Ambrosia Services

Cover Story: Natural shades of beauty

11 Sep 2006

SYIDA LIZTA AMIRUL IHSAN

Most dark-skinned women believe that finding makeup for their skin tone is difficult. SYIDA LIZTA AMIRUL IHSAN gets a colleague to take up the challenge.ON the way to Mid Valley Megamall for this assignment, three out of the four passengers in the car thought this makeover would not materialise. Concerns were because Pam is dark and none of them believes Bobbi Brown has shades to suit her skin colour.

“I think you might have to reschedule it. Maybe you can ask her to go to Brickfields. They make make-up for Indians. You can definitely get colours for her,” a colleague said.

Pam has always had problems with makeup. Hers had to be “imported” from the United States, where her aunt would bring home colours suitable for her. She was overjoyed recently when her aunt brought home cosmetics by Iman, the supermodel who launched a beauty line specifically for African American women.

Bobbi Brown retail manager Sandra Foo said a makeover could be done on Pam, no problem. “Yes, we have colours for her”. Good. The bad news is, Bobbi Brown is phasing out dark coloured foundations, from 7.5 to 10 (darkest), which they have been selling here for over a year due to “market request”. Read: no response. So yes, Bobbi Brown is cutting out dark colours because very few people buy them.

“Even then, the colours available in Malaysia and Singapore are still darker compared to those in other Asia Pacific countries,” Foo explains.

The makeover for Pam starts with moisturiser and foundation primer to prep the skin for makeup. Instead of using foundation, Foo used a lot of corrector and concealer.

“The corrector helps brighten the under-eye area and the concealer helps skin looks brighter. This way, you reduce the use of foundation, which may look cakey.”

Foo does not limit the use of concealer to the eye area. She uses it to cover dark shadows surrounding the lips to achieve an even tone. This way, she explains, the foundation goes only to areas where it’s wanted, not all over the face.

“Most importantly, your face and neck has to look seamless. Never try to use light-coloured foundation if you are dark. You will not look bright, just ashy,” Foo said.

Foo then uses some powder to set the under-eye concealer. By now Pam’s eyes look fresh and perked-up, but not overdone. Foo continues with some bronzing powder on Pam’s face and neck and lip sheer to balance her lip shade.

“To achieve flawless makeup, your face needs to be flawless first. Which is why corrector and concealers are very important. If your face is well-prepared, any kind of makeup will look great on you,”

After that, Foo puts on eyeliner, mascara, a bit of blush and lipstick. “I like the eyeliner! It lines very smoothly!” Pam said. She is happy, although she said she is not used to looking at herself fully made-up like that.

Five hours later, at about 10pm, I received a call from Pam. I thought she wanted to tell me that her makeup has turn cakey.

“Syida, actually, at first I thought it was too bright. But now, after I have returned home, the makeup has set wonderfully. I like it. It looks so natural,” Pam said. She even said her mother complimented her new look.

Pam is still admiring her new look in front of the mirror when she rings me. Foo was right when she said, just because you don’t have the right foundation colour for your skin, doesn’t mean you cannot look good. You just have to find a way to work around it.

Love your colourSandra Foo gives some makeup tips for dark-skinned women.

Never use foundation lighter than your skin tone. Your foundation must look like the colour of your skin.

For lip colour, first, swipe over a base in the shade of your lips, followed by your favourite lip colour.

Invest in the right concealer. For the dark-skinned, it is even more important than foundation. It helps even out skin tone and makes your skin look fresher.

Your base should be right. Concealers and powders must blend in like second skin. Then, you can carry any type of makeup, whether natural or dramatic.

Bronzing powder is a must. It helps even out skin tone.

Try not to use very bright lip colours. Rich shades like wine work best on you.Foo used these Bobbi Brown products, among others, to give Pam her natural glow:
Oil Free Even Finish Compact Foundation in Walnut
Vitamin E Enriched Face Base
Corrector in Deep Bisque
Creamy Concealer in Chestnut
Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink
Lash Glamour Lengthening Mascara in Black
Blush in Cranberry
Shimmer wash Eyeshadow in Raisin
Blush in Cranberry

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posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 5:06 PM