Make-up marvel: Achieving professional perfection

Find out what international make-up artist Naima Zahin suggests to alleviate your daily woes

ISLAMABAD:

Anybody can dab on lipstick and foundation but to do so with perfection requires practical skill developed through either studying cosmetology, years of practice or both.

Naima Zahin, a professional Mac Pro make-up artist, has pursued an education in the field and has five years of experience under her belt. She has mega projects, such as the 13th IIFA Awards, to her credit and has done makeovers for Bollywood celebs the likes of Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Bipasha Basu. The Dubai-based artist shares with us some make-up tips and tricks that could help you achieve a picture-perfect look.

Want smooth and non-hairy skin?

Use downward brush strokes with your blusher brush to apply foundation. Applying it upwards will cause the tiny hair on your face to fuzz up and make the hair on your face prominent.

Read: 6 make-up trends to follow this fall

Want to apply mascara without making a mess?

All you need is a plastic spoon. Use the head of a plastic spoon to apply the mascara on your lower lashes without worrying about getting any under your eyes. As a bonus, it’ll also help you get thicker and fuller coats on.

Want to hide your dark circles?

Apply an orange corrector just under your eyes. Blend it with the foundation and poof! Dark circles no more! Also, to naturally lighten under-eye skin, apply lemon juice mixed with water, which will concentrate its stinginess.

Want bigger-looking eyes ala Twiggy?

Instead of black, apply white eye-pencil on your waterline and instantly get the large, alluring doe-eyes you want. This will give more depth to your eyes and make them pop out.

Want to rescue your dried up mascara?

Run the mascara wand under hot water until the water runs clear and then place it back in the tube. The heat will soften the mascara liquid. Keep turning the mascara brush in the bottle from time to time to keep it in liquid form.

Want cat eyes but don’t know how?

Apply scotch tape at the angle you’d like, and put your eyeliner on along the tape line. This will give your cat eye a neat edge. And voila, Angelina Jolie has competition!

Want curvy eye lashes that you can bat?

The answer is heat. Heat your lash curler with a hairdryer before curling your lashes, the curler will work in the same way as your curling iron for nicely curled up lashes. Also, bend your mascara wand for more volume.

Want to avoid looking like a ghost?

Test your foundation on the neck. When buying foundation, test on your neck, not on your face, jaw or the back of your hand. A shade too light for your skin tone would instantly appear grey on your neck. Buy a colour that matches your skin tone and blends into your skin when applied.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2015.

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