A celebrity makeup artist, who has worked with the likes of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, has revealed his top five tips to keep your face looking good all day long.
Rupert Kingston, 46, from Marlow in Buckinghamshire, who is the co-founder of Delilah cosmetics, has been in the industry for nearly 20 years ago, and has worked in film, television and fashion.
Over the years he’s developed skills for creating stunning looks by working with everyone from top models and actresses to stars of the television and music business – including the likes of Yasmin Le Bon, Girls Aloud Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, Lorraine Kelly, Nell McAndrew and Katherine Jenkins.
However, his real passion is making these looks easy and wearable for all women and now, speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, he has shared his top hacks on keeping your makeup in place from day to evening.
Rupert Kingston, 46, from Marlow in Buckinghamshire, who is the co-founder of Delilah, has shared five tips to keep your makeup looking great, all day long. Pictured, stock image
WEAR LESS
This may seem counter-intuitive, but wear less. Most makeup formulations are not designed to be slathered on in heavy layers.
Often too much makeup in one area means that the product will shift around, either collecting in fine lines or just sliding straight off.
It’s better to apply products that are rich in pigments, in smaller amounts; a dab of concealer to the cheeks and forehead, a light sweep of a brightly coloured blusher, and a lip colour just dabbed on the lips will last longer and look more natural.
LOOK FOR ‘OPPOSITE’ PRODUCTS
Understand your skin type and pick the opposite formulation. DrIer skin types will benefit so much better from moisture rich formulations, cream blushers, liquid eye shadows and dewy foundations.
However, oily skin types should look for powder based products like compact bronzers, powder blushes and loose setting powders.
If the skin type and the makeup formulation are properly balanced, the makeup will look fresher and therefore last much longer.
LONG LIVE LONG WEAR
Don’t be scared of long-wear formulas. To avoid the dreaded panda eye, use long-wear waterproof eye liners and eyeshadows.
Our newly launched trio of Gel Liners for eye and brow are the perfect long lasting multi-taskers, with 24 hour staying power and incredible versatility.
That being said, I meet so many women who are concerned that if they use these types of products they won’t be able to get them off, but never fear!
Rupert Kingston (pictured) has worked with the likes of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell
The trick is to use an oil based eye make-up remover – these types of cleansers will gently melt the make-up away without any tugging or pulling at the sensitive skin around the eyes.
If you do this first you can then cleanse the skin as normal to remove any traces of the remaining oil.
However, I am still rather wary of “waterproof” mascaras – nothing seems to take them off and most mascaras these days are water resistant anyway, so you really shouldn’t need one.
KEEP OIL FOR BEDTIME
Try to save your richer, heavier moisturiser for bedtime, pick a lighter weight lotion to go under make-up. You are looking for something that feels like it is higher in water, not oil.
Try your moisturiser on the back of you hand. Does your hand look moist and smooth, or shiny and oily? if it is the latter, then that layer of oil is just going to interfere with your makeup.
If you are dry-skinned then look for foundations that will help give you the moisture you need, rather than rely on your morning moisturiser.
Among Rupert’s top tips include using a brush rather than fingers to apply foundation, to ensure it’s applied evenly. Pictured, stock image
Secondly, always use a primer. The idea that primer is ‘just another layer’ is a misconception. Skin care is absorbed into your skin, you don’t want your makeup to do the same thing.
Primer is the barrier that locks your skincare in, whilst lifting the makeup away from the skin. This will allow that make up to stay in place longer, meaning you will need less and it will look more natural.
BRUSH UP ON YOUR BRUSH SKILLS
Makeup applied with a brush will last longer. I know it is so convenient to use your fingers – it’s quicker and they are always at the end of your hand when you need them – but often the makeup is applied unevenly, with too much in some areas and not enough in others.
Makeup applied with a brush will apply more evenly over the face and last longer, this especially applies to creams and fluids like lipstick and foundation.