The makeup trick that will instantly energize your face
When it comes to brightening a tired or dull complexion, there’s a secret shade that every makeup artist reaches for – SHANNON PETER shows you how to harness the power of peach
From Altuzarra to Marc Jacobs, peach makeup lent an otherworldly glow to models’ faces all over the SS19 runways. But don’t let its ethereal prettiness fool you: this color packs a powerful punch. The makeup equivalent of a bracing ginger shot, a pop of peach will replace skin’s lost glow, add a healthy flush to cheeks and brighten tired eyes. Even more impressive is its ability to flatter every single skin tone, thanks to a balance of bright and earthy hues. Makeup artist Georgina Graham swears by it: “Peach is my secret color weapon to give skin a beautiful, youthful appearance, without being too girly in the way that pink is.” Here’s how to use it wisely…
Pick your peach
Choosing a peach shade tailored to your skin tone will guarantee an effortlessly natural end result, and finding your match is relatively straightforward. “The general rule of thumb is that the darker the skin tone, the stronger the peach,” explains Graham. When applying to lips, cheeks or eyelids, pastel shades suit fair faces, warmer apricot tones flatter olive and medium skin tones, while dark skin looks great with punchier, more orange-rich hues.
Brighten dark circles
Dark circles are an instant giveaway of a restless night’s sleep, but they’re nothing a peach-tinted concealer or color corrector can’t contend with. The orange hues will knock back the purple undertones in the skin, making eyes look instantly brighter and rested. Invest in a creamy concealer slightly peachier than your natural skin tone, or blend a tiny dot of liquid peach or coral-toned blush into a dab of concealer to make your own. Dot gently under the eye before lightly buffing into the skin with a fluffy brush.
Get the glow
Depleted energy reserves often show up in the form of a sallow, ashy or gray tint on the face, but a little peach blush will help manufacture that well-rested glow. Graham recommends cream textures that will melt slightly under the warmth of the fingertips, creating a sheer wash. Tap onto the underside of the apples of the cheeks and use the thumb to blend upwards – this will create the appearance of plumper cheeks. For a lit-from-within finish, Graham suggests applying blush before foundation or tinted moisturizer. “It’s an old cinematic trick that actresses use to look fresh and youthful on the big screen.” It will also make the flush look more authentic.
Make features pop
Adding one last pop of peach will add a final jolt of energy, but Graham recommends choosing either the lips or the eyes to keep it modern. On the eyes, opt for cream or crayon textures and don’t worry about perfecting the application – it should look lived-in or it’ll start to seem retro. Simply pat onto the center of the eyelid with a flat brush. As for the lips, “it’s whether you apply peach in a sheer or opaque way that defines how fresh you look,” says Graham. Her advice? For the daytime, lightly dab lipstick straight from the bullet, but blend the color outwards with the fingertips for a just-blotted effect. For the evening, follow with a slick of peach gloss on the center of the lips to up the ante.
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