The Sunday Mail
WOMEN choose to wear make-up for several reasons such as looking younger, covering undesirable marks/scars/pimples, or to gain confidence, among others.
In just about all cases, make-up is used to enhance beauty and look more alluring.
Ghanaian actress Christabel Ekeh once said: “Make-up gives a woman a feeling that she is ready for the world and confident in proceeding through the day.”
As much as some women love wearing make-up, not all of them know how to do it properly.
The art of facial accessories is not just applying foundation, face powders, eyebrow pencils and lipsticks. Instead it is a special art that needs knowledge on the appropriate products for one’s skin and features.
“It is important for a person to know her strength and weakness on facial features because her strengths should be emphasised to draw attention while her weaknesses are diverted. For instance if one has pretty eyes, she may use eyeliner to make them more visible or applying mascara for her eyelashes to make them longer and fuller,” says Tabeth Kurwakumire, a cosmetics consultant.
She adds: “The problem with most females who wear make-up is that they try to make facial accessories look more appealing on a bad rough skin.
“Some even have a mentality that make-up has to create beauty on someone who could be far from it. Such beliefs are the reasons why other people overdo make-up making the whole concept of facial accessorising a mess.”
She says facial skin needs extra care to make it fair and smooth before applying foundation. This can be done using facial scrubs.
The cosmetic consultant urges women to apply a moisturiser before a foundation to complement the skin before applying face powder.
Facial foundations and powders have different shades and colours to suit different types of skin but some women turn a blind eye to that. Every woman has a different skin type, tone and texture but make-up products is differentiated into three main categories: dark, medium and light.
Many woman use facial foundations and powders that contradict their natural complexion. As a result, they walk the streets looking like something out of a horror movie. This has seen local rappers MMT singing “Zvidhori”, a song that pokes fun at women who overdo make-up.
Tabeth advises women to apply foundation on eyelids as a base because it causes eye make-up to crease.
“After choosing the perfect foundation type for your skin, little application of the foundation using fingers is ideal because too much will spoil the whole purpose. When applying powder, it is important to start applying on the areas that one is shiniest first before light dusting everywhere else. We discourage women from applying layers and layers of powder because they can mess up the essence of facial accessorising.”
She says it is optional to apply the powder lightly on the neck to even out the skin tone.
Of course the beauty principle entitles one to apply eyebrow pencils or powder on the upper portion of the eyebrows to “lift” the face, but this can only be complementary if the eyebrows are trimmed.
Unfortunately, some use eyebrow pencils on top of growing eyebrows.
Tabeth says eyebrows should be drawn close to each other to put more focus on one’s face because leaving a big gap messes up facial accessorising.
Another cosmetics consultant, Wadzanai Sanyatwe, points out that make-up is occasional and if it is not suitable for the event, it becomes “mess-up”.
“I classify make-up in three distinctive categories. These are office make-up, casual make-up and evening make-up. It can be a mess-up if it is worn inappropriately. Facial accessorising in an office set-up should not be loud; neutral colours on lipsticks, eye shadows and eyebrow pencils are greatly recommended.
“If it is casual make-up, either bright or neutral colours can complement the facial look but, it is important to know that lipstick, eye shadow and eye liner colours differ with one’s complexion.
“Dark-skinned women are encouraged to wear colours that are in-between light and neutral because if they accessorise with too neutral lipsticks and shadows, then it means the make-up will not be visible. Similarly, if they use shouting colours on lipsticks and shadows, it becomes mess-up.
“The same applies to light-skinned people, although they have more options. If they apply eye shadows that are too contrasting with their lipstick, then they will look sluttish,” said Wadzanai.
Wadzanai says women should smile before applying blushes to avoid “barbie doll” looks because blushers should not be traced where they have been put.
“When applying lip stick, it is essential to press down as you apply to avoid messing your cupid’s bow. A pencil liner rounding the edge of lips helps in making the lipstick more visible and appealing.”
