Pre-Event Beauty Tips From An A-List Make-Up Artist

“When using liners to sculpt and define the mouth, I like to stay ‘on the lip line’, or only venture outside of the natural lip line by about a millimetre and a half – that’s my rule. Anything more than this looks unnatural. I always use a cream lip liner too – these are easy to work with and are very flattering. To give lipstick and liner extra staying power, I powder the outer lip line before applying any product. A tiny dusting helps enhance the pigment of your lip products. If I am using a brush to apply colour, it’s always with My Kit Co’s 02 Precision Concealer tool.”

“Skin prep is everything before a big event. I always get my clients to up the hydration ante, asking them to drink plenty of water to ensure their skin looks as plump as possible. I also give them H30 Hydration Sachets by Rejuvenated. These top up your electrolytes with natural vitamins and minerals. As for skincare, I’ve mentioned masks and tools, but it’s important to layer up the moisture. I love Omorovicza’s Omoressence and Queen Essence followed by the Luminous Silk Primer. Sarah Chapman’s Sheet Masks are brilliant too, as are Elemis’s Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks – they instantly brighten and soften skin. I’ll finish the routine off with La Roche-Posay’s Dermallergo Soothing Eye Cream. It’s soft and delicate, and keeps the thin skin in this area luminous and smooth.”

“Layering skincare can cause make-up to pill – the trick is to use products that work in harmony. This means using formulas that are water-based or oil-in-water formulations together. When they share similar textures and ingredients, you won’t get any pilling or rolling of product. Plus, you need to work every layer in properly using your hands.”

“If I am sculpting or contouring skin, I like to use products that mimic the skin’s actual texture – this means less powder and more cream-based products. I also like powder products that transform into creams upon contact with the skin – like Armani’s Luminous Silk Glow Fusion Powder. I use these for bronzing and powdering, and often use a couple of shades to sculpt and define the face. The finish is so natural and glowing. I love Clé De Peau’s Cream Blush for the warmth and definition it gives. You can use it on the eyes or cheeks – try mixing a few shades together for a more bespoke colour.”

“If time is of the essence and I need to add a bit of shine or hydration to the hair, I’ll use Olaplex’s No1 and No3 treatment before any big event. Both will add immediate shine to strands with minimal effort or faff.”

“I’m often asked how to do a quick, smokey eye. The answer is simple – use liquid shadows, especially ones with the large, doe-foot applicators. When you have products like this, you can’t go wrong. Just blend them out with your fingers. Liquids often dry down into powders too, so they aren’t messy and set fast.”

“Brows and lips aside, your face only needs a tiny amount of powder – focus on the T-zone and on any blemishes. You don’t want to lose the dewiness and glow, so keep your placement strategic. If you don’t want to use powder, use oil absorbent papers – these are lightweight and don’t interfere with make-up. Cigarette papers are a great blotting tool, but failing that DHC do some brilliant ones. They also prevent any build-up or caking on your skin.”