab your highlighter onto your high points ie where the bones usually stick out.
Always do your makeup with front facing, even light. Overhead lights create unflattering shadows that causes one to become heavy handed with trying to conceal darkness that isn’t actually there.
The difference between a day makeup and night makeup can be as simple as black liner in the water line and a brighter lip. Just 5 minutes to get you out the door!
Andrea Claire is a Canadian licensed hair stylist and makeup artist with extensive print, advertising, runway and on-air makeover experience. Her talent and hard work has presented her with opportunities to work in Toronto, L.A., Paris, Thailand, Singapore and New York. Andrea has many years of experience both on-camera and behind the scenes in television. Andrea has extensive advertising, beauty and editorial portfolios which include campaigns for L’Oreal Paris, Revlon, Lancôme, Neutrogena, Unilever, P & G and editorials in Solstice, Shape, Bazaar, ELLE, L’Officiel, Lucy’s, HUF, Beauty Archive and more. You can follow Andrea at www.aclairebeauty.com / IG: www.instagram.com/aclairebeauty / Agent: www.judyinc.com/andrea-claire/hair-makeup/all / FB: www.facebook.com/aclairebeauty