When Celebrities Get it Right

So, imagine you’re a celebrity. Paparazzi on your tail…fans lurking behind every corner…all eyes on you all the time…

You’d want to look your best, even if you’re just popping out for a pint of milk, right?

So you make sure you’re trim, buy the coolest shades, and get yourself a killer wardrobe. And with the crates of money rolling in, the sky’s the limit.

But what about your makeup?

Surely, with the last pay cheque cleared for the blockbuster film you’ve just starred in, you can afford a pretty decent makeup artist. Some cosmetic wizard who will work wonders with those cheekbones, cover up those spots, and get you looking totally gorgeous for the next premier, or your trip to the corner shop…

Why, then, do so many celebrities get it wrong? Is it the fault of their makeup artists, or should the finger of blame be pointed squarely at them? Too much foundation, unnatural skin tones, blusher that should only be seen on a clown…I can’t bear to think about it!

But, thankfully there are some delightful divas out there who seem to get it right every time. Why? Because their makeup artists are fabulously good at what they do. They’re miracle workers, it’s as simple as that.

Who, then, deserves such magnificent makeup acclaim? The answer: two beautiful women who, if it weren’t for their shared ability to choose the right makeup artist, would otherwise be worlds apart…

Adele and Jennifer Lopez.

Let’s start with the lovely Welsh songbird, Adele. Just check out those magnificent cheekbones! And those huge, animated eyes!

Now, this girl is naturally beautiful, you just need to look at her bone structure to see that. But, her makeup does exactly what it’s supposed to do: it enhances her beauty. And which makeup wizard do we bow to? The wondrous Michael Ashton.

Adele has quite a round face, so Michael draws attention to her gorgeous cheekbones and also makes her eyes really stand out with bold colours and heavy lashes. He’s achieved both a dramatic and subtle look, which I think works really well on Adele, and shows how talented he really is.

And now for the sexy Spanish diva, Jennifer Lopez. Is there anybody else out there who glows quite so radiantly as this lovely lady?  Just see how her skin is highlighted in all the right places, making her look vibrant, healthy, and down-right gorgeous…

And who do we have to thank for this talented touch? The celebrity makeup artist extraordinaire, Scott Barnes.

Scott really takes advantage of Jennifer’s amazing skin, using warm bronze tones and sun-kissed highlights to make her glow. This look has been dubbed ‘monochromatic’, but I don’t think this description (which basically means ‘one colour’) does justice to the many shades of bronze he achieves.

One of his signature products is his Body Bling bronzer, which you can see is the star of the show where Jennifer is concerned. I just love it. And I think her pale lips suit her colouring down to the ground, creating a delicate and natural look.

So there you have it: my all-time favourite celebrity makeup artists. They’re both extremely talented, and totally inspirational.

But you’ve probably noticed that I have chosen two looks that are fairly similar in terms of subtlety…so perhaps in my next blog I should celebrate the more dramatic, daring look? After all, there’s always a time and a place for pillar box red lips and china doll skin…

See you next time!

Ruth O’Rourke