For quick blending, fingers work best; otherwise, use a foundation or concealer brush. In either case, start by placing the product on the back of your hand (it’s the cleanest part!) as a palette, then pick it up with your middle and index fingers and apply it. This helps avoid applying too much product directly to the skin – especially under your eyes.
Our brows and lashes thin over time, so adding definition helps provide structure to the face, in turn making us look more awake and lifted. Use a small, round, medium-density brush, like the e.l.f. Eye Crease brush, which pulls double duty, and a brow or eye shadow shade that matches your natural hair or brow colour (usually neutral-toned, like taupe, unless you’re a redhead). Tap the colour onto the arch first and then dab any light or sparse spots. We’re not looking for the perfect brow here; we’re looking for an illusion of lift and some definition. If you prefer, use an eyebrow pencil, like the Marcelle Nano Eyebrow Liner. It has a tiny tip to help mimic hairs and a spoolie brush on the end to comb through, soften and blend.
Next, use a lengthening, thickening mascara to open and define the eyes. Look for formulas like the Lancome Lash Idôle or L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original mascara.
For short or sparse lashes, use a mascara with a tiny brush like L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Original.
Nothing saves time (and space) like a multipurpose makeup stick that triples as a cheek tint, lip tint and eye shadow. These multi-tasking treats can be swiped directly onto the apples of the cheeks (below the middle of your eye and outwards), and blended until they melt into the skin. Likewise, you can use them on the eyelids and finally, the lips. Putting pink on your eyelid can seem a bit scary, but the rule is that pinks on the eye shouldn’t have too much red or purple. They should have a neutral undertone, like Brown. But it’s hard to go wrong because they are made and tested to work as all three and can just be sheered out by blending with your fingers. You’ll have a unified, chic look in seconds. Our top pick are ILIA Multi-Stick (12 shades, the universal one is Dear Ruby), NARS The Multiple Soft Blur Stick for Cheeks, Eyes and Lips (12 shades, universal is Dolce Vita) and e.l.f. Monochromatic Multi-Stick (7 shades, universal is Dazzling Peony).
A bit of coverage, some definition and a touch of colour will leave you looking fresh, awake and out the door in five minutes flat.
–Tana D’Amico
Canadian makeup guru Tana D’Amico joins The Zoomerist to share her secrets for enhancing your beauty at every age and stage.
Model photography, Gabor Jurina; creative director/producer, Tanya Watt; hair, Janet Jackson/P1M; makeup, Tana D’Amico; fashion stylist, Zeina Esmail/P1M; model, Mella/Spot 6. Amazon.ca (product); Getty Images (concealer swatch, eye pencil and mascara swoosh)
