ABOUT FACE:Bobbi Brown products provide one of the most natural and polished looks of all, writes Phyl Clarke.
IN THE BEAUTY WORLD, she is an A-list star, and one of the most powerful women in the business whose products are sold in over 400 countries. In person, she's a pocket-size dynamo whose staff struggle to keep up with her mile-a-minute energy. After more than 20 years in the business, she is still completely involved in developing new colours and products, and is as enthusiastic as a teenager with her first eye shadow set.
Bobbi Brown is one of us. She understands what women need. She developed her range because, as a make-up artist, she couldn't find the products she wanted, so she conjured them up herself. That is the essence of the brand: she creates products that solve problems for real women and creates a completely clean, groomed and polished natural look in the process.
The BB counters at Brown Thomas and House of Fraser are some of the busiest, with consultants in demand for makeovers and practical advice. What you really get when perched high on one of those counterside stools is a make-up lesson that will pay dividends for years, for education is part of Bobbi Brown's philosophy. She believes all women simply want to look like themselves - only prettier. No argument there, then.
Just before her visit to Dublin, her schedule was thrown out of sync by a last-minute appointment to do Michelle Obama's make-up, so it was a somewhat jet-lagged Bobbi Brown who bounced into the room at the Merrion Hotel. Her face was so fresh, however, that she looked as if she had had a good 10 hours sleep. As we are the same age, I immediately scrutinised every one of her non-clogged pores. Her polished complexion and lustrous hair glowed with good health and careful maintenance. She states emphatically that she is against anything that would ever change her face - so surgery, fillers and Botox are ruled out as a clue to her youthful demeanour.
The secret of the universe, according to Bobbi Brown, is concealer. Hers have a yellow rather than a pink base and she says the right shade should blend seamlessly into your skin tone. Apply underneath the eye right up to the lash line using a brush. Most women are red around the nose area, so applying a touch-up stick will even things out. Then you can apply a sheer amount of foundation, but before you add more colour, step back and review your face in the mirror. If you've concealed properly, you may find you don't need foundation. At most, a dab of touch-up stick here and there might suffice.
Unlike most make-up artists, Bobbi Brown goes for blush next. She believes that you will use less eye colour once blush is in place. The right colour blush is the colour your cheeks turn when you pinch them, she says, pinching her own cheeks to demonstrate.
To apply blush correctly, smile! Then apply blusher once on the apple of your cheek, and once up to your temples. After that, look to your eye brows. Fill them in and give them shape with a powder shadow, she advises, as it looks far more natural than using a pencil.
After applying lip colour, you are almost finished (they have a fantastic wheel of lip colours at BB counters to help you choose shades that best suit you by day or by night). Step back and review your handiwork once again before finishing with your eyes. You may find you need nothing more than a sweep of an eye shadow in a shade such as 'Naked', followed by mascara. Ms Brown recommends black for nearly everyone, and also a line of her fabulous Gel Eyeliner.
While she enjoys make-up for its confidence-boosting properties, she is also quite happy to go without, which is a testament to her skincare regime, and she could live with just two products - concealer and blush.
So you see - the secret of beauty is simple - just be who you are.
PEARLS OF WISDOM
• When skin looks dull, use an exfoliant to help slough off dead skin cells
• Applying concealer on the spot next to the inner corner of the eye will open up your eyes and give you a fresh, bright-eyed look
• It's a good idea to have two shades of foundation - one for the winter months and a slightly darker one for the summer when skin colour tends to be darker
• If skin feels dry, dust powder only around the nose and forehead
• Tap off excess powder blush from your blush brush before applying. It's easier to build colour in a few light layers than to remove extra colour and start over
• To make your lipstick or gloss longer-lasting, line and fill in lips with lip liner before applying colour
• Fill in sparse areas, or holes in the holes in the brow with creamy eye pencil. For the most natural look, layer powder shadow on top
• Black eyeliner is the secret to gorgeous, sexy eyes. Layer black liner on top of your normal liner (just on the upper lash line) and you'll see a real difference