Christina Sikalias spills her industry secrets – and how to hide dark circles

A celebrity makeup artist who has worked with some of the world’s biggest names across Australia, Milan and Los Angeles has shared her top industry secrets for a flawless face.

Christina Sikalias, a 29-year-old from Melbourne, taught herself makeup artistry after falling in love with the power of products to highlight a client’s best features. 

Her talent was quickly noticed and she gained international recognition as a member of the NYX Awards judging panel in 2016 and in 2020 was nominated as Beauty Influencer of the Year. 

Now the glamorous beauty professional, who has done makeup for the likes of Paris Hilton and Eva Longoria, has launched a new collection, Luce Del Sole as part of her beauty line.

‘I don’t just want the product to look good; I need each product in my range to perform exceptionally, feel great on the skin and be at the forefront of the beauty industry,’ she said. 

Here she shares her top pieces of advice with FEMAIL – from her favourite eye cream to always using two shades when filling in eyebrows.  

‘I don’t just want the product to look good; I need each product in my range to perform exceptionally, feel great on the skin and be at the forefront of the beauty industry,’ she said

INVEST IN A HIGH QUALITY EYE CREAM 

A good eye cream is important because you never want your concealer to settle into fine lines; I like the Kiehls Avocado Eye Cream ($50). 

You should always put on a really thick eye cream at night to de-puff and keep everything hydrated since the skin around our eyes is thinner, more delicate and holds less moisture at once, so you want the cream to sit there and soak in.

USE TWO SHADES FOR PERFECT BROWS 

Fill in brows using two different shades of eyebrow pencil, one two shades lighter and one two shades darker. 

Use the darker shade to fill in the outer brows starting at the arch for a more lifted look and the lighter pencil to fill in the inner brows, so they look softer and more natural.

Fill in brows using two different shades of eyebrow pencil, one two shades lighter and one two shades darker (Martha Kalifatidis seen with two shades making up her brows)

PAUSE AFTER CONCEALER TO HIDE DARK CIRCLES 

For the best coverage, the trick is to wait a full five minutes for the concealer to thicken and set a bit and then blend it out. 

If you blend it out too soon, the concealer will sheer out too much.

COVER SCARS WITH TEXTURE 

When it comes to covering texture, steer clear from using dewy, luminous foundations and powders all over your face, since these exaggerate scarring and emphasise the texture of your skin. 

You want to keep the skin looking matte. Makeup products that create a matte finish will visually soften and smooth the texture of your skin.

LOCK IN YOUR LOOK WITH A MIST 

I like using a lightweight mist like the Chanel Hydra Beauty Essence Mist to help rehydrate the face after applying makeup. 

It also really helps the makeup sink into the skin and makes it look less powdery, more vibrant and gives the skin more of a natural finish.

I like using a lightweight mist like the Chanel Hydra Beauty Essence Mist to help rehydrate the face after applying makeup

MAKE LIPS LOOK FULLER WITH SHIMMER FLECKS  

For a temporary boost in volume, the Christina Sikalias Luce Del Sole Lip Gloss ($39.95) is infused with ingredients like Jojoba wax and Pomegranate flower extract.

These  hydrate and increase lip volume, giving the lip area a naturally firmer and fuller look. 

You’ll get instant visibly fuller lips because shimmer-flecked glosses make lips look plumper by picking up and reflecting natural light.

For a temporary boost in volume, the Christina Sikalias Luce Del Sole Lip Gloss ($39.95) is infused with ingredients like Jojoba wax and Pomegranate flower extract