Pilar's Advice Column

Hi, my name is Angely, 25 years old. I have a big formal party coming up, and I am becoming very nervous because I've never been to this "Black-tie" thing before. I managed to get a decent black cocktail dress, but my biggest worry is a make-up. I always have a very natural look, which means I don't wear a make-up. I really want to look sexy at a party, like Angelina Joile. My eyes, lips, face itself are not even close to hers, though. I am a brunet with brown eyes, and have a pale complexion. I feel very desperate. What is the beauty secret to look like a sexy Hollywood star?

Dear Angely,

You are unique just like Angelina Jolie, so let’s try to find Angely’s look instead of Angelina’s one!

As many girls will be wearing a black dress like you at the party, you should make the difference with the make up. Let’s follow this steps:

1- Make sure your skin is clean and moisturized. The make-up will last longer if so.

2- Apply a FOUNDATION all over your face. It has to be the same tone as your skin (never darker or lighter). Note that you can apply the foundation with a foundation sponge , brush or just your fingers. The foundation will help you to give you a flawless look.

3- If you need to cover dark circles, spots or skin flaws, use a CONCEALER one tone lighter than the foundation.

4- The next step: EYE SHADOW. Add a touch of highlighting using a light satin eye shadow (try to avoid a white eye shadow, vanilla will be better) just under the browbone. Then, according to your brown eyes and your pale complexion, I will suggest to use another eye shadow, this time: dark brown, dark violet or dark green. Apply this new colour all over the eyelid, except where you’ve applied the first eye shadow (see the figure) As you are coping with dark colours, make sure you apply it very carefully and in few amounts (try to avoid spoiling dark eye shadow on the face, if it happens, then try to remove the stain with a dry cotton). Line the whole eye with black liner, try to avoid a thick line and apply it as closer as you can to the eyelashes. To top off, apply (as desired) black mascara on your top eyelashes.

5- LIPS: line your lips with a pencil. Make sure it’s the same colour as your lips. If your lips are thin and you want to make them look like Angelina’s, you can ONLY line them 1mm above its natural shape. Then fill in with a natural lipstick and if you still want to give your lips a sexiest look add a clear lip gloss on the center of your lower lip. As your eyes are the principals tonight, your cheeks and your lips should be accompanying them, that’s why we use natural colours for them. Otherwise you are going to look like a painting and that’s what we want to avoid. We want to give you a sexy and sophisticated look!

6- CHEEKS: apply on your cheek bones a natural powder one tone darker than your skin (brown tones). On the “apples” apply a shimmering powder blush (rose tones).

I will suggest to try many times before the party…. Practice make perfect!

You’ll rock!

Pilar