Mary’s make-up master class

When it comes to applying cosmetics there’s nothing make-up artist Mary Greenwell doesn’t know. With more than 20 years’ experience under her (tiny) belt, she has painted the faces of some of the most famous people in fashion and showbiz. Here, Mary gives her tips for achieving the perfect natural look for everyday wear:

¦ Brows – you want a clean, groomed line to increase the space between the eyelid and the brow-bone to make the eye seem wider. Never pluck from the top! Have it done professionally once then maintain it at home by checking every three days.

¦ Foundation – choose foundation based on the coverage you want and the texture you like. Test the colour on the side of the neck and blend it in, the right colour should ‘disappear’. With a tan, use a darker shade. Apply with your fingers and blend until the foundation has disappeared into the skin.

¦ Concealer – this is a very important part of any make-up routine. Apply liquid concealer under the eyes after foundation, take it down to the cheekbone then pat into the skin. Don’t sweep as you’ll just wipe it off. For very dark circles, a reflective concealer can be used first followed by

a regular one on top.

¦ Eyes – for the most natural look, stay with cream shadows in taupe and brown shades. People with blue eyes should not wear blue-toned eyeshadow as it will kill the colour in their eyes. The darker the skin tone, the warmer the colour should be for all make-up. Gold and bronze look particularly good on black and Asian skin.

¦ Eyeliner – black will give you more of a ‘look’ while brown will be softer. For a smudgy effect apply in short strokes right into the base of the lashes, feather it out towards the lashes and blend with the finger. Use liquid liner for a more defined shape.

¦ Mascara – use eyelash curlers to open the eye before applying mascara. To avoid clumping, wash an old wand and brush through the lashes after

application. Using mascara on the bottom lashes can make the eye look bigger – but beware, it can accentuate a downward turning eye.

¦ Blush – cream blushers are better for a natural day look. You should choose the colour that is closest to your skin tone and blend out and upwards from the apples of the cheeks.

¦ Lips – again, the colour should be chosen to most complemen When it comes to applying cosmetics there’s nothing make-up artist Mary Greenwell doesn’t know. With more than 20 years’ experience under her (tiny) belt, she has painted the faces of some of the most famous people in fashion and showbiz. Here, Mary gives her tips for achieving the perfect natural look for everyday wear:

¦ Brows – you want a clean, groomed line to increase the space between the eyelid and the brow-bone to make the eye seem wider. Never pluck from the top! Have it done professionally once then maintain it at home by checking every three days.

¦ Foundation – choose foundation based on the coverage you want and the texture you like. Test the colour on the side of the neck and blend it in, the right colour should ‘disappear’. With a tan, use a darker shade. Apply with your fingers and blend until the foundation has disappeared into the skin.

¦ Concealer – this is a very important part of any make-up routine. Apply liquid concealer under the eyes after foundation, take it down to the

cheekbone then pat into the skin. Don’t sweep as you’ll just wipe it off. For very dark circles, a reflective concealer can be used first followed by a regular one on top.

¦ Eyes – for the most natural look, stay with cream shadows in taupe and brown shades. People with blue eyes should not wear blue-toned eyeshadow as it will kill the colour in their eyes. The darker the skin tone, the warmer the colour should be for all make-up. Gold and bronze look particularly good on black and Asian skin.

¦ Eyeliner – black will give you more of a ‘look’ while brown will be softer. For a smudgy effect apply in short strokes right into the base of the lashes, feather it out towards the lashes and blend with the finger. Use liquid liner for a more defined shape.

¦ Mascara – use eyelash curlers to open the eye before applying mascara. To avoid clumping, wash an old wand and brush through the lashes after application. Using mascara on the bottom lashes can make the eye look bigger – but beware, it can accentuate a downward turning eye.

¦ Blush – cream blushers are better for a natural day look. You should choose the colour that is closest to your skin tone and blend out and upwards from the apples of the cheeks.

¦ Lips – again, the colour should be chosen to most complement the skin tone. Lips can be outlined for more definition, but for a natural look, simply apply a creamy lipstick or a gloss.