If there’s anything that can rectify a dull complexion in 30 seconds flat, it’s a slick of unashamedly bold, red lipstick. It’s a trick often used on the red carpet: for the premiere of her new film Maria in New York on Sunday evening, 49-year-old Angelina Jolie donned a bold red lip with an elegant, pleated silk white dress.
There is no better time of the year to wear a bold lipstick than right now, as the days get darker and gloomier. “This is the point in the year we tend to lose any hint of summer tan so we need something to perk our complexions up,” explains make-up artist Ruby Hammer, who at 62 years-old is a red lipstick devotee herself.
But it’s not just red lipstick which will enliven your look for autumn. Here, Hammer shares the secrets to great autumnal make-up she uses on herself (as well as her largely midlife clientele) for a simple but impactful autumn update:
Switch to a bolder colour lipstick
“There are so many new lipsticks that make matte textures comfortable to wear,” explains Hammer. She likes classic reds from Mac including Ruby Woo and Lady Danger, which are both statement colours. “And of course they look good with a trench coat and a big scarf,” she adds.
But red lipstick isn’t for everyone. If you don’t want to commit to a red for autumn, Hammer suggests trying a terracotta shade as an alternative. “These brown-y tones remind me of when I would wear them in the 80s, but they are really modern again now,” she says. Try the Explicit Lipstick in Body Heat by Nars, which is a creamy, long-lasting formula.
Ruby Woo, £25, Mac; Explicit Lipstick in Body Heat, £34, Nars
A simple eye look
Good eye make-up doesn’t always have to mean a smokey eye using a multitude of eyeshadows. Who really has the time? The best – and quickest – way to add dimension and shape to your eyes is “with a shade of cream eyeshadow one or two tones darker than your eyelid blended in with a brush or your ring finger,” says Hammer. One of the best around is the new Liquid Silk Eyeshadows by Lisa Eldridge.
Another way to add subtle focus to your eyes – which pairs really well with a red lip, in fact – is with the make-up artist trick of “tightlining.” This means taking a micro eyeliner pencil and running it along the upper waterline (lifting your lid up with a finger on the opposite hand you use the eyeliner helps). “This makes the base of your eyelashes look thicker without wearing too much make-up,” says Hammer. Try Ruby’s 1.7mm Precision Eyeliner Pencil and finish with a couple of coats of mascara.
Lisa Eldridge Liquid Silk Eyeshadows, £26, Lisa Eldridge; Ruby’s 1.7mm Precision Eyeliner Pencil, £18, Ruby Hammer
Add a cream blush
“The beauty of a cream blusher is it instantly makes your skin look glowy and healthy,” explains Hammer. While our complexion can often look dehydrated or lacklustre as the temperature drops, opting for cream products helps to inject some moisture back into the skin.
“Add a little smudge of blusher onto the apples of your cheeks and blend with your fingers,” she advises. Try Ruby’s Cheek Colour in Red, which seems to suit every single complexion, or if you prefer a pink or coral shade another favourite is the Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Blush in Coral Crush.
Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Blush in Coral Crush, £13.50, Superdrug; Ruby’s Cheek Colour in Red, £24, Ruby Hammer
Complexion switch-ups
The summer months see a slew of glowy foundations and barely-there BB creams and CC creams that promise dewy skin. But in the autumn, Hammer favours a hybrid skincare-concealer to cover any dark circles or redness, layered with a traditional powder which “immediately made the skin look more polished,” she points out.
For concealer, try the new True Match Concealer Serum by L’Oreal Paris, which is immediately hydrating (it’s so creamy it feels like an eye cream with coverage). On top, try layering an ultra fine-milled powder such as the Airbrushed Pressed Powder by Hourglass which looks like nothing on the skin but makes your complexion appear flawless.
Hourglass Airbrushed Pressed Powder, £57, Cult Beauty; L’Oreal Paris True Match Concealer Serum, £8.79 (reduced from £10.99), Boots
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