TURNING INSTAGRAM MAKEUP TRENDS INTO WEARABLE LOOKS (or In Real Life – IRL)
The “Instagram” Look-
It's easy to spot an Instagram face: the eyebrows are dramatically structured, the lips are over-drawn, the eye makeup incorporates a “cut crease” and a “cat eye” and a heavy hand is used to contour and highlight the face, without regard to face shape, lighting, or its appropriateness for the time of day. Heavy, unnatural-looking shimmer is heavily placed on the cheeks (“strobing”).
It is possible, however, to incorporate the desired social media trends, using a lighter hand, and with attention paid to the needs of the individual’s specific face/features, time of day, and formality of the occasion.
Create a “Wearable “ Instagram Look (IRL)
The Skin-
We all want beautiful skin; however, there is a current obsession with highlighting, overdone in an effort to achieve an unnatural glow to the skin. For a current look, IRL, the skin can be radiant and luminous without the excessive use of hyper-real highlighting. For an instant, everyday “lit from within” effect, start with a well-moisturized and primed face. Use a (sheer) foundation, adding concealer only where needed to color-correct, typically under the eyes. To achieve the natural, luminous effect, blend a cream or liquid highlighter lightly over areas of the face where the light naturally hits: the forehead, the top of the cheekbones, under the arches of the brows, down the nose and, sparingly, on the cupid’s bow of the mouth. Avoid contouring, unless you are skilled at blending to create a natural look. In fact, “nontouring”, or simply highlighting without contouring, is thankfully becoming mainstream, following reality star, Kim Kardashian and her currently pared-down makeup.
