Beauty News

Matte makeup factor

Velvety smooth and subtly radiant, the new matte make-up is far from dull.
From moisturiser to eyeshadows, the latest matte makeup products cover all bases to reduce shine but retain radiance.

It’s official; matte is back. But if you’re thinking of the flat finish seen on women in the 80s, think again. This time around matte is mixed with other textures so don’t be afraid to use some shimmer and shine to enhance that velvety appearance.

Prep your face

You want your complexion to look flawless but you don’t want to suck all the life from it, so it needs to be hydrated. MAC senior makeup artist Kiekie Stanners says, “Thoroughly prep skin with a moisturiser or serum so makeup will glide on smoothly and provide an even texture. The skin still needs to look radiant before mattifying with powder, to ensure it looks natural,” she says.

Our pick: MAC Strobe Cream.

From left to right: MAC Strobe Cream, $70, L’Oréal Infallible 24H Stay Fresh Foundation, $40, YSL Fusion Ink Foundation, $97, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade, $64.

Prime your skin

A good primer is key to keeping your base looking good 24/7, and these days there are many to choose from. They’ll help minimise shine and the appearance of pores, making them perfect beneath a matte foundation.

Our picks: Revlon Photoready Prime & Anti-Shine balm, The Body Shop Skin Primer Matte It, Smashbox Photo Matte Anti-Shine, Estée Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer.

All about the base

Today’s matte foundations are nothing like the makeup of old. They won’t set into your lines or dry out skin. Simply dot around the face and feather outwards with a brush.

Our picks: L’Oréal Infallible 24H Stay Fresh Foundation, Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Perfectly Satin 24hr Makeup, YSL Fusion Ink Foundation.

From left to right: Revlon Photoready Prime & Anti-Shine balm, $37, The Body Shop Skin Primer Matte It, $32, Smashbox Photo Matte Anti-Shine, $42, Estée Lauder Matte Perfecting Primer, $68, L’Oréal Infallible Powder, $38, MAC Studio Fix Powder, $60.

Fix the shine

Matte makeup offers good coverage, but sometimes you still need powder on top. A common error is to blot powder over your whole face; in reality you only need it in oily trouble spots like the T-zone and chin.

Our picks: L’Oréal Infallible Powder, MAC Studio Fix Powder.

Add definition

Making the eyes pop is easily achieved with a mix of matte eyeshadows and a bit of contouring. Stanners says, “By blending a matte tone through the crease of the eye, the eyes can look bigger and more shapely.” Try using a neutral colour on the lid, and introduce a deeper matte shade by blending it over the socket line.

Our picks: MAC Eyeshadow in Cork, MAC Eyeshadow in Embark.

From left to right: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick, $35, Bobbi Brown Art Stick in Cassis, $50, MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in All Fired Up, $40, MAC Eyeshadow in Cork, $38, MAC Eyeshadow in Embark, $38.

Highlight

Don’t forget to use a highlighter as it will instantly provide dimension and radiance to the face. But don’t go crazy – you only need to use it on areas you want to enhance. “Keep the T-zone of the face completely matte but have the luminosity coming through on the cheekbones so it feels strategically radiant, not shiny,” says Stanners.

Our picks: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade.

The finishing touch

Matte makeup offers good coverage, but some people are afraid of the matte lip, worrying it will dry out lips and cause flaking. However, most matte lipsticks these days are made to also condition the lips. And the best thing about matte lippy is it stays in place longer, meaning you won’t need to constantly reapply.

Our picks: Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick, Bobbi Brown Art Stick in Cassis, MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in All Fired Up.

Words by: Sarah Murray

Photos: Thinkstock Images, Bauer Media Studios and Supplied

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