Make-up can be fun or perhaps a burden for some people and it can be time consuming but it's worth the effort you put into it as the outcome will be far better when you apply make-up properly.

EYEBROWS

Your eyebrows give you a border line for your eye shadow and it’s best if you can keep them regularly maintained to a neat and tidy finish as this gives more definition when using eyebrow pencils, etc., to get a flawless defined finish.

EYE SHADOW

Eye shadow sets off the eyes which are one of the main features of the face.  It can be a bit tricky to apply depending on the look you want to achieve, so it is best to apply it light to dark.

EYE LINER

There are two types of eye liner, liquid and pencil.  Some may find it more difficult to apply liquid than pencil but liquid gives a sleeker look.

EYELASHES

There are so many different types of false lashes and so many different ways to apply them.  I prefer using the ones that have separate adhesive as I find that the ones that have the glue already attached are useless; they don't stick properly and tend to fall off after a while.  I would advise you to take your time when attempting to do this specifically if it's your first time application as they can be tricky.  Once you have your lashes on there's no need to apply mascara as they will already have enough volume and thickness and applying mascara could pull the lashes off.

I love doing my own make-up, experimenting with different products, techniques and colours to capture the best of my facial features; sometimes I just like to get it on and go out and I think the quickest time for me is about 20 minutes but it can end up being a good hour or two as I like to make myself look good.

When your transformation is complete, I hope you will understand how to apply make-up correctly and have learnt the best tips when covering the beard area, blemishes, broken veins and dark areas of the skin.

I will be using MAC cosmetics when transforming you.  This make-up is extremely good as it covers the face well and lasts for hours and also gives a flawless finish.  The MAC brand is loved by millions of people around the world, well-known celebrities, top make-up artists, in fact everybody who seeks perfection as it has some of the best products around. 

The key to having a successful make-up application is to prepare the face properly and your target is to end up with the smoothest skin after removing all traces of facial hair including those protruding from your ears and nose.  Just look at it like your face is the canvas and, the better the canvas, the better the painting!!!  However, be careful not to shave too close to the skin as this may cause irritation; a good tip is to massage some shaving oil into the beard area (you will find the King of Shaves brand very good for this), let it soak in, then shave as normal with either a safety razor or electric shaver and the oil helps to prevent razor burn and rashes. 

Now, I'm just going to run through a few brief steps about the purpose of each product and I will obviously go into more details when you are with me.

MY APPROACH & TECHNIQUES

BEARD COVERAGE

It is really important that you use the correct product/products when covering your beard growth area, as some products will not completely cover it in the way you want it to and you will find that you tend to apply more to get better coverage, but when applying more and more it becomes thicker and looks unnatural.  I will be using a specialist TV paint stick, which is excellent for covering the blue/grey area of the beard.

FOUNDATION

Foundation is the base for the rest of your make-up, the key being to match your foundation to your skin colour.  The best way to get the perfect match foundation to your skin tone is to get a tester then apply a small amount onto the top side of your hand and rub it in, see how it looks and if it blends nicely then this is your colour.

CONCEALER

Concealer is used after foundation to cover up those extra dark areas that foundation can't quite do, like spots, visible blemishes, etc.  Also you should pick a concealer that matches your skin tone.

Face powder is mainly used to take away the shine from the foundation leaving you with a flawless matt finish.  It's wise to use matching brand products for foundation and face powder as this prevents the pores clogging and making the skin look patchy and oily, but again matched to the skin tone.

FACE POWDER

MASCARA

REMEMBER, if wearing false lashes there's no need to use this!!!

When using mascara for the upper lashes it depends on the effect you want to achieve, I always love mine to look fully volumnised.  You will need to get the right mascara as there are so many different brush types out there that its hard to choose which one suits you, it’s good to have a selection to choose from so you can see which one gives you the best effect.

LIPSTICK & LIP-LINER

Lipstick sets off the lips and adds a glossy finish.  Lip-liner is good for making them look fuller and to bring out the shape.

BLUSHER

Blusher is used to add colour and to define the cheekbone areas of the face. It's best to use one that is not too dark as this will look odd and ruin the whole make-up application.

AND FINALLY

You may wish your face to have a radiant shine, especially if you are going on that special date or to a party where you want all eyes to be on you!  The answer is to lightly apply shimmer powder using another large brush like you used for your face powder.

One important point is that many cosmetics, have a “use by date” and this is there for a purpose because for example old lipsticks and mascara brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria and a study by the College of Optometrists has discovered that many women are not aware of the risks and do not follow the sell-by date guidelines and are putting their health at risk by using out-of-date make-up.

Mascara should be kept for 3-6 months; liquid foundation, cream foundation, cleanser, concealer and moisturiser 6-8 months; pressed powder, loose powder, eye shadow, blush, lip gloss and lipstick toner a year and eye and lip liner should be kept for 18 months. Despite these guidelines the survey discovered that 92% of women keep mascara for longer than 6 months. Nearly two thirds of those surveyed used eye make-up that is more than 2 years old.

I hope you find these brief steps and my advice useful.  Obviously I will explain in further detail how to apply correctly all the stages of make-up, what I am doing and why, so you can learn as well as look good.  Then you should be able to practice what you have learnt and find the best techniques that suit you.