Guest Blog for International Women's Day - the amazing makeup artist Caroline Barnes shares with us her favourite makeup does and don'ts
Today as part of International Women’s Day I am handing my blog over to the amazing Caroline Barnes.
Hi everyone, I am Caroline, a Makeup Artist, based in Nottingham, East Midlands.
Originally from France, I now live in the UK with my husband and two daughters.
FROM PASSION TO ACTION
My passion for makeup began at an early age when I would watch my mum and older sister apply theirs. I found it fascinating how they elegantly adapted their look for any occasion.
Once I learnt how to transform myself in the same way - and felt the phenomenal confidence boost the right makeup gives you - I knew I wanted to help other people experience it.
WHAT DO I DO?
After working for over 10 years for the makeup brand MAC Cosmetics, I decided to fly solo.
I offer a variety of makeup services, including bridal, special occasions and photography.
I also offer one-to-one makeup lessons, online makeup lessons for both individuals and groups
My aim is to work with you – catering to your individual taste – to create a flawless, unique look so that you feel comfortable and confident ahead of your special occasion.
I believe all women are pretty without makeup - but with the right makeup can be pretty powerful!
FEW DO’S AND DON’TS
Makeup offers fun and beautiful way to express yourself, but when you’re a beginner, the whole prospect of “doing your makeup” can feel intimidating.
Below, I have listed a few beginner-friendly tips that guarantee to improve your makeup application.
Don’t buy lots of products.
The last thing you need to do when you are new to the world of makeup is, go out and invest a huge amount of money in products. You’ll feel overwhelmed and unsure how to use it all. Start small, see what is your area of concern on your face and also your favourite part. Mine are my eyes so I love a good mascara to make them pop.
Don’t use dirty brushes to apply your makeup.
It’s easy to neglect makeup brushes. Unless you schedule a time each week to clean them, you’ll never even think about your makeup brushes until it’s time to apply your products. But, using dirty makeup brushes can introduce bacteria to your skin. Eww.
Instead of taking the risk, set aside time on the weekend to wash your brushes.
You can either use a brush cleanser, they are usually anti-bacterial and dry pretty quickly but don't clean in depth. Great for a quick fix. Otherwise use some washing up liquid, warm water and clean them in the palm of your hand. After rinsing, make sure they dry flat. This will take time to dry.
Don’t sleep in your makeup
At the end of the day, when you’re tired, it can be pretty tempting to simply fall asleep in your makeup. You think, ``I haven’t got much on today!” But resist the temptation. Not only can sleeping in makeup clog pores, it can actually make them bigger!
Makeup can stretch pores while settling into them. It can also dry your skin out. I advise you to take your makeup off with a makeup remover and then clean your skin with a face cleanser. It is the best way to get rid of everything. Reapply some moisturiser afterwards.
Do apply concealer after foundation.
One of the questions I get asked a lot! Do I need to apply my concealer before or after my foundation?
When you have dark circles under your eyes, minor blemishes, or redness, a concealer is your best friend. However, a common mistake is to apply concealer first before applying foundation. That’s not the most effective strategy. When you apply foundation first, it can actually cancel out a lot of the unevenness or discolouration in your skin. Then, you can top it off with a little bit of concealer to ensure full coverage where it is needed. Doing it in this order can save more of your concealer, too.
Do buy cruelty-free, non-toxic cosmetics
Did you know that the average woman uses between 12/16 beauty products every day? Whenever possible, buy cruelty-free, non-toxic beauty products. You owe it to your skin and the planet to be as responsible as possible with your purchases.
A common sign to look for is the Leaping Bunny logo. It means that the company is free from animal testing and comply with the Leaping Bunny certification criteria.
Thankfully more and more brands are making the change.
DISCOUNT
If you are looking to buy some makeup, www.lookfantastic.com is a great website where you can find hundreds of products and brands. As an affiliate of this website, I can offer you a 20% discount on many different products. All you have to do is enter the code LFTFCAROLINEB at the checkout.
It would be great to keep in contact on social media. Keep an eye out for makeup advice, professional tips and regular updates on my website, Instagram and Facebook pages. Here are the links to follow.
“Cultivate your Je sais quoi!”
A bientôt!
Caroline x
Caroline Barnes - Makeup Artist
Find me on: www.caroline-barnes.com
Instagram : @carolinebarnesmua
Facebook: @carolinebarnesmua