10 Game Changing Make-Up Tips

“Mastering your foundation for your particular skin texture and tone will make a massive difference,” says Sarah Laidlaw, make-up director at Priceline Pharmacy. “Evening-out skin tone, discolouration and spots will make you look fresh, awake and youthful.” Another tip is nailing good skin prep. “The better condition your skin is in, the smoother the surface will be for the foundation to sit on,” says Laidlaw, who recommends regular exfoliation and keeping skin well hydrated. Her other must-have is a primer. “It will soften the uneven appearance of pores and give a silky surface to apply make-up,” she says.

Sure, experiment, but keep in mind it’s usually best to focus your look on one facial feature. “If your eyes are your dominant feature, play them up; if your lips are a beautiful shape, then make them the feature,” says Laidlaw. Can’t decide? “Focus on [the feature] that complements your outfit,” suggests Laidlaw.

Make-up misfires often happen when we keep things the same. “Doing the same make-up look even though you’re dressing differently and have changed your hair colour is a common mistake,” says Liadlaw. “Make-up [should be an updated] accessory.”

Brightly coloured eyes are still a big trend. “If you’re game, coloured mascara can look incredible and bring out your eye colour,” says Laidlaw. If you prefer a more subtle approach, “try doing a ash of coloured mascara on the inner corner of the bottom lash line to add a colour pop,” adds Laidlaw. Or swap your black cat-eye for something bright. Try out the Rimmel London Wonder’Swipe 2-in-1 Liner for a poppy update on the classic look. These liners can be blended out for a sheer wash of colour, too.

There is nothing more striking than a stand-out lip. “One of my favourite trends now is using a pop of bright colour on lips worn alone with the rest of the face very minimal,” says Noni Smith, L’Oréal Paris make-up director for Australia.

When it comes to foundation, the pros encourage us to apply it sparingly. “One of the worst blunders is caking on too much foundation that is the wrong colour and stops at the jaw line,” says Smith. To keep things looking real, go for a new-gen formulation that glides onto skin for a natural fawlessness.

To get vibrant washes, you need to invest in a quality set of make-up brushes. “To get that beautiful wash of colour, [a good brush means] you don’t have to sit there and blend too much, it almost does all the work for you,” says Priscilla Ono, global make-up artist for Fenty Beauty.

Pink is known for its ability to make you look younger, so adopting this season’s blush trend makes good sense. “A hint of colour on the apples of the cheeks looks pretty, youthful and brings your face to life,” says Laidlaw. To apply it perfectly, keep your face relaxed, advises Laidlaw. “Applying product while your cheeks are lifted up in a smile means that when your face relaxes, that colour ends up halfway down to your chin,” she says.

“Don’t be afraid of using metallic,” says Ono. And don’t think you have to choose between matt and metallic. “You can mix your finishes,” explains Ono. “A matt eye and a metallic lip really makes that metallic lip pop.”

Brighten up your warm- weather look with a hit of citrus. When it comes to lids, “look for tones that complement your complexion and eye colour, so you don’t look washed out,” says Smith. Prefer to ease in? “Use a coloured liquid liner in a thin line to be subtly on trend.”

To get lash volume, boost what you have with “a good mascara and lash curler to make them look longer and thicker,” says Laidlaw.