Great tricks and tips from a make-up pro.
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| PHOTO COURTESY OF CINDY NG |
“I want to be able to impact people with creativity in make-up,” says Cindy Ng, 37, on why she began giving make-up classes.
An administrator for the School of Theology for the past 10 years, Ng took up make-up as a sideline “to show that full-time staff can do something different. My passion is to help empower individuals with make-up.”
Ng believes that make-up is essential for a lady, not just for her professional life but relationship-wise too. “I have had clients, who, after going for my workshops, tell me that their husbands complimented them.” The make-up tutorials help ladies feel better and more confident about themselves.
Using a Mandarin idiom, she chuckled, “On Earth there are no ugly women, only lazy women.”
Today, apart from her role as administrator, Ng is also a freelance make-up artist, giving workshops and helping out at events such as Mrs Singapore and a photo shoot for online women’s portal Nanzinc.Com. The make-up maestro shares tips on how to look your best throughout the entire day.
1) How to achieve perfect, dewy-looking skin
You need moisturizer, make-up base and foundation. Always moisturize your face first. Then use a good make-up base that will even out your skintone. Follow up by applying foundation, then blend well by using a make-up sponge. Be sure to get the right colour that matches your skin tone. Avoid using two-way foundation as it clogs pores easily. Liquid foundation and loose or pressed powder gives a more natural and flawless look.
2) Picking the right concealer
Two things to note about your concealer: It should be one tone lighter than your liquid foundation. It should be smooth in texture so that it will not appear “cakey”. If so, it means it is too dry and make lines more obvious.
3) How to hide pimples
Besides using concealer, try a make-up base with a tinge of green to cover the redness from pimples or acne.
4) Get the perfect eyebrows
Your eyebrows should enhance your features and reflect your personality. Be sure to have your brows professionally shaped, then maintain it by filling in with eyebrow pencils or trimming it yourself.
5) How to use blusher the right way
Blusher can help enhance your cheekbones if used the right way.
Dos and don’ts of blusher: If you have oily skin, avoid blusher with a creamy texture.
Women with fairer skin should use blush with a tinge of pink.
Younger women can play around with different textures and colours of blusher.
For easier application, powder blush is better and more subtle.
6) Achieving eyes that look larger and more lively
There are three musts for every girl: eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara.
Eyeliner helps define your eyes and make your eyes look larger. Always remember to draw as close as possible to your lash-line.
Eyeshadow can help your eyes stand out. Earth tones such as beige or brown are more natural and suitable for daily wear at work or leisure. For a more lively look, apply light shimmer eyeshadow to the inner corner of the eyes.
Tan or dark skin looks better in warm or golden hues while fair skin looks better in cool hues like blue or purple. Or mix up the colours, for example dark blue or purple with gold. It also depends on the clothes you are wearing.
Eyelashes. Curling your lashes is extremely important if you want to make your eyes “pop”. Use false eyelashes for a more dramatic effect as they can do wonders.
7) How to touch up your make-up in the middle of the day and remain looking fresh
Firstly, avoid using face blotters. They strip off too much natural moisture from the face and once your face is dehydrated, your face produces more moisture. In the long run, your face becomes oilier.
For a quick touch up, just tissue off the shine. Apply pressed powder and a few strokes of blusher. Re-apply mascara and curl your eyelashes again if necessary.
Top 5 Make-up Mistakes
1) Choosing the wrong colour tone for liquid foundation. Many choose colours that are either too fair or too dark.
2) Wearing too much: There should only be one focal point. For example, if you have strong make-up on your eyes, be subtle on the lips. You don’t want to look like a geisha.
3) Wearing too little: Unless you have Gong Li’s complexion and killer features, the “nude” look would not work for you. Most women need to wear at least eyeshadow.
4) Eyeliner not drawn close enough to your lashes resulting in a white line of skin showing–a big no-no.
5) Instead of using make-up brushes, many ladies use their fingers. However, brushes can give a more defined, polished look.
