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One of the perks of the job is trialling lots of different beauty and make up products, and last week didn’t disappoint, with an invite to try a ‘make under’ with Bare Escentuals national make up artist, SJ, at their new store in Covent Garden. SJ was incredibly friendly and immediately allayed my fears that I’d leave looking like a drag queen, which is so often the case on conventional make up counters. The store is bright and fun and all the make up is out for you to see so you really get a sense of what they are offering. Aside from SJ there were several members of staff available, so help is obviously always at hand if you need it.
SJ picked out a foundation colour that matched, but also enhanced my skin tone perfectly and showed me how to apply it with one of their specialty brushes. Mineral foundation, as it comes in loose form, has to be applied in a specific way as otherwise you get uneven coverage. Lack of knowledge of the technique is one of the biggest reasons that people struggle to use mineral foundations, which is a real shame given the fantastic coverage they can give.
After that SJ applied some colour to my face, showing me how to expertly create defined cheek bones in a few easy brush strokes. I then asked her to create the much coveted smoky eye look and interestingly she chose a palette of shimmering browns and creams, rather than the greys I had expected. The look was softer than if she’d used greys and definitely more suitable for a day to night time look than heading straight for blacks and greys. SJ also showed me how to fill in my eyebrows with a similarly toned loose eyeshadow (just make sure you’re using the right sort of brush), something that she says is incredibly important as great looking eyebrows really frame a face.
After that it was a quick fix of their new 100% natural mascara, a dash of a beautiful fig toned lipstick and a dab of lipgloss and away I went, feeling glammed up and ready to go.
So whether you’re already an expert with mineral makeup or someone just starting out it is a great idea to have a make under and see what products work best for you and which colours you like – you may be surprised by the results, perhaps that bright green eyeshadow is for you after all…. And if you fancy taking a whole range of stuff home then they have various kits on offer from starter kits to ones to help you recreate a professional look at home.
Bare Escentuals is available in various stores nationwide, please visit www.bareescentuals.co.uk to find your nearest store. It can also be purchased on line or on QVC, where you can see SJ live in action.
