| It's showtime folks! |
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| Written by Jane Garner, 2006 | |
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Along with the first party invitations of the winter comes the panic. Unbidden the inevitable questions arise: What will I wear? What can I do with my face? Women often focus on their imperfections and let others do the same. But the right make-up, applied correctly, changes the picture completely. And you only need ten beauty essentials in your make-up bag to achieve the transformation, says former model turned professional make-up artist, Maggie Hunt. She sympathises with women who feel overwhelmed by the mass of products, colours and information to do with cosmetics and how to use them.
Make-up is, of course, very personal and depends on skin type and tone, but Maggie stresses that many make-up ranges have colours that suit everyone. “For example, Jeff + Maggie’s Exotica lipstick and Blush lip gloss are great for anybody, as is the Tea Rose blusher,” she said.  She stresses that carefully shaped and tended eyebrows are crucial because they frame the face. Well-applied eye pencil counteracts the effect of wrinkles by opening up the eyes, and bronzing powder can be used to create shadows, for example to minimise jowls or under plump cheeks to slim the face. The worst mistakes women make are wearing the wrong foundation and applying lip liner and lipstick in a style that dates them instantly. “Choice of foundation depends on how much colour you need, the finish you want and your budget. The smaller your lips, the more pearly and soft you want to make your lip colour to make them look bigger. You don’t need 100 different lip colours, just the ones that suit you, or something that adds a little to your natural lip colour,” she says. Lip and cheek colour should be similar. Women with thinner lips should avoid lip liner and instead use gloss to make lips look fuller. Maggie advises making a start with eye pencil along the lash line, then adding colour on to the lid: “If you need to shape and lift, go for a matt colour in the contour line, then more shimmering shadow on the eyelid. You can add matt shadow under the lower lashes with a little pencil, but not pencil alone or it will look hard.” Blusher again needs a pearl finish to add a glow to the cheeks. You can contact Maggie on tel: 020 7435 5049 or visit www.maggiehunt.com; the Jeff + Maggie brand is available from selected Matalan stores only, with prices from £3–£8. A make-up lesson with Maggie at her London studio costs £275. More tips and tricksEvery woman needs Silky Underwear...Superfine dusting powder with just a shimmer of gold from Lush £4.75. Under-arm sheen Strappy evening dresses don’t just expose back, shoulders and décolletage, which will no doubt be suitably buffed and bronzed for the occasion. But what about... er... armpits? They too are bound to be exposed. So check out Nivea Deodorant Pearl & Beauty, which offers protection along with a soft, dry, velvety finish. Free from alcohol, preservatives and colour you can even use it straight after shaving. Roll-on £2.25 and aerosols £2.35/£2.85. What’s ‘in’ this year for parties? Colours 
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