Professional Beauty Tips and Tricks

I’ve been lucky enough to work with some amazing makeup artists and beauty experts over the years – and along the way, I’ve picked up some really useful tips and tricks. From applying eyeliner, to perfect cleansing, to extending a manicure when I’m feeling lazy, I thought some of my favourite pieces of advice would come in handy for you too…

Tip 1 – Apply liquid eyeliner
Applying liquid eyeliner to your upper lash line takes a lot of practice, confidence, and a steady hand. I was never very good at it until a makeup artist taught me to take it slowly. It doesn’t need to be done in one sweeping hand movement – it can be a series of smaller lines, which you join together to define the lash line. I usually take it in four or five stages, which gives a much smoother result that when I try (and fail) to do it in one.
Tool: Dior Style Liner, £20.43.

Tip 2 – Double Cleanse
I was told about the benefits of ‘double cleansing’ a few years ago and decided to give it a go. It simply means that you cleanse once, then cleanse again. The first cleanse gets rid of the makeup, dirt and grime – and the second cleanses the skin underneath. If you use cotton wool to cleanse, you’ll notice that the second cleanse is still removing a lot of dirt – and if you’d stopped at the first, that would have stayed there all night / night. My skin looks fresher, brighter, and clearer since I started double cleansing. I really recommend trying it.
Tool: Caudalie Cleansing Water, from £9.

Tip 3 – Prevent mascara smudges
I’ve been using eyelash serums for the last few years to encourage my flutter to grow to great lengths – and whilst it’s worked, the down side is that my lashes always mark my upper eye area (underneath my brows) as soon as I look up after applying mascara. Another makeup artist shared a great tip with me recently – simply place your index finger lengthways below your lower brow before you look up. When lashes skim against it, the excess mascara will mark your finger, rather than your eye area. It saves me precious minutes in the morning.
Tool: Daniel Sandler Jumbo Jet Mascara, £14.75

Tip 4 – Extend manicures with pale polish
I’m a big fan of bright colours on my nails – but they do make the chips appear glaringly obvious when I haven’t had time to remove and repaint. That always seems to be the case with me, so a manicurist suggested I stick to paler nail colours. Early signs of wear and tear aren’t visible – and when I completely forget that my nails are peeling and chipped, I can just about get away with hiding it. It’s the lazy girl’s top tip for manicures!
Tool: Dior Vernis Long-Wearing Nail Lacquer in Ivory, £16.50.

Tip 5 – Apply highlighter to eyelids
I’ve used a highlighter under my eyes since my early teens. In fact, it’s the makeup item I could cope least without. In the early days of working in beauty, a makeup artist suggested that I start using the highlighter on my eyelids too – as a primer for eye shadow or to create an even-toned appearance for days when my lids went au natural. It’s a simple trick that I’ve used practically every day since. Try it and you’ll be amazed how it lifts your eyes and gives a bright, wide-eyed appearance – and it only adds seconds to your morning routine.
Tool – Clarins Instant Light Brush-On Perfector, £19.20