International make-up artist Ruby Hammer shares her tips for upping your make-up to party perfect with Emma Bannister.
Ruby Hammer’s kit is a Pandora’s box of tricks and treats, with which she artfully makes up some of the most beautiful girls in the world, but her beauty philosophy starts from within. “Feeding your skin essential fatty acids is the best thing you can do to take it through wintry months and hardworking days followed by sociable nights,” says Ruby. “I was invited to become the ambassador for UDO’s OIL (sold in Liberty). Taken by the spoonful, it is a supplement of Omega 3, 6 and 9, and something I believe in wholeheartedly. If you want to maintain a glowing skin, start here.
“Dimmer evening lights require you add a little highlighter to pick up and accent your face. Avoid overly pearlised versions and opt for something super pulverized. The sheer particles of HOURGLASS AMBIENT LIGHTING PALETTE (£56 Space NK) make overdoing it almost impossible. Dust it on the top of your cheeks, your brow bones and your décolleté. It adds absolute luxury and a lit-from-within quality.
“Apply the same luxury boosting ethos to lips, by layering a top coat of fine golden shimmer over your naked lips or on top of your favourite lip colour. Guerlain limited-edition D’ENFER MAXI SHINE NO 901 is a gold shimmering gloss (£22.50 from Selfridges), which gives that finishing gleam without dumping big glitter particles on to your lips.
“Ramp up your daywear look by choosing a palette that works wet or dry. The wetted version will always go on more intensely, adding drama to your eyeshadow or when used as a liner. Try DUAL INTENSITY NARS, £21 from Space NK.”
RUBY’S QUICK LIFT PARTY TRICKS
1. If you’re heading from office to party don’t remove your day make-up, just redo with a slightly heavier hand so it has more presence.
2. Draw any top liner as close to the eyelash roots as you can – you don’t want a gap. By the same token, press your mascara wand as close to your lash roots as possible. It will look sireny and brighter.
3. If you have slightly down-turned or droopy lids, tilt your eye liner in an upward flick before you reach the end of your lid, about two or three lashes in. This lifts the shape of your eyes.
4. I have a real peeve with the Eighties lip-liner look and people who wield it too hard, but a little contour definition can be useful at night. Use a nearly nude lip liner after you have applied your lipstick so you can really blend it seamlessly.
5. Invest in good lubricating eye drops and use quality, unheated eyelash curlers like Charlotte Tilbury’s, above, £18 from NET-A-PORTER. Both help waken and refresh the eye prior to make-up.
6. Seal all that hard work with a fine mist of Urban Decay’s All Nighter Make-Up Setting Spray £20.