Celeb inspired beauty tricks

Ever wondered how to make your nose perfectly straight like Britney’s or your eyes wider and more awake a la Beyonce? How do celebs get that dewy glowing skin? Behind every good celebrity is a talented make-up artist on hand to buff and bronze them into picture perfect shape. Take a look at my top tips to create that million dollar look (without the million dollars)…

Slim and shape

A big trick of the trade that's used by many a celeb is facial contouring – check out pictures of Britney and Fergie from The Black Eyed Peas. This is the technique of creating a natural shadow to push back or slim down a certain feature of the face. Used in photography you can be quite dramatic but for everyday try using a more subtle approach.

Slim down a nose by using a concealer about two shades darker than your skin tone. Blend the colour along the sides of your nose in straight lines with your fingertips after foundation. Remember to keep it subtle and set with a lightweight powder.

To shorten a long nose apply the same colour just to the tip of the nose. Try using Mac Studio Concealer pots @ £12.50 each. They come in 12 shades and last for ages.

Bring out your cheek bones by applying a matt bronzer from under your cheekbone next to the centre of your ear and blend into the hollows of your cheeks. Using a blusher brush with a slight angle will help it fit into the contours of your face. Work the same bronzer along your jaw line to strengthen a weak or sagging jaw. Use St Tropez Powder Bronzer @ £20 with Bare Escentuals Tapered Blusher Brush @ £13.50.

Wide and awake

A really easy way to cheat eight hours sleep is by highlighting the inner corners of your eyes. Look at any picture of Beyonce or Jennifer Lopez and you will notice how they use this trick without fail. It works by bouncing light out of what is quite a dark area of the face. It will make your eyes appear wider and further apart – beautiful on everyone.

Take a pale shimmery powder or cream eye shadow or a soft pale pencil and using your little finger dab the colour into the inner corners of your eyes. Blend the colour slightly under the eye and onto the lid to create a seamless finish.

For darker skin tones try Bourjois Shimmering Shine Liquid Eye Shadow in Brun Magnetique @ £6.84 and for light to medium skins try Benefit Mr Frosty Pencil @ £14.

Dewy and glowing

Cheryl Cole loves to glow and always looks radiant. It’s simple to get dewy skin without all the expensive facials by exfoliating every three days with a gentle exfoliator such as Elemis Gentle Rose Exfoliator @ £22. Keep foundation lightweight and light-reflecting with Urban Decay Surreal Skin Liquid Foundation @ £16. For that fresh youthful look, use a crème blusher such as Nars Cream Blusher in Enchanted @ £19.59 on the apples of your cheeks. Instead of fingers, use a small blusher brush to create an airbrushed finish. Use a whisking motion over the apples of the cheeks and blend upwards into the temples – smile to find the plumpest part of the cheeks and start there.

So now you look shaped, awake and positively glowing – it's easy when you know how.

Nancy Spencer is a freelance make-up artist and founder of Make-up Manchester. Nancy covers everything from wedding make-up to fashion and special effects. She also offers make-up lessons at her studio. For more information please visit www.makeupmanchester.co.uk

Make-up Manchester
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