For women who love make-up, what to buy?

As I was looking for foundation with a matte finish, a Lancôme Make-up Artist approached me at the counter. Since summer is almost here, I want to make sure my skin doesn’t look shiny. He chose for me Teint Idole Silky Mat.

I learned that you actually aren’t supposed to test the foundation on your hand like I always used to do, but that this is just good for trying out the texture. He told me I should always test the color on my jaw line, because foundation should disappear into your face and neck. If it’s hard to decide between two shades, you can compare them side by side, and you’ll immediately see which one goes best with your skin tone.

I asked how I could get the glowing, sun-kissed look you see in magazines. Then he showed me Star Bronzer Compact for a healthy glow and to make me look like I’ve just spent some time in the sun. The application technique is really important for bronzer. You should apply a thin line under your cheek bone from the hair line out to the apple of your cheek, then a bit to the forehead, bridge of the nose, and then the chin. I’ll need some practice to get it just right!

The final touch for my new look is lipstick. There are so many colors! How can I know which one will look good on me?

The Make-up Artist tells me that there are three families of lipstick color: reds (ranging from red to orange), browns (ranging from beige to brown), and pinks (ranging from pink to purple). The first thing I have to choose is a color family. Let’s go for a coral shade! It’s so fresh (and in style!), and I know it looks good on everyone.

I immediately see which one I like. Can you guess? Yes, it’s the one in the middle! It’s Absolu Rouge n° 152.

One more tip: to make color look more vibrant and sexy, apply some gloss (Absolu Crème de Brillance) over lipstick. You’ll see the difference right away!

Hélène Legastelois