I haven’t worn makeup in so long that a glam party look throws me off balance. My default evening makeup is usually exactly the same as my daily makeup, with a little more eyeliner and an extra layer of mascara if there’s time. But I’m not sure if this is pleasant for my 50+ skin.
Considering that most of us have less than 10 minutes to apply our face, I wanted a lesson on how to do easy evening makeup that will make me look a little more attractive than usual and get me out the door without doing anything. My husband loses the plot while waiting in the car.
I enlisted the skills of British makeup artist and author Wendy Rowe, who has done makeup on everyone from Helen Mirren to Priyanka Chopra and has Victoria Beckham and Sienna Miller on speed dial when they want to look gorgeous on a magazine cover or on the red carpet. .
Rowe tells me: “There are really two easy party looks that are timeless, can be mastered relatively quickly, and will flatter most faces. The first is a red lip with lots of lashes, and the second is a relaxed, smokey eye.”
“The key to both looks is getting the skin right,” Rowe continues. “When people ask me for my best tip if you’re short on time, I say that even if you don’t have time to reapply your eye makeup, you should redo your complexion (skin tone). Great-looking skin will make an average makeup look look like a gorgeous one.
How to keep your skin looking flawless
“You probably don’t have time for a long massage, but even a quick two-minute de-puffing massage while cleansing or applying moisturizer (focus on the jawline) can make a difference,” says Rowe (she has some nice videos to follow on her website wendyrowe).
“If you have time, continue with a sheet mask. 111 Skin Cryo De-Puffing Face Masks work wonders and I always use them on people before a big event or shoot. They really make skin look better. They are also great if you have a rash because they are cooling. “You can always apply mascara while you wait for the mask to work,” adds Rowe.
111 Skin Cryo De Puffing Facial Mask, £20, selfridges; Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Matte Beauty Blush Wand, £30, Space NK
Rowe’s other trick is to contour and apply blush to moisturized skin before applying foundation. “I think doing it this way gives the skin a nicer, brighter look. It feels weird at first, but it makes skin look brighter,” says Rowe.
“When it comes to blush, apply it a little higher than you normally would, almost at the cheekbone. As we get older, the cheeks pull down a bit, so this is a good way to give the face a slight lift. Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Matte Beauty Blush Wand is good.
“Then blend the contour stick (apply to the cheekbone of the cheek and under the jawline) and blush into your skin with a large brush, and then apply your foundation and concealer to the exact areas you need. One of Rowe’s favorite foundations is Mac Studio Face and Body Foundation because it isn’t too heavy and doesn’t accentuate lines or wrinkles like most other foundations.
“Finish with a matte bronzer and a touch of highlighter, but don’t be tempted to use anything shimmery, as it will settle into lines and make you look older,” says Rowe. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream and Westman Atelier Lit Up Highlight Stick applied to the cheekbones give the skin a real glass-like clarity.
Westman Atelier Illuminated Highlight Stick, £44, Cult Beauty; Face and Body Foundation £38, Mac Studio; Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow bronzing cream, £46, john lewis
Three rules for the perfect red lipstick
“Finding the perfect shade of red is a bit of trial and error. “Matte red looks a little classier than bright red and requires less maintenance because you don’t have to constantly touch up,” says Rowe. For refillable lipstick brand La Bouche Rouge, she has created a red lipstick that will suit “almost everyone”, Makeup by Mario and Armani Beauty’ also has very good reds.
“Use lip liner before applying and remember that the lower lip is much fuller than the upper. The key to a great lip line is to smile with your mouth extended. Do not try to do it normally with your mouth as it will feel like a feather. I don’t think over priming is a good idea. Work with what you have, don’t try to make yourself do anything else; it would just look a little wrong.
“If you’re going to wear a red lip, you have to have it,” says Rowe. “You can’t just wear it and hope no one notices. You should be like, I’m wearing it and I feel great about it. Think Robert Palmer addicted to love video.”
La Bouche Rouge, £36, cult beauty; Mario’s Makeover, £30, sephora; Giorgio Armani Lip Power 400, £35, Boots
How to do easy smokey eye?
Rowe first applies mascara. “You can go all the way down to the lash line, and if you’re a little messy with application, it doesn’t matter if you put shadow on top of it. As you get older, use a lighter mascara to make your eyes look as wide as possible. “Volumizing mascaras can make eyes look smaller, which is the opposite of what we want.” Max Factor 2000 Calorie Waterproof Mascara is great.
“Use a cream-textured eyeshadow as it will not settle into lines after a certain age. Victoria Beckham has some beautiful taupes. Just apply all over the eye socket and eyelid. It’s that easy. Then, apply darker chocolate-colored powder eye shadow only to the outer corners to give the impression of larger eyes. Chanel Les Beiges eyeshadow palettes are my favorite and have gorgeous chocolate shades. You can blend it with a small brush to get a shiny look, but remember to blend it from the corner of the eyes upwards to avoid pulling the eyes down.
Max Factor 200 Calorie Waterproof Mascara, £9.99, super drug; Les Beiges eyeshadow palettes, £53, chanel
“As you get older, be careful when using eyeliner because it can be too harsh. “You want everything to look soft without any harsh lines,” says Rowe, who decided not to use any eyeliner on me.
“Most importantly, don’t try to put glitter in your eyes (or anywhere else on your face). It will fall into wrinkles and a few more years will be added. Wet-look, shiny eyeshadow is a stylish alternative. Surratt Cover Lacquers are amazing and super easy to apply.
“And try to keep your eyebrows from looking too arched like we did in the 1980s. Use an eyebrow pencil to make them look a little straighter. “He will look younger.” Anastasia Beverly Hills Eyebrow Pencil has a pretty good color selection.
Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz Caramel eyebrow pencil, £18.40, Look Great; Surratt Lid Polish in Hadaka, £35, Space NK
Three tips for party hair
Hairstylist Neil Moodie, who frequently works with Rowe on celebrity shoots and at his east London salon, says if your hair is long enough, it’s quick and easy to create a high ponytail with some volume towards the back of the crown. The style to accompany a red lip. “Apply hairspray directly to your hairbrush as you brush your hair into a ponytail. And follow the line of your cheekbones to where you will rest the ponytail at the back of your head. It can also create some lift to the face.
“Depending on your style, ‘undoing’ your hair a little can look more youthful than looking too polished. “French women are very good at this relaxed style and it can also work with a smokey eye as you don’t want everything to look too perfect.”
If you don’t have time for a blow-dry, spray hair at the roots with blow-dry spray (try Sundaze Sea Salt Spray for a tousled, relaxed look, or Save the Do for a shinier look, both from Hair by Sam) Apply to McKnight and taper. To provide a rapid increase in volume in the hair, dry it with a round brush or your fingers with a blow dryer.
Sam McKnight Blow Dry Save Style, £26, Sephora; Sundaze Sea Salt Spray, £26, Sephora