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 | I'm having real trouble finding cosmetics to go with my hair colour. As a redhead, my face often has a red tinge to it. However, if I use ivory foundation, I just end up looking like a ghost. Also, I have my Year 12 formal coming up and I want to get a good idea on what colour make-up I should use and how dark I can go. My dress is a light purple/blue satin. |
 | First of all, it's always best to make sure your cosmetics complement your features and skin-tone rather than match your clothes. So let's go through some tips for your skin type, including evening versions of your best looks.
Firstly, base ... You're right about pale make-up — if you pack too much on, you'll just look like Casper. Sheer is always the most modern way to go with base if you can get away with it. Obviously you need a little more help — but instead of trying thicker bases, try mixing a green colour-correcting cream into your foundation (Physicians Formula has some good picks — find them nationally at David Jones and pharmacies). I'd suggest you practice with this look — and in good natural light. Because, if you go too heavy-handed with the green, you'll just end up looking seasick. If your redness is just localised on, say, your cheeks, simply blend the cream in to neutralise the discolouration, then follow with your base.
Next, blush. You need to add colour back into your face because you've just taken it all out with your base work. Your best cheek hue would be a pink — but one that's more dusky and natural rather than candy. (Check out the Tommy Hilfiger powder blush shades or the Maybelline cream stick ones). You only want a light wash of colour, so either use your fingertips (for a cream colour) or a large rounded-tipped brush (for a powder) and work your blush into your apples (the bits that pop out when you smile) until you get a natural-looking flush.
Now, colour… As a general rule, it's best to go tonal — that means soft shades on your eyes and lips, rather than concentrating a heavy hue on just one feature. Again, as with blush, dusky, earthy and natural hues are your best bets — warm mocha, pale plum or soft slate shadows, chocolate eye pencil and mascara, musky-nude or slightly spicy lipsticks.
But, for an evening look, you can go a little stronger — but not too much, because you don't want anything that will look harsh against your delicate features. What I'd suggest is either going up a shade in intensity with your eyes (say, add another coat of soft charcoal for a subtly smoky look) or else a bit spicier with your lipstick (to a warm, almost reddish shade). Talking of red lipstick, redheads often wrongly believe they can't wear a red. But it can look amazing. The key: a warm-toned red, not a cool blue-ish or pink-ish tone. One great redhead-friendly red lipstick: MAC Dubonnet. |
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