With up to ten shows a day and hundreds of models to primp and preen, it’s safe to assume that London Fashion Week’s leading make-up artists know their stuff. Which is why we asked them for the tricks of the trade. So you can recreate the looks – in even the most cramped bathroom at home. Here’s what we learnt:
Rosy Cheeks Can Work With A Strong Lip
‘Using the same product on lips and cheeks ties a look together. Stipple the colour more intensely onto the lips and use a lighter hand and softer strokes over the apples of the cheeks so that the colour is more of a wash,’ explains Val Garland, who did the perfect pout at Vivienne Westwood Red Label
But Barely There Lips Work Best With Heavy Eye Make Up
‘I like lips to look ‘raw’ – pared back and toned down, especially if you have a lot going on with your eyes. Just apply a nourishing lip balm and massage it in with your fingertips before blotting off the excess with a tissue,’ said Hannah Murray who did the make up for the Topshop Unique show.
Try Nude With A Twist
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‘If you're intimidated by dark or bold polish but want something more than a simple nude nail, try an iridescent nude; something that mostly looks nude but when the light catches it gives a flash of shimmering and subtle colour. It's a more modern version of healthy, gorgeous nails,’ advised manicurist Marian Newman.
There Is A Way To Look Wide Awake Without Mascara
‘I haven’t picked up a mascara wand in London so far,’ the legend that is Val Garland also told us backstage at Mary Katrantzou. And she wasn’t wrong – nude lashes were everywhere. If you’re brave enough to give it a go follow Wendy Rowe’s lead who gave the Burberry models lashes a crimp with lash curlers so they still opened-up the eye area.
Long And Oval Is The New York Nail Shape Of Choice
‘Model’s nails are just being tidied up in London and that’s about it,’ Marian Newman told us backstage at Jonathan Sanders. ‘But if you want more of a ‘look’ however all the designers in New York were asking me for long and oval nails.’
And Here’s A Quick Tip For Making Nails Look Super Healthy
‘To make nails appear healthier and longer use a white nail pencil (Rimmel do one) under the free edge of your nails. Round-off the look with a neutral, pinky shade over the nails such at MAC’s Delicate,’ says Newman again.
It’s Worth Investing In A Brow Pencil
Lucia Pieroni – who created the boy meets girl androgynous look at Christopher Kane – insists it’ll change your face if you use a brow pencil to sketch in individual hairs and then set it with a brow gel. ‘It gives you a more natural, Brooke Shields-like, brow,’ she explained.
Do Eyeliner Without Poking Your Eye Out
‘Look straight ahead into the mirror and use your free hand to lift up your eyelid. Then sketch away. Don’t be tempted to look down into a mirror like you might with the liner going on to your lid, you’ll just end up poking yourself in the eye,’ Val Garland told us at Erdem about taking your eyeliner into your waterline to give the effect of denser lashes and definition.
You Can Make A Heavy Eye Shadow Work For Day, Too
Do you have favourite shade of eye shadow that’s relegated to ‘evening’ only looks that you wish desperately could be worn during the day too? ‘Then add a touch of liquid highlighter like Burberry Fresh Glow to a heavily pigmented eye shadow, which will sheer it out and allow it to move around easily on the lid,’ explains Burberry make-up artist. FYI: we watched this in action on Jourdan Dunn and can attest to this tip making even the most pigmented shade something washy and wearable.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.