BY HERMOINE MACURA-NOBLE
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES KUWAIT
The pandemic has created a massive shift when it comes to makeup and beauty as not only is the face covered much more now, but women are feeling slightly more suffocated when their skin feels too caked up. As a result, organic skincare and clean beauty are growing in popularity, with many women returning to more minimal makeup looks, including very light bases.
GCC Celebrity & Bridal Makeup Artist Zareen Shah explains. “Before Covid, people were raving about Estee Lauder’s Double Wear, and now it’s the complete opposite….US Singer, Selena Gomez, launched her makeup line, RARE BEAUTY, and started a trend called the #dotfoundationchallenge. As a result, more and more women realise that they want a face product that can give them coverage and radiance yet feels light and weightless.”
And while there will always be a demand for the full-coverage foundation for those of us who don’t have the perfect skin, how you apply it might change, as a natural-looking complexion—with varied tones, freckles, and moles—take the stage.
Pastel pinks have been popular for quite some time now, but experts are now moving into more muted colours like tans, sage greens, pistachios, and baby blues with many graphic liner looks. And with the influence of makeup gurus on TikTok using swirling colours of pastels on the eyes, one thing is clear, eyeliner is no longer just black, and there is a move away from shimmers.
“There is a definite sense of individuality that is becoming more acceptable, which is why graphic liner is huge right now. Gen Z isn’t afraid to experiment with colours and break traditional styles, unlike the majority of Millenials that prefer a more subtle and classic approach to makeup,” says Shah.
However, the essential smokey eye is here to stay. Even if you only have an eyeliner handy, you can create a soft, smokey look with a light smudge of your finger or opt for a classic smokey eye look. Makeup Artist Rebecca Marino explains. “An easy smokey eye every girl should know is to first blend a matte base shade all over your eyelid, followed by a dark-tone shadow to the outer corners of your eyes – packing the colour at your lash line and then blending it upward and outward with an eyeshadow brush to smooth any harsh lines. The next step is to sketch a dark pencil eyeliner along your top and bottom lash lines and then blend the liner’s top edge with a pencil brush.”
Finally, “Always finish with mascara to pull the look together for the ultimate smokey eye,” says Marino. It might be time to finally master the art of popping on a pair of false eyelashes, too. “I see eyes and lashes having a major moment in a fun and creative way,” concludes Marino.
The first Australian English speaking News Anchor in the Middle East. She is also the Author of Faces of the Middle East and Founder of US-based 501c3 charity – The House of Rest which helps to ease the suffering of victims of war. For more from our Contributing Editor, you can follow her on Instagram, here.
