A Scott Barnes inspired makeup perfect for Brides.
Recently I’ve been getting many questions in regards to airbrushed makeup, and foundation finishes. The questions usually are regarding what makes the face look least cakey, and most fresh. I don’t know how the words “Air Brushed” ever became so fancy in the industry, and most requested? Brides ask for this technique all the time not realizing how much this type of application can limit the amount of blending techniques you can use.
My personal preference for makeup are cream products 100%. I am taking a Scott Barnes inspired makeup and trying to make it easy as possible to follow.
It really looks more complicated than it really is but can be very simple without the hassle of an airbrush machine.
Here is an easy way to accomplish flawless looking skin to help make that special new lip color or smokey eye really pop for any special occasion.
This makeup technique I’m about to share with you is extremely easy. I like to compare it to the paint by number pictures we all remember from childhood.
Paint by number pictures we all remember.
Also, this technique allows you to really blend without drying out the skin, and if there are any drop shadows or mistakes it’s easy to wipe off, and continue where you left off.
As usual, I like to begin with a cleansed, toned, and moisturized face. Using my favorite products by Kiehls and Mario Badescu. When I’m not working on a client I pour the toner on to the palm of my hands, and apply it like a moisturizer. I let it sit for a moment before applying moisturizer. I have been using Mario Badescu Honey Moisturizer recently. It really makes my face feel like I just had a facial. I let it sit for a while and depending on how my skin feels I add an additional oil control or regular moisturizer. I let it sit for about two minutes so my skin absorbs it really well. If I added to much I just work it in with a moist beauty blender.
Once the skin prepping is complete I move on to a tinted moisturizer.
The tinted moisturizer really allows me to balance out the skin tones on the face. It gives me a clean canvas to work on.
I work it in like a regular moisturizer. I feel that the heat of my hands helps the makeup adhere to my skin best. Gently blend in the foundation with a moist sponge.
Blending in mositurizer with Beauty Blender.
Using a gentle stippling motion all over the face. By this point your skin might feel a little sticky. This is okay because it hasn’t been set with powder yet.
I then continue with contours and highlights using darker and lighter foundations or concealers. I prefer the foundations and concealers that come in stick form. MAC unfortunately discontinued the ones I had been using. N44 and N45. Bobbi Brown also has great foundations in stick form that will work just as well.
I like them in Stick format because they are easiest to draw the hallows of the cheeks, under the jaw line, and right in front of your forehead hair line. This will begin to add a subtle dimension to your face.
This picture shows the proper product placement.
These products are placed over the tinted moisturizer. I used the darker foundation for my hollows of my cheeks, on the side of my nose taking all the way up over my eyelid but under the brow bone. I used a lighter and yellowish toned concealer on my brow bone, and brought it down to my temples almost creating a c-shape. I used that same concealer on the bridge of my nose to help create a subtle highlight on my nose.
This scary close up of myself shows how far up on the bridge of my nose I placed the highlight. Also, how I placed it under my brow bone, and down the side of my eyes near my temples.
Right above the contour where I drew on the hallow of my cheeks, I applied cream blush at the apples of my cheeks, and stippled some in the direction to my cheek bones toward my temples.
The key is to keep contour subtle to it looks sun kissed and not drag like.
For the apple of the cheeks I use cream foundations Posey, and Something Special.
If you don’t have cream blushes you can also use any pink shaded lipstick. Simply make dots around the apple of your cheeks, and some dots right above the contour. Use Posey on the apples of the cheeks, and Something Special right about the contour. This will keep the blush looking natural and not like Doll Cheeks.
The hightlight and right concealer match for under your eyes can be a bit tricky. Highlights are easiest to work with but the concealer you want to play with a little more to make sure you have the perfect match.
I will show pictures on how to apply the highlight and concealer and avoid white raccoon eyes.
Once all the products are properly placed, you can take a soft blush brush and begin to blend out in soft circular motions. I Smile and begin at my cheeks blending back toward my temples. Bristles can sometimes create mini lines on your face. It’s easier to keep track of these things if your blending in one main direction.
This technique allows all the colors to blend in smoothly.
I blend all around my face. Keeping the warmer colors evenly distributed. Keeping a distance from the center of the face. The center should remain light, so your contoured nose stands out.
I would then take a clean brush like the #165 Mac Brush or #116 MAC blush brush.
#165 MAC brush
These medium sized brushes will make it easiest to blend out the white hightlights, and blend the eye area to match the rest of the face. Prepping it for eyeshadows. The #165 has a bit of a point to the top great for around the nose, and eye lids.
A #217 MAC brush is esstential to blend in tight areas like your inner eye, around the nose, and under the eyes.
There is a lot of blending in this technique which is why you want to really moisturize your face. If you blend with little moisture you can create a mini exfoliation that will lead to flakey looking skin 🙁
Once you’re confident that everything is well blended proceed by setting the makeup with loose powder. Focusing on the T-zone area of the face. Lightly on the cheeks because you’ll be enforcing with blush and bronzer to help make your cheeks pop.
I like to set my blush with a pinkey color, and orangey color like STYLE, for the contour I use burn, and final set with FORMAT. Format has a bit of shimmer to it.
Lightly fill in your brows and you have a perfect, and soft face ready for any fabulous shadow treatment, and lip color.
The end result after a shadow treatment, and lip color. A makeup sure to last an entire day.
This is the perfect romantic look for any Bride, Bridesmaid, or Wedding guest.
The pictures were taken with an Iphone. The reason why they look a tad bit blurry.
For questions or comments, please email me at audrey@beautybyaudrey.com
You can also book appointments via email or by contacting me at 310-713-2781