If all and sundry know how to ace ideal makeup, it’s Cardi B’s makeup artist. In a world where quite a few of us are ditching basis for a quick swipe of tinted moisturizer or truly giving our lashes a once-over with clear mascara, Erika La Pearl leans toward sharp contours, reduces creases, velvet lips, and flawlessly defined eyebrows – and the results are nothing brief of Instagram-worth. Here’s everything we learned about applying eyeshadow, contouring successfully, and filling in brows from the seasoned herself.
How to contour like a professional
Whether you operate cream or powder, it is hard to strike a balance between a contour that lifts and sculpts cheeks and one that drags your features down. After all, blending requires talent. But consistent with Erika, one easy trick will ensure a perfect end every time. “For simplest software, simply smile,” exactly like you might while using blush to the apples of your cheeks. This will ensure you’re depositing the bronzer in the proper place.
And constantly begin excessively. “Apply your contour from the hairline after the brows, right down to the lowest of your cheek,” adds Erika. The trick is not to deliver the bronzer beyond your nostrils because it’ll elongate instead of lift. Erika recommends ICONIC London’s Strobing Stick, £24.99, and Multi-Use Powder Contour Palette, £32. Ninety-nine, for those who opt for powder over cream-primarily based makeup.
“Powder contours will ensure your makeup stays positioned,” Erika provides. “Don’t forget to use the contour sun shades in hollows of cheeks, beneath the hairline, and alongside the jawline to create definition. Dust the lighter shades at the pinnacle of the cheekbones, Cupid’s bow and forehead bone.”
Invest in a makeup sponge.
“I discover that after using things like foundation and concealer, it is continually better to use sponges,” says Erika. “A makeup sponge helps clean the skin and fill in pores.” She also shows enlisting a silicone-primarily based primer to blanket over pores, blemishes, and dry pores and skin. Try Ole Henriksen’s Banana Bright Face Primer, £28, or The Ordinary’s High Adherence Silicone Primer, £three.99.
Ditch your makeup brushes
Many of us spend a fortune on the fluffiest, plushest makeup brushes; however, rarely do any makeup artists use them tto perfect each base and eye makeup. “I use the hints of my hands to use eyeshadow,” Erika instructed R29. “I just locate it better than using a brush.” Not simplest do your palms allow for more unique, controlled software, specifically inside the corners; however, it approaches you could genuinely percent at the coloration. Erika costs Morphe’s The James Charles Artistry Palette £39.
Erika isn’t always the most effective seasoned to eschew tools; each Mary Greenwell and Val Garland advocates using their fingertips to use such things as eyeshadow and basis. “Sometimes, makeup sponges absorb too much product, and that’s a waste,” Val formerly instructed R29. “I get why some humans don’t like brushes; it’s because you may often see the residue.” Ensure your arms are smooth and gentle, especially across the eyes, to no longer pull at your pores and skin. Erika provides: “When I move for a brightly colored eye, I want to go along with a nude lip so Cardi’s eyes can pop. I love Fenty Beauty’s Stunna Lip Paint in Unveil, £19.”
Two shades are better than one in terms of filling in brows.
Erika advises steerage clean of unmarried, amazing darkish sun shades while defining eyebrows. They can make them look too harsh and blocky. Instead, pass for the multi-tonal effect. “Enlisting two-tone products – my cross-to is ICONIC London’s Brow Cushion, £26. Ninety-nine – makes eyebrows look more natural. Use a double-sided applicator with a spoolie at one stop and an extremely thin angled brush at the other.” Using strokes, follow the lighter shade at the beginning of the forehead and convey this to the center, where hairs are naturally more sparse. Then, apply the slightly darker hue from the center to the cease of your brows. Brush through with the spoolie to soften the strokes as you go.
Swap forehead gel for…Hair gel
Beyoncé’s makeup artist, Sir John, once cited he uses Pritt Stick to set brow hairs in the region for hours on stop. However, Erika’s alternative is a touch extra hair-friendly: Schwartzkopf’s got2b Glued Water Resistant Spiking Glue, £4.19. Roll a spoolie brush in a small dollop of gel and comb it through the brows, brushing barely upwards (not sideways) for a more herbal, fluffy look.
