5 Tips For Flawless, Long Lasting Make Up By Amee Harvey

Instagram is a wonderful platform. This is where I met Amee – an amazing makeup artist and a mum of two. She also did my makeup for the Kenzina Plumping Lip Mask launch party, and what a fantastic job she did! Here are five tips from Amee on how to make your makeup flawless and long lasting!

1.Skincare

Preparing your skin prior to makeup application is the most important step. If you aren’t using the right skin care products and routine for your skin type, your makeup won’t perform.

Start with a cleanser suitable for your skin type, followed by a toner. A toner increases the absorption of moisturisers/serums and balances your skin’s pH after cleansing. SPF day cream is a must every day! By itself or under makeup. Use a suitable SPF day cream to protect your skin from harmful UV rays and to help hydrate.

Your evening skin care routine should be concentrated and nourishing – a beauty serum or beauty oil I recommend for all skin types (yes even oily skin types will benefit from a facial oil!). Night creams I recommend only for dry to very dry skin types, for deep moisturising and hydration.

I don’t use a ‘face primer’ prior to makeup application – by using the right skin care products, you are ‘priming’ the skin for any products to follow (like tinted moisturiser or foundation) and in my professional experience, I have never seen makeup perform differently by using a ‘face primer’.

Hero products for all skin types:

Mokosh Hydrosol Toner

Mokosh Facial Cleanser, Exfoliator and Mask

Mokosh Beauty serum

Normal/Dry skin day cream: Mecca Cosmetica

To Save Face SPF30+ Combination/oily skin day cream: Rachael Ranger Skin Shield SPF30+

Don’t forget your Kenzina Products as part of your skin care routine!

2.Brushes

To achieve flawless makeup, you need the right tools for the job! Use fluffy eye brushes for blending eye shadows to diffuse any harsh lines and an angled fluffy brush for blush application. Apply foundation with a dense, buffing/kabuki style brush for airbrush results.

Are your brushes clean? You can’t expect flawless results if you are not keeping your tools clean! Deep clean your foundation brush and liquid product brushes after every use, otherwise you are applying old, bacteria-filled product back on to your face – your base will appear cakey, it won’t last all day and causes skin congestion. You can use shampoo or sard wonder soap for deep cleaning brushes. I use and recommend Jessica Ann Brush Set and Express Brush Cleaning Mat.

3.Base

Use a foundation or tinted moisturiser formula that is suitable for your skin type and your desired coverage. I apply a tinted moisturiser for everyday wear and use a medium/full coverage foundation for events and evenings out. Using a dense buffing/kabuki style brush, apply product to your nose and under eye area first and blend outwards.

Top tip: Make your own tinted moisturiser! Mix a little foundation with your day cream.

Foundation I use and recommend: Dry Skin: Nars All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation

Normal/Mature skin: Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter

Oily Skin: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place SPF10

4.Setting spray

A setting spray does exactly what is says – finishes and sets your makeup in place for extended flawless wear. No frills just look specifically for a setting spray, not a makeup mist or hydrating spay product.

I use and recommend Mecca Life Proof Setting Spray

5.Eye shadow primer

An eye shadow primer is essential to enhance your eyeshadow pigment, stop eyeshadow from creasing and keeping your eyeshadow in place. Apply a tiny amount of product to your finger or a dense eye shadow brush and apply in a sweeping motion across your eye lids and along your brow bone. Set with a neutral tone eye shadow. I use and recommend Too Faced Shadow Insurance