Focus on skin care, then makeup
By MARYLIN JOHNSON
Cox News Service
Sunday, November 13, 2005
ATLANTA — Gina Brooke often wears a headlight attached to a headband when she applies makeup. It helps her to see every pore and tiny imperfection in a client's complexion.
"The most important part of a woman's beauty routine is to take care of her skin," said Brooke, artistic director for the Tokyo-based cosmetics company Shu Uemura (pronounced shoe-ooo-eh-moora). "No matter which brand of cosmetics she uses, her makeup won't be beautiful without beautiful skin."
Brooke shares this philosophy with company founder Shu Uemura. In the '60s, he developed the line while working in Hollywood as a makeup artist. His first product, High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil, is a makeup remover and cleanser that's still a favorite of celebrities.
Entertainers Madonna and Eva Longoria are fans of Shu Uemura, said Brooke, who visited Saks Fifth Avenue in Phipps Plaza in Atlanta recently to launch the brand's in-store boutique, which is exclusive in the city.
The artist favors clean yet sophisticated makeup, and she sat down with Style to discuss do's and don'ts.
What you should do
All women, including Madonna, have periods when skin is dry and dehydrated. Hydrate skin from the inside by drinking plenty of water. On the face, apply a moisturizer with a nylon brush, not fingertips, which have oil in them.
"With foundation, I like to go light. If I do go heavier - to cover up redness or imperfections - I make certain the foundation matches the skin tone of the neck. Women often forget that foundation must go beyond the jaw line. If not, you look as if you are wearing a mask."
At home, always apply makeup by a window, to see how you look in natural light.
For dark circles, cover them with a concealer, then take a pink or peach blush and apply to the apples of your cheeks. That counters the dark circles.
Avoid, avoid, avoid
Don't wear lipstick that's too dark. It weighs down the face.
People often get "blush happy," which takes over the look of the face. The shade should be subtle.
Older women should not wear frosted eye shadows. They simply enhance wrinkles.
Curling lashes is an effective way to accentuate the eyes. Shu Uemura has just introduced a hypo-allergenic, 24-karat gold version of its curler that's been around for 15 years. It's designed with a wide shape to suit all eyes.
If you have small eyes, do not line the inner part of your eye with liner. It just makes them look smaller. To open up the eye, make a side V in the corner of the eye with a highlight pencil in a pink, gold or silver color.
Many women over-tweeze their eyebrows, which makes them look older. Always clean up the brow line from below. Or better yet, get an eyebrow arch from a makeup artist.
Mix colors and use products interchangeably. For softer, more natural brows, use an eye shadow instead of an eye pencil. Use concealer as a foundation. "On photo shoots - and you can use this for evening looks - I add a small amount of Shu Uemura's Cleansing Oil to a model's cheekbones to create a dewy look and a small amount on eyelids, which gives a dramatic wet look."
Marylin Johnson writes for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
By MARYLIN JOHNSON
Cox News Service
Sunday, November 13, 2005
ATLANTA — Gina Brooke often wears a headlight attached to a headband when she applies makeup. It helps her to see every pore and tiny imperfection in a client's complexion.
"The most important part of a woman's beauty routine is to take care of her skin," said Brooke, artistic director for the Tokyo-based cosmetics company Shu Uemura (pronounced shoe-ooo-eh-moora). "No matter which brand of cosmetics she uses, her makeup won't be beautiful without beautiful skin."
Brooke shares this philosophy with company founder Shu Uemura. In the '60s, he developed the line while working in Hollywood as a makeup artist. His first product, High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil, is a makeup remover and cleanser that's still a favorite of celebrities.
Entertainers Madonna and Eva Longoria are fans of Shu Uemura, said Brooke, who visited Saks Fifth Avenue in Phipps Plaza in Atlanta recently to launch the brand's in-store boutique, which is exclusive in the city.
The artist favors clean yet sophisticated makeup, and she sat down with Style to discuss do's and don'ts.
What you should do
All women, including Madonna, have periods when skin is dry and dehydrated. Hydrate skin from the inside by drinking plenty of water. On the face, apply a moisturizer with a nylon brush, not fingertips, which have oil in them.
"With foundation, I like to go light. If I do go heavier - to cover up redness or imperfections - I make certain the foundation matches the skin tone of the neck. Women often forget that foundation must go beyond the jaw line. If not, you look as if you are wearing a mask."
At home, always apply makeup by a window, to see how you look in natural light.
For dark circles, cover them with a concealer, then take a pink or peach blush and apply to the apples of your cheeks. That counters the dark circles.
Avoid, avoid, avoid
Don't wear lipstick that's too dark. It weighs down the face.
People often get "blush happy," which takes over the look of the face. The shade should be subtle.
Older women should not wear frosted eye shadows. They simply enhance wrinkles.
Curling lashes is an effective way to accentuate the eyes. Shu Uemura has just introduced a hypo-allergenic, 24-karat gold version of its curler that's been around for 15 years. It's designed with a wide shape to suit all eyes.
If you have small eyes, do not line the inner part of your eye with liner. It just makes them look smaller. To open up the eye, make a side V in the corner of the eye with a highlight pencil in a pink, gold or silver color.
Many women over-tweeze their eyebrows, which makes them look older. Always clean up the brow line from below. Or better yet, get an eyebrow arch from a makeup artist.
Mix colors and use products interchangeably. For softer, more natural brows, use an eye shadow instead of an eye pencil. Use concealer as a foundation. "On photo shoots - and you can use this for evening looks - I add a small amount of Shu Uemura's Cleansing Oil to a model's cheekbones to create a dewy look and a small amount on eyelids, which gives a dramatic wet look."
Marylin Johnson writes for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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