The Scottish social scene is hotting up and whether you’re donning your finest for the wedding of the year, the Garden Party at Holyrood Palace or Scotland’s biggest and most prestigious five-star racing day – the Stobo Castle Ladies Day on 1st June at Musselburgh Racecourse – you’ll want to look your best and ensure your make-up stays put.
The easy option, if you’ve cash to splash, is to book a full make-up look with a professional make-up artist. From lips to lashes, you’ll be good to go within 60 minutes. But, there are tips and tricks for doing your own make-up too – and if you want your make-up to have staying power and fancy your chances at winning Queen of Style 2019 at Musselburgh Racecourse, it pays to be prepared.
“The skin is one of the most important parts of the look,” admits Edinburgh-based celebrity MUA, Lauren Gollan who’s been in the industry for over 15 years working across TV, film and also backstage at the International Fashion Weeks alongside designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Burberry, Christopher Kane and Mulberry.
“When it comes to make-up for these types of events, people think that they have to apply more product and in much more dramatic ways with a view to it lasting longer,” admits Lauren. “It’s such a big mistake.
“Always avoid too full coverage of a foundation and stick to your correct shade – going too dark will only make you stand out for the wrong reasons. Heavy, exaggerated highlighting and contouring or overly made up brows are also a no-no.”
And Lauren should know as she’s perfected the makeup of A-list beauties including Erin O’Connor, Lily Cole and Kate Moss. She’ll also be the makeup pro behind Scottish celebrity Edith Bowman who will be donning her finest for the Stobo Castle Ladies Day before getting behind the decks for the after party.
Here Lauren reveals her Do’s and Don’ts for nailing all day glamour.
FAIL TO PREPARE AND PREPARE TO FAIL
Prepping your skin in the run up to a big event always pays dividends. Exfoliating twice weekly sloughs off dead skin cells and helps create a great base – it’s also worth investing in a weekly hydrating mask too for extra hydration and the celeb-favourite sheet mask the morning of the event.
Lauren adds: “I use Lightful Softening Lotion from MAC to prep my clients’ skin prior to applying the base. This hydrating lotion is used to clarify and brighten the skin for a luminous look. It moisturises and revitalises whist minimising skin discolouration and evens out skin tone.”
KEEP IT REAL
While it’s tempting to think more make-up lasts longer, don’t fall into the trap and avoid the dreaded cake face at all costs.
Lauren explains: “The foundation texture has to be long wearing but still achieve a flawless even complexion. Fresh, ‘real’ skin with natural highlights create a healthy glow and Armani Luminous Silk Foundation and YSL All Hours Foundation are great products at creating that natural, long wearing make-up look that can stand the heat.”
Lauren uses 0.22 My Flawless Face Foundation Brush from MYKITCO, for foundation application. The soft synthetic hair of the brush is the perfect texture to create a flawless finish to any liquid, cream or powder product. Using a brush will help create flawless looking skin with maximising durability in your foundation.
A good primer helps lock in your moisturiser but also provides a great, smooth base for make-up application. Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer, £26, has a great gel like formula that glides on or try the award-winning Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance, £30.50.
INVEST IN LONG WEAR
Lauren explains her go to for Edith Bowman’s all-day picture perfectness, “I use Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder to set Edith’s make-up. The product has light reflecting particles that minimises pores without creasing and caking but maximises the staying power of any foundation.”
Look out for longwear products too, from foundation to lip liner and eyeliner, they’ve got staying power. Sealing your make-up with powder can help too, especially over the T-Zone. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish, £34, and MAC have some great colourless setting powders.
“We don’t work with setting spray as the setting powders as they’re most effective in professional use for durability on TV and with camera,” adds Lauren. “However a setting spray is good for a quick refresh throughout the day – Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Setting Spray is a fab option.”
THE HOT LOOKS
“We’ll be seeing a lot of sheer textures with glowing, dewy skin this season,” reveals Lauren. “There were lots of bold lips in bright pink tones on the catwalks too. And lashes are big news.
“In terms of boldness and whether you should choose lips or eyes, I always say there is no rules to make-up… gone are the days where you had to choose one or the other. If you feel confident in wearing both and they compliment your features and style then I say go for it!!”
“I’m working with celebrity DJ Edith Bowman who’ll be behind the decks at the after party for Stobo Castle Ladies Day at Musselburgh Racecourse soon and I can’t wait to have some fun with a new season make-up look. She’s got such effortless, cool style which allows me to create any look to enhance her natural beauty as well as her edgy dress sense.”
MUA Lauren Gollan’s top 5 long lasting products
- Hourglass Fresh Veil Mineral Primer is a great foundation base. The satin texture increases the longevity of the foundation and creates a porcelain finish to skin.
- Armani Luminous Silk Foundation with YSL All Hours Foundation evens out texture and gives a lovely glowing complexion.
- MAC Casual Colour is a lightweight cream texture that hydrates skin and gives cheeks a natural glow.
- MAC Prolongwear Paint Pot eyeshadows are extremely long wearing and blend easily.
- Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder dusted across the foundation creates a sheer, silky finish and max durability.
FACT BOX
For more information on Stobo Castle Ladies Day at Musselburgh Racecourse visit www.musselburgh-racecourse.co.uk
To find out more from Lauren visit www.laurengollan.co.uk
