Beauty for beginners “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and so there is no absolute right or wrong in make-up. If you’re feeling girlie, soft and romantic or sultry and sexy here are a few tips I have learned from some of the make-up artists I have worked with over the years.



Always start with clean skin and always remember to remove your make-up at the end of each day. Finding a foundation that perfectly matches your natural skin tone can sometimes be a difficult process; if in doubt get two foundations that are the nearest match, mix together in a saucer and apply little by little to your face with a sponge. Take your foundation to your eye-lids even if you intend to wear eye shadow on top. Pat powder, whether loose or pressed with a powder puff onto your skin.

Emphasis your eyes with eyeliner, and for the next eye-opener blend eye-shadow over your lids; Christian Dior, Estee Lauder and Yves Saint Laurent currently have some gorgeous shades in snappy chic little “palette” boxes. There are so many mascaras to choose from finding the right one for your individual look and needs can be daunting. For a natural look Maybelline Great Lash Mascara can be a good choice. Bourjois, L’Oreal, Lancome and Max Factor make great lengthening mascaras which add extension and volume and are immensely popular.

Don’t forget blusher – some make-up artists blend a cream blusher with their fingers onto cheekbones which looks fabulous when they do it but is quite difficult for the average woman at home to do without looking like a clown! So if you’re like me apply your blusher with a brush, building up little by little to create the effect you want. There are gorgeous shades of blusher on the market from pastel pinks and peach to healthy tone and tan colours.

But perhaps the sexiest item of make-up you’ll ever possess is lipstick. Whether it’s a pretty rose-bud mouth or sensual fuller pout you want your lipstick is your essential tool. Some people swear by outlining lips with a lip liner before filling them in with lipstick while others prefer to take the lipstick off with a lipbrush and apply that way. One tip I picked up was when applying lipstick apply vertically (up and down) on your lips as well as horizontally (from side to side.) There seems to be more choice and shades of what to put on your lips now than ever before, from Bourjois’s gorgeous lipgloss (like the popular Effet 3D Cosmic) to Christian Dior and Chanel’s classics to Max Factor’s Lipfinity which should stay on for hours!

For the finishing touch of chic and glamour beautifully manicured fingernails and pedicured toe nails are a must. There are some gorgeous colours to choose from and now the summer season is upon us summer shades to match your mood; from ocean blue to warm coral and bright orange. You can match your fingernails to your toe nails or match your toe nails to your shoes if you’re wearing sandals or peep-toes! A tip to keeping nail colour unchipped and vibrant is to coat each nail in a top coat of nail polish after applying your shade. O.P.I. have some wonderful nail colours you might want to check out!

And if all that sounds too complicated you can always opt for a tinted moisturiser with SPF protection, or sheer foundation also with SPF protection,(Clinique’s Almost Makeup range which provides subtle light coverage while protecting the skin from harmful environment is a good example), roll on some lip balm or gloss, coat your lashes with your favourite mascara and still look stunning.

Choosing the right make-up remover is just as important as choosing the right make-up. Most of the brands make their own cleansing wipes that remove your foundation, eye make-up and lipstick all in one; L’Oreal, Botanics, Olay etc but some people prefer to use cotton wool and bottles or tubes of cleanser with separate cleansers for eyes.

With sunlight, pollution, rushing around etc. most skin gets dehydrated and needs a moisturiser – finding the moisturiser that suits your needs can be a case of trial and error. Nivea have some superb moisturisers in either crème or lotion form as do L’Oreal and Clinique’s “Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion” which is quickly absorbed into the skin is a firm favourite with many women. There are moisturisers that simply hydrate the skin and moisturisers that claim to be anti-ageing as well, moisturisers for your face and separate ones for your body and again for your hands. And some that can be used on your face and body like Nivea Soft.

With allergies becoming more and more prevalent it’s worth remembering that anyone can develop an allergy to anything and an allergy to cosmetics is not to be sniffed at. Allergic reactions which cause hives (also sometimes called urticaria) is a serious skin reaction and you should stop using all your cosmetics at once if you suspect this and seek advice from your doctor. It is impossible to recommend a make-up brand that is best for allergy suffers as people are allergic to completely different things. The most common triggers of allergic reaction to cosmetics are perfume (fragrance) and lanolin. Allergy sufferers should be aware that while some make-up brands appear to claim to be “fragrance free” they are in fact not 100% fragrance free and you need to make enquiries before you buy.

The world of make-up and cosmetics can sometimes seem a bewildering place for some women, being bombarded with glossy images of perfect looking women and wonderful claims of what a cosmetic can do but don’t be put off. Whether it’s a pretty romantic look you wish to portray, a glamourous sex symbol allure, or chic working woman sophistication the right make-up can give you whatever style you want. And the best thing of all is you don’t have to own a million dollars to look a million dollars any more!

Ricki Crookes has worked as an actress in the film and television business throughout most of her life. She has appeared in numerous commercials which have been shown on television and cinemas world-wide. She has also worked as a model and been in many prestigious photo- shoots which have featured in magazines and bill-boards. In addition she has written articles for both newspapers and magazines and is an award winning poet.