The lovely Ana is back. Yay! We like Ana Ospina Make Up, she is rather talented and rather lovely. She is a magician. Also the fabulous photographer, Carey Sheffield is rather kind and her photographs are deliciously forgiving! Enjoy!
Let us start at the beginning ladies and get back to basics or should I say get ‘Back to Bases’. How often have you bought the wrong foundation? And how annoying is that!!! - How very wrong is the face different to neck look, which you have to endure whilst you find a replacement!!
Here are some tips on how to get it right -
- When looking for a foundation colour test the product on your jaw or décolletage not the back of your hand as it is very rare that your hand and face colour will be the same.
- If the colour looks chalky against your complexion or greyish if you have a darker skin then the shade chosen is too pale. However if the shade is visible and looks like a mark on the skin then the shade is too dark. The right shade should blend into your skin and should only offer coverage for the areas required without looking heavy.
- If you have a darker skin with various tones i.e. darker around eyes and mouth than choose a mid tone foundation to even out complexion and then conceal any areas that may need extra coverage
- You can apply concealer before your foundation, however for a lighter and more natural application with less chance of caking, apply your base first. Your foundation will immediately start to tone down any redness in the skin and cover most imperfections anyway so that the amount of concealer you then use on top where required will be less and look more flawless instead of heavy.
- Primers are essential as they make a great base for your foundation, filling in any fine lines and open pores so that the make-up glides onto a smoother surface and gives a more polished finish to your skin with maximum staying power. It also means you are not constantly re-applying so you are not getting through your foundation as quickly.
- Foundation should look like a second skin and not sit on the face like a mask (less is most definitely more in this case and considerably more flattering)
- Not everyone likes the look or feel of powder in particular those with a drier skin as it can make the skin look flaky but this would only happen if the skin wasn’t prepped with great skincare and a primer. Powders not only set your foundation they also make a great base for blusher to lay on as without it initially the colour will be strong but will disappear into the creamy base, a blusher will go on softer over a powder but last a lot longer.
Once all these steps are complete you can then start applying any colour shadows, blush and bronzers and finish your completed look with your preferred lip products. Hope this guide helps you in your quest for the perfect base. Any questions please comment and I will respond as best I can with recommendations on products and tips on application.
See you all back here soon,
Ana Ospina
Thanks to Carey Sheffield at http://www.hoipolloievents.co.uk/
And to My Model – Anna
Wow Anna look at you! Stunning :) Great job by Ana (not that you really need it!!) xo
Great feature Ana and Anna!
Ana, question for you – I tend to use what I find is a silly amount of products for my makeup prep. Usually I wear Clarins Ultra Matte Rebalancing Lotion (which I bought hoping that the mattifying part was enough for me to skip primer, but I later found out that it’s not enough), on top of this I wear primer, then foundation, then mineral powder, then bronzer, then blusher! So the question is, is there a primer that not only creates a smooth surface, but also hydrates enough for me to be able to skip moisturizer?
Btw, Anna, you look stunning! Looove that lip colour and your eyes are amazing!
xx Betta
You look SO PRETTY.
I am terrified of doing my wedding make up. TERRIFIED. But this looks awesome. I see a trip to my nearest big city as the event draws closer to find The Perfect foundation color. I hate when it doesn’t look natural.
Lovely model! X
What a great post Anna! I ALWAYS test foundation on the back of my hand.. Not any more!
Some great tips about concealer too!
You look very beautiful.XX
Anna – you look amazing!
I suddenly seem to have developed bigger pores on either side of my nose – or it could be that the make up is caking there. Any advice for what to use to stop this please Ana?
Thank You all for your comments and questions…you are a lovely bunch :)
Elisabetta – with an oilier skin type sometimes it is trial and error before you get the right combination of products. It could be that your primer and moisturiser arent compatible so it will be a case of trying maybe another primer if you like the feel of your moisturiser or vice versa. It does seem like a lot of products but they all serve their purpose and I use all those products on me too and I have a drier skin type. With these products applied correctly your make-up application will last a lot longer. Women are often sold products and not really shown how to use them so it maybe worth your while swinging by the Clarins counter and getting them to suggest other products but take samples and try on a night out before you buy as that is aleays a great test for durability. There is a fab mattifying primer I discovered a few years ago whilst working on TV , its a No. 7 from boots product in a white tube it works a treat but I wouldn’t call it a moisturiser so would not recommend skipping your skincare. Even the oiliest skin need moisturiser otherwise more oil can be produced to overcompensate and you are left battling the skin even more.
Peridot – there is a product by Becca called Line and Pore which is ideal for small areas that need a base before make-up it mattifies but more importantly stops make-up from sitting in the pores so makes application of make-up look flawless
I think this calls for a blogpost on fab products for different skin types…..see you back here soon
Ana x
[...] I get to introduce you to the rather lovely, Carey Sheffield Photography, who took a few photos of me a few months ago and made me look rather human with the help of my certain favourite make-up [...]
I promise my skin isn’t as good as you think. Although I have been blessed with some good genes.
I realised the power of make-up on Saturday when I made an effort to do my own and people were saying I looked well! Apparently it does make a difference!
Swit Swoo Anna – love it!
Ana – what would you recommend as a primer? Despite having a mother who has worked for Clinique and Estée Lauder I am totally clueless – I tend to just slap a Nivea SPF15 Tinted Moisturiser on at the minute!
Oh my Anna you look gorgeous my dear!