Beautiful Flawless Glowing Skin with a Nude Lip

I still adore this make up look that I did on my gorgeous friend Jade last year - beautiful glowing sun kissed skin with a nude lip...what's not to love??

Here's how to re-create this look:

Step 1 Foundation - Nars Sheer Glow (Punjab), No 7 Foundation Brush

Foundation is used to give a smooth flawless complexion. Using either your fingers or a brush, blend in the foundation, working from the centre of the face outwards. Keep blending until the foundation appears to be in synergy with the rest of your skin, there should be no obvious lines and it should not be visible. 

To ensure you pick the right shade of foundation, apply some onto your jaw line and spread it down toward your neck, the foundation should almost disappear and blend into the shade of your neck – this will tell you that you have picked the right shade. If it appears too light or too dark then it is not right for you, always try to test foundation in natural light. If you apply too much foundation or the wrong shade it can look cakey and like you are wearing a mask.

Step 2 Concealer - Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, Real Techniques Concealer Brush

Apply a small amount of concealer to cover any blemishes and under eye circles. To apply concealer it is best to use fingers as it warms on your skin and is easier to apply. Pat the concealer where you think you need it to blend it into your skin. You will then need to set this with a little powder (especially under the eyes) to ensure it doesn’t crease.

Step 3 Powder - Rimmel Stay Matte Translucent Powder, Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Dust powder over the foundation to set it. Depending on your skin type will depend on whether you feel you need to powder all over, just on your t-zone, or no powder at all. If you have oily skin then you may want to set all of your foundation so you know that it will last longer and not go streaky. Some people may find they just have an oily t-zone therefore will only need to apply powder down the centre of the face. If you have quite a dry skin type then best to not use any powder at all as it will make it appear even dryer and is quite aging. Remember, don’t use too much powder if you want to have a healthy radiant glow!

Step 4 Blusher - Maxfactor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush (Soft Pink), Real Techniques Stippling Brush

This blusher was perfect for the natural radiant glow that I was trying to achieve. It is a beautiful creamy blush with no shimmer, it makes the skin appear healthy and bright and almost appears as though it is glowing from within. Perfect for those winter months when your skin may appear dull and sallow. I applied this all over the apples of the cheeks with a stippling brush. By applying a cream blusher with a stippling brush it ensures that you don’t mess up any of the make up underneath as you are just pressing the blusher onto the cheeks as opposed to rubbing and blending it with fingers.

Step 5 Bronzer - MAC Matte Bronzer, Real Techniques Contouring Brush

I used bronzer on my model to contour her face, by contouring it creates structure and gives the face more architecture. I applied it to the hollows of her cheekbones so they appeared more prominent and also on the sides of her forehead and down the sides of her nose. By applying bronzer carefully in the right places you can ‘cheat’ the shape of your face!

Step 6 Highlighter - Laura Mercier Loose Powder (Star Dust), Benefit Fan Brush

Where bronzer is used to create depth and structure, highlighter is used to create luminosity and glow. The highlighter was applied on top of the cheekbones, down the centre of the nose onto the cupids bow and above the eyebrows. By applying it in these places it can give your whole face an instant lift and add brightness.

Step 7 Brows - MAC Eyeshadow (Charcoal Brown), MAC 263 Angled Brush

I used a brown eyeshadow to shape and define the eyebrows and give more of an arch. Again this will enhance the rest of your features and give your whole face a lift. Using a angled brush I started at the inside of the brow and following the natural shape of the brow worked my way out in soft subtle strokes. Be careful not to add too much definition to the inside of your brow as it can look too harsh. The idea is to build up the brow and make it look fuller, thin over plucked brows can be very ageing.

Step 8 Eyeshadow - MAC Eyeshadow Woodwinked (all over eye lid), MAC Eyeshadow Rice Paper (in corner of eyes to highlight), MAC 217 Brush 
I applied this beautiful bronzy goldy brown colour all over the eyelid. This colour is perfect for this look as it gives the eyes a very pretty sultry look with a bit of shimmer. I used a fluffy MAC 217 blending brush for the eyes as it blends the eyeshadow beautifully and becomes seamless once blended and natural. I contoured the eyes by applying a little more of the eyeshadow into the crease of the eye and doing a sweeping motion back and forth blended it all out. By applying a darker colour into the crease it gives the eyes more definition and depth. I used the paler shade ‘Rice Paper’ just below the brow to give the illusion of space and in the inside corner of the eye to brighten up and give a fresh faced look.

Step 9 Eyeliner - MAC Carbon (to line the top lash line), Maybelline Eyeline Brush
I used eye shadow instead of eyeliner on the top lash line to define the eyes but still keeping it soft and pretty. I didn’t apply it to the lower lash line as I didn’t want it to look too heavy and made up. When applying eyeliner to the lower lash line avoid applying a blunt line under the eyes - it can look very harsh and ageing as well as making your eyes look smaller. Instead use a Q-tip and eye shadow and smudge it along the lower lash line so it creates a softer more smoky effect. Or, use your ordinary eyeliner (ideally a pencil and not liquid/gel) and apply a couple of dots in the outer lower lash line and smudge in towards your nose, about 3/4 of the way along your eye creating a soft haze under the eyes.
 

Step 10 Mascara – Maybelline The Falsies Mascara (Black Drama)
Lots of big fluttery strokes of mascara finished off this pretty make up look, I curled the eyelashes with Shu Uemura eyelash curlers and then applied a couple of layers of mascara to the top and bottom lashes.
 

Step 11 Lipstick - Barbara Daly Lipstick (Champagne)
I applied this all over the lips and really blended and patted it in well so it just looked like the lips had a natural peachy pinky sheen to them.