The natural look…less is more

We all know that feeling, getting ready for a big night out, wanting to do something striking with your make up, a little bit more eyeliner there, a bit more blusher and then…bam! Staring you back in the face is a bride of Dracula, it’s too late though, you have to rush out and you spend the rest of the night tottering back and forth from the bathroom trying desperately to keep all the make up on your face in place.

Well there is a way to stop this problem and it’s easier than you think. My partner told me once that he thought I was more beautiful without make up on, what he didn’t know was that at the time I was wearing a combination of Nivea’s tinted moisturising cream (in natural of course!) on my face and No 7’s instant radiance concealer under my eyes as well as a slick of Clinque’s “Dreamy Pink” lipstick. He thought I was make up free at the time and being the cynic that I am, I proceeded to point out the truth. He just looked at me and smiled and that was when I realised what he meant. The usually dark streak of black under my eyes, the heavy brown eye shadow, the lashings of black mascara and the pink blusher were absent and it was true, I looked decidedly more healthy.

This is not to say that using make up to accentuate your features when you go out is not a good thing, but less is more. Everyone has a part of their face they like more than another (e.g. hate your thin lips but love your big eyes) but many decide to pile make up onto everything causing more harm than good. Men in fact find heavily made up women more intimidating than those that go for the natural look.

My message is, unless you are a skilled make up artist or happen to have the money to hire one, keep it simple where possible. Wear the make up that makes you feel good, don’t make it a chore to put it on and enjoy!