Make up artist classes

A great makeup trick is a precious commodity. It may not have the value of enriched uranium, but it will make you look a whole lot better. Imagine how much less laughable your prom pictures would be, for example, if someone had explained how to properly apply bronzer. Or how clever you’d feel if you could camouflage a big, red zit.

We found the tricks that truly make a difference. They don’t mandate that your eye shadow match your irises, or your dress, or your nail polish. Nor do they say that your brows must form a 42-degree arch. Instead, we asked the leading makeup artists what they really do at fashion shows and photo shoots to solve pesky problems. In keeping with the first rule of commodities trading, these tips truly perform.

EYE-OPENERS
CONNECT THE DOTS. To create a smooth line along the upper lashes, start at the outer corner and draw a series of dashes with an eye pencil, as close to the lashes as possible. Then connect the marks. “This is the best trick I ever learned,†says makeup artist Laura Mercier.
GO GENTLE. “Use the ring finger—the weakest—to pat concealer in place,†says Mercier. “That way, you won’t tug or pull the skin unnecessarily.â€
WARM UP. Before dabbing concealer on your skin, warm it in the palm of your hand—the heat will thin the texture so the coverage is smooth.
DOT IT ON. When covering undereye circles, place three dots of concealer from the inner corner to the middle of your eye, then pat—don’t rub—them with the ring finger to blend.
GET WET. Deepen the color of any powder eye shadow by dipping a small, firm brush in water before swiping it over the shade. “It gives an intensity to the color,†says makeup artist Jeanine Lobell. It also helps the shadow last. Just don’t try to blend two shades—you’ll make a mess.
FIND THE DARK SIDE. For easy smoky eyes, rub a chubby kohl pencil on the back of your hand to warm it up, then dot it along the upper and lower lashes (don’t worry about making a straight line). Dip a cotton swab in eye cream and use it to smudge the lines.
CREATE DISTANCE. To make close-set eyes look farther apart, apply eyeliner only at the outer corners, then flick the line a millimeter or two beyond.
OPEN WIDE. Brighten eyes with a dot of pale gold cream shadow at the inner corners. “It makes the eyes look wide open and beautiful in the light,†says makeup artist Tom Pecheux.
DE-CREASE. “If the lids are oily, eye shadow won’t stick,†says makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury. Before applying any color, prep the lids with foundation, then press a velvet puff with translucent powder on top. (And consider the shade you use: Pale matte ones are the least likely to crease or to accentuate lines.)
DOUBLE UP. To prevent eyeliner from doing a disappearing act, trace over it with a short, stiff eye-shadow brush dipped in powder in a similar shade.
If choosing between two shades of foundation, go with the darker one.
TAKE IT OFF. No matter what makeup you use, always choose a remover designed to take off waterproof formulas, says makeup artist Charlie Green. “The best ones look separated, like salad dressing. The oil takes off makeup, and the water gets rid of some of the greasiness.†As with vinaigrette, mix well.
DON’T RUB. To avoid tugging gentle eye skin, hold an oil-based makeup remover pad over the eye for at least five seconds to dissolve makeup, then gently sweep it all off.

LASH RITES
ON A ROLL. For the most natural-looking bend, squeeze an eyelash curler at the lash roots and then “pump the curler as you move outward toward the ends,†says makeup artist Dick Page. It gently and gradually curls the lashes.
LOCK THE CURL. If you have especially straight lashes, curl them and immediately brush on waterproof mascara, advises Tilbury: “It holds lashes up much better than a regular formula.â€
DOUBLE DOWN. Make lashes more lush by using two different mascaras. Apply a fat-brush volumizing formula first, then a lengthening formula on top.
GO BEYOND THE PALE. Black mascara can look jarring on blondes. Instead, makeup artist Pati Dubroff suggests a brown mascara topped with a gold one.
FATTEN UP. When coating lashes with mascara, wedge the wand right against the roots and wiggle it before drawing it out. This makes the base of the lashes appear fuller and thicker.
BE A NEAT FREAK. Sweep a clean spooley brush through clumped lashes while the mascara is still wet to remove clumps without causing flakes.
WING OUT. To elongate lashes, work from the outer to the inner corners of the eyes. “You’ll deposit more on the outer corners that way,†says Dubroff. “By the time you get to the inner corners, you’ll have just the right amount of mascara left.†To increase the effect, apply another coat at the outer corners only.
COAX THE CURL. To lock the curl into your lashes, curl them after you’ve applied mascara—but let the mascara dry first so the lashes don’t stick to the curler.

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