Makeup

How to nail racing season beauty

It's spring racing season again, which means it's time to get race-day ready.

One of the best parts of spring racing season – besides the endless glasses of bubbles – is dressing up for the Fashion in the Field events.

But given the temperatures haven’t quite reached summer-worthy, it’s safe to assume a lot of us haven’t bothered to shave our legs or paint our toenails just yet.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed at the thought of post-winter beauty, we’ve recommended a couple of tips and products below to help ensure your transition from winter-hermit to spring racing queen is as smooth as possible:

Prep your skin and nails in advance

If you’re after an ‘I’m-naturally-bronzed’ glow, it’s wise to apply fake tan a few days in advance in case you need to fix any orange streaks.

But before you do that, make sure your skin is hydrated so your tan is going on a smooth canvas.

Go-To Skincare, which now ships to New Zealand, features products for your face, body, hands and lips so there’s really no excuse for dry anything.

Use the Exfoliating Swipeys on your face two-three times per week to buff away any dead skin cells and prime your face for race-day make-up.

For body maintenance, try Super Handy for soft mitts and then Exceptionoil to nourish the body. To use, simply apply the oil after a shower and look forward to delicious-smelling, conditioned skin.

If possible, try to get your manicure/pedicure done the day before so you aren’t rushing around. Ditto for any eyebrow/lash tinting – these are no-nos for on the big day.

And if you do choose to fake tan and things go haywire, try Bondi Sands Tan Eraser, it’s a lifesaver.

Experiment with your make-up

It’s best to start with your eye make-up as sometimes mascara/eye shadow can drop down on to the cheeks and smudge, ruining your crafty contouring work.

Before beginning, think about what the central focus of your look will be: lips or eyes? It’s best to choose one or the other.

Start with your eye shadow and then add eyeliner. If you’re going for a smoky eye, begin with the lightest shade on your eye shadow colour palette.

Slowly build the colour from light to dark using a specific eye shadow brush – it really helps.

For lashes that really pop, a classic mascara like Mecca’s Better Than Sex will curl lashes and add plenty of volume.

After your eyes, move on to your face.

Clarin’s Pore Perfecting Matifying Foundation is a great option if you’re looking for non-greasy coverage that will last all day. The foundation lets skin breathe and isn’t heavy, but also provides coverage.

Tip: use a primer before you apply foundation so your foundation has something to hold onto and doesn’t sink into the skin.

If you’re prone to oiliness, a powder will set your foundation and take away any unwanted shine.

Frame your face by filling in your brows, try Benefit’s new Foolproof Brow Powder.

Lastly, apply a killer lipstick of your choice that will leave you feeling a million bucks.

Practise your hairstyle

While a professional may be your best bet for any tricky hairstyles, a DIY ‘do also works if you’re looking to save a few dollars.

Whatever your choice, you’ll want to practise hairstyles beforehand to avoid any last-minute stress-tears.

If you’ve got to the big day and noticed your hair is looking dry and brittle, the team at Matrix have got you covered.

They’ve created a new hair mask that strengthens and revitalises hair. The game-changer? It only takes a minute to work. Pop one on before washing your hair.

Before blow-drying, protect your hair from heat damage – unless a barrage of split ends sounds fun.

Try Kerastase’s Nutritive Nectar Thermique – the cream helps protect against styling tools and also smoothes and nourishes the hair.

Style as you’d like; keeping in mind that crimping is back in fashion and you can never go wrong with a fascinator.

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