Courtesy of brand
Val Garland Shares Her Best Makeup Tips
Back in the spring, it was a huge thrill to meet Val Garland, one of the world’s TOP makeup artists and currently the artistic advisor for YSL. Not only did she demonstrate all the products for us on a model, but she also gave us some GREAT tips (great as in I actually hadn’t heard most of them before—quite a feat considering I’ve been writing about makeup for some time now).
No matter what type of makeup application you’re after, we can all use some handy tips to make things easier. Here are Val’s best tips, and then I’ll show you what’s new for fall from the brand!
Do Your Eye Makeup First
To prevent under-eye smudges, use a big blush brush to put powder under your eyes. That way, you can sweep it (along with any stray eye shadow) away after you finish.
Skin Should Look Like Skin
If your foundation feels dry or cakey, you can easily correct it by applying a bit of moisturizer on top.
Apply Your Eyeliner “With Conviction”
(That’s a direct quote.) Be confident and approach it in one swoop. Otherwise, your line could turn out shaky. Tilt your head back slightly so that your eyes are half-closed and then sweep the brush across all in one motion. You can always fill in any gaps after.
Do Your Worst Side First
Another eyeliner tip. If you do your worst side first, it will be easier to match it on your “good” side.
Skip Mascara On Your Bottom Lashes
For a cat-eye effect, skip mascara on your bottom lashes—it will look more graphic and modern. Mascara on the bottom lashes gives you more of a rounded-eye, 60s or 70s look.
Don’t Skip Blush
Sculpting is a huge trend on the runways—but in real life, nobody wants to “look dead.” Apply cream blush with your fingertips on the apples of the cheeks and just below the cheekbones.
Set Your Makeup
Set your makeup with a finishing or setting powder to “bring the look together.”
Take Something Away
But then you need to “take something away” for a more natural finish. Use a fan brush to apply a dab of moisturizer on the tops of the cheekbones. It brings light back into the skin.
Don’t Overdo the Highlighter
Avoid using too much highlighter—it can make you look like the Tin Woman! Moisturizer works better for real life.
Soften Your Lipstick Edges
After you apply lipstick, soften the edges with your fingers—it feels more sexy and modern. When it’s too perfect, it looks old-fashioned.
Told you they were good! As for the fall collection, here’s what’s new:
Courtesy of brand
GORGEOUS, no? We all sat at tables and were served champagne and gourmet French fries while we got to play with it. (And yes, that’s my idea of heaven. It was like art class for grown-ups!)
Here’s the stunning visual:
YSL
And here’s what Val had to say about the inspiration for this collection:
“It’s a celebration of women. [It's looking at] a really manicured moment, from the 1940s right up to the 1980s. It’s about sculpted faces, statement red lips, brows… there’s something for everyone. We saw a lot of grey and black clothes on the catwalks, so this collection is about embracing colour. Makeup is making a comeback.”
Amen to that! Val gave us a little demo of the makeup on this model:
Courtesy of brand
Courtesy of brand
Notice the chartreuse eyeshadow, which looks quite vivid in the palette, but is in fact very wearable on the face. Never thought I would love something like this, but I do!
