How to get make-up colours right when your hair is a statement in itself
MAKE-UP ARTIST Melanie Fitzgerald's hair has been every shade of red since the age of 18, so she is well qualified to advise on making the most of auburn colouring. Model Raychel O'Connell is a natural redhead with enviable Rapunzel-like tresses, and the typical pale and peachy skin that most often goes with it.
It's sometimes very difficult to find the right shade of foundation for the palest skin, so a light touch is essential. Using the Stila range, Melanie preps skin with Illuminating Tinted Moisturiser (€25), which also acts as a primer to keep make up fresh all day. She follows this with their palest shade of Illuminating Foundation, which gives a light to medium coverage (€36). Next is award-winning Perfecting Concealer (€23), and Melanie advises Raychel to use as little concealer as possible and a flat brush. Only apply where needed to avoid a "cakey" look, she adds.
All In One Shimmer Powder gives a soft sheen which can be used all over the face (€32.50). It comes in three shades.
Redheads need to be careful when it comes to using colour around the eyes. "Avoid anything with a red tinge, or pinky tones," advises Melanie, as redheads usually have enough red in their skin tone. Instead, go for bronzy tones, golds and browns.
For this photograph she uses the classic Stila combination of eye shadows - Kitten, Jezabel and Twig (€19 each). Shadows can be bought singly or as a palette. A convertible eye pencil in Onyx completes the eye colour. This is a terrific three-way pencil with liner, shadow and smudger all in one (€19). The final touch for eyes comes with Major Major Lash mascara in Black (€22.50).
Cheeks are treated to the best-selling Convertible Colour, a creamy blush which gives a gorgeous glow in shade Gerbera (€29). This shade complements lips, too, and a slick of gloss finishes a muted, natural look. Stila cosmetics are available at Brown Thomas, Dublin and House of Fraser, Belfast.
Phyl Clarke