Singapore Fashion Week: Top beauty tips from NARS pro makeup artists

Want to look like a professional did your makeup? You’re going to want to read all the way till the end. This year, once again, I had the chance to go backstage at Singapore Fashion Week to pick up the best tips from NARS Global Makeup Artist and her team behind each look. Here’s what I learned.

Skin prep is non negotiable
“I spend at least half my time on skin,” says Jenny Smith, NARS Global Makeup Artist. Her favourite product to use before makeup? The NARSskin Multi-Action Hydrating Toner. “The toner preps any skin type, whether you’re dry, normal oily or dehydrated from travel,” Jenny tells me. Applied with a cotton pad it will remove dry patches, flakiness on the face, neck or even lips. And if you have any blemishes or breakouts from makeup and/or travelling it helps improve the texture of the skin.

A quick massage always helps
With so much focus on the skin, each girl was given a quick massage before makeup artists started on base makeup. The NARS Luminious Moisture Cream was massaged in to enhance blood circulation, wake up the complexion and bring back that natural glow – the kind you always have after a facial. According to Jenny, the massage also helps skincare absorb better, creating the perfect canvas for makeup.

Concealer is your hero
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer: the most used product backstage at Singapore Fashion Week. Not only was it blended in under the eyes to disguise dark circles, conceal blemishes and neutralise redness, it was also used to highlight and open up eyes (used two shades lighter than the model’s natural skin tone) as well as emphasise the shape of the lips thus eliminating the need for lip liner.

Ensure your eyeliner is not too perfect
For Jason Wu, artists created the perfectly imperfect graphic eyeliner – which seems to be a trend for Spring Summer 2018. The base was drawn in with Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner Via Veneto and worked into a rounded liner with brushes before being layered over with Black Valley Eye Paint. The idea to was to ensure it didn’t look too perfect or done, while still being graphic.

Don’t be afraid to use your fingers…
Inspired by the whimsical collection at Whole9Yards, skin was kept luminous and ethereal using the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation, blending it in with fingers. According to Jenny, the warmth from your fingers ensures the foundation blends easily allowing the skin to show through the makeup for a more natural finish that didn’t look too made up.

… but don’t discount your brushes either
Makeup artists working on models walking for Exhibit used large, fluffy brushes to emphasise cheekbones without making them look too sharp (Instagram makeup we’re looking at you). Using a kabuki brush, the Sun Wash Diffusing Bronzer in Laguna was blended into the cheeks. Next a highlighter was blended onto high points of the cheeks to further lift the angles of the face creating a contrast of light and shadow for an angular, androgynous look.

Press loose powder into the skin
Instead of lightly dusting loose powder on the face, artists were seen pressing Soft Velvet Loose Powder on to the T-zone with a puff. “The puff places the powder exactly where you want it and rolling it helps the powder become part of the skin minimising shine at the T-zone so only the outer perimeter of the face looks radiant,” explained Jenny.

Layer products for the desired finish
At Exhibit, Sorrento Kohliner was first smudged all over the eyelid to create a base for the shimmering bronzed copper shadow from Key Largo Duo Eyeshadow, over which a dab of shimmering champagne from Alhambra Duo Eyeshadow was added to the centre of the eye to create a 3D effect. To balance this luminous eye, Velvet Matte Pencil Get Off was first applied all over the lips followed by Sex Appeal blush to create the ultimate matte lip.

Get your eye cream to do double duty
With models removing makeup, sometimes in a rush, skin around the eyes and on the lips took a beating. Artists applied Total Replenishing Eye Cream around the eyes and the lips to soothe and prep the skin. Even if you don’t use the NARS eye cream, you can apply a teeny bit of your eye cream around the lip line to prevent wrinkling and lines around your lips.