Celebrities, fashionista and punters alike will gather at the annual Vodacom Durban July on Saturday. This is the biggest horse racing event in the country that brings together the cream of the entertainment and fashion industry. Guests will spend the day socialising and watching some of SA thoroughbred racing. The most important question of the day is who wore what? on the red carpet, where cameras will be flashing to record some of your fashionable outfits. From your outfit to your make-up look...the entire look must well put together.
Here are two looks that will work for almost any outfit or that can be transformed from day into the after party with a new simple tweaks.
Professional makeup artist Estelle Gordon from Sublime Studio who has been a makeup artist for 17 years created these two looks that will go with just about any stylish outfit.
Taking into consideration Durban’s humidity and “summer” weather in July, she drew inspiration from 2017 Spring/Summer makeup trends. The biggest trend being fresh glowing skin, a trend referred to as “wet”. This look allows your skin to shine through. A giant leap from matt full coverage makeup which looks and feels like you're wearing a mask. There’s a move away from extreme contouring to a more subtle natural look as well. Even the queen of contour, Kim Kardashian has toned down on the over contoured look and now opting for a more natural “glowing” look.
Natural eye with a pop of red is a classic look. (Pic Cindy Waxa)
LOOK ONE: Barely there with a pop of red
Before Estelle applied any makeup she prepped my skin by applying a phyto oil, Age Smart firming cream and Active Moist moisturizer from Dermatologica. This is the first and vital step to achieve the “wet” look. As well as making it look like I’ve had the best sleep and drink liters of water everyday (which I don’t)
Using a cream colour base illuminating cream she created additional glow before applying the concealer and foundation. Again using the foundation that she used was light in texture. Not full cover or matt. The same applies to the concealer used. Once a smooth and well blended foundation was applied she used a slightly darker tone to create subtle contouring.
EYES:
This look calls for a more natural eye. Using a warm tone over the whole lid and blending slightly darker colour in the creases. Using a dark brown pencil close to the top lash line and blend. Apply a few coats of mascara. Stick to the natural shape of your brows by simply filling them with a water resistant brow gel.
CHEEKS:
To enhance the glow use a bronze highlighter on your cheekbones and a subtle rose color blush on the apple of your cheeks.
LIPS:
To complete this look Estelle opted for a cherry red moisture rich lipstick.
Draw attention to your eyes with dramatic dark tones. (Pic Cindy Waxa)
LOOK TWO: Glam eyes with nude lips
For this look you can simply build on the first look. By removing the red lips and intensifying your eyes. Here the attention is on the eyes. The foundation for this look remains the same with dewy glowing skin with just a bit extra! Intensify the contouring (not to the extreme though) and add more highlighter.
EYES:
Building on the natural look created before go in with a darker more intense eye colour over the entire lid and into the crease. Then blend in a warm bronze tone from the crease up.
Bring the same dark shade below the lower lash. To deepen the colour more use a black pencil on the top and bottom lid, close to the lashes, as well as on the tear line. For ultimate glam this look wouldn’t be complete without a set of false eyelashes. Bearing in mind that it still needs to look fairly “natural” and not thick and heavy. Here you can darken the brow and create a more dramatic brow shape.
CHEEKS:
Besides adding more highlighter on the cheekbones a touch more blush is all you need.
LIPS:
The nude lip colour should be as close to your lip colour as possible. And in keeping with the glowing look you’re trying to achieve stay away from matt lipsticks.
Makeup artist Estelle Gordon accentuates Gerry's lips. (Pic Cindy Waxa)
Estelle Gordon is the in house makeup artist at Sublime Studio in Sunningdale, Cape Town. Email her at [email protected] for all your makeup needs. For more information about the salon visit their website at www.sublimebeautystudio.co.za