Oscar Night Beauty... The Romantic Look
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The romantic look was rife on the red carpet of last night’s 83rd Academy Awards. Over-the-top opulence was toned down at the Oscars in a favour of a more subdued form of femininity. Doe eyes, flushed cheeks and rosebud lips were the weapons of choice for the leading ladies, from starlets Mila Kunis and Scarlett Johansson to Hollywood heavyweights Halle Berry and Cate Blanchett.
The key to this look is light, illuminating colours and rosy hues – but remember to choose your colours according to you skintone. Anything too cool-toned will wash out warmer skin, while anything too warm-toned may not suit the very pale.
Start with a medium coverage foundation that will create a uniform complexion. I love the Clarins Instant Smooth Foundation <1.> for a velvety and diffused finish that still covers up flaws. Build up the coverage only where you need it – you want your natural skin to come through for this soft look. A gorgeous rosy blush is essential. Keep yours a little higher when applying it, sticking to the tops of the apples of the cheeks for a more girlish flush. Dior DiorBlush in Stawberry Sorbet <2.> is beautiful for warmer skin tones, whilst Paradise Glow <3.> is better suited to cooler skin.
Perfect the complexion with a light sweep of the Too Faced Absolutely Invisible Candlelight Powder <4.>, a soft-focus effect finisher with a golden-peachy tone that will illuminate the skin for a photofinish. Finish up with a touch of Givenchy Mister Bright in Dawnlight <5.> underneath the eyes, along the cheekbones, in the inner corner of the eye, and a final touch in the cupid’s bow of the lips.
For the eyes, the stars forwent the usual dark eye of big awards ceremonies and opted instead for more for a delicate version of the smoky eye – the Too Faced Naked Eye Palette <6.> is so perfect for this look. Start by smoothing Birthday Suit (matte taupe) all over the lid as a base. Next, buff Lap Dance (shimmer mauve) into the crease, with a touch of Like A Virgin (matte chocolate) along the lid. Highlight with a mix of Satin Sheets (shimmer pink) and In The Buff (matt champagne) to brighten and illuminate, and finish off with a few coats of Guerlain Le 2 Mascara <7.>, keeping lashes long and feathery for doe-eyed perfection.
Finish the look with a slick of Givenchy Rouge Interdit in Coral Shine <8.>, a shimmering lip colour with a gloss-like shine. The effect is subtle, understated and gorgeously feminine.