• Make sure to moisturize. Bennett recommends that women include a moisture lotion in their routine. It stretches the amount of liquid foundation needed, and he suggests that if you mix some liquid foundation with moisturizer, you can create a personally tinted foundation for days when light coverage is needed. Make sure the moisturizer has a 15 or higher SPF factor.
• Build an even foundation. As when building a house, when doing your makeup, Bennett believes that foundation is the most important step in evening out the complexion, reducing under-eye circles and creating a neutral face. He finds the right shade by test-blending on the jawline. You shouldn't see foundation on the face, so it may take mixing two foundations together in order to get the right colour for your skin. Take your time on this step, because foundation can brighten and unify the skin. On my face, Bennett applied a liquid foundation -- his favourite form of foundation -- with a brush, then blended it with a cosmetic sponge.
• Got to have glow. Kevin applies an ultrasheer glow product over the foundation. This product captures light and adds glow -- not shine -- to the face.
• Blushing and beautiful. Next, apply powder blush in a colour that complements the warm or cool colours you feel good wearing.
• All eyes on the eyes. Draw attention to the eyes by applying a base colour shadow from lid to brow, followed by a slightly darker shade above the eye crease. For an evening look, add a darker shade with a flat-topped brush and press in along the lash line (instant eyeliner!).
• Add drama with mascara. Brush brows and apply a coat of brown mascara to your eyelashes.
• Bennett's final finishing touch. Bennett's favourite product, which he feels every woman should own and use even if she doesn't wear any makeup, is a lip glaze. He applies it after he lines the lips with a lip pencil.
I've left Manhattan behind and have now settled back in to my Northern Ontario home office. I have a photo of my neutral look, created by Kevin-James Bennett, on my desk. My eyes did stand out after he worked his magic, but the lesson I learned was more than just how to apply makeup. He taught me that women can purchase all the makeup products and tools they want, but nothing makes a woman more beautiful than a smile and a story. Kevin's advice is to enjoy every stage of your life, with or without your "face" on!
Read about hot-weather beauty tips for your face, hair and nails!
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