A couple of weeks back I got the chance to talk all things beauty with an icon; Alan Pan, at Boots Southampton. Alan is Estée Lauder’s Global Makeup Artist and boy does this guy know a lot about beauty!
Alan started with teaching me how to properly prep my skin. Using Estée Lauder’s incredible skincare, Alan gave me a run down of how to get lots of moisture into my skin and help protect it against the elements. To refresh my skin, Alan started with giving me a healthy dose of the Micro Essence. This product has a water-like texture, is cooling and packed full of the Micro-Nutrient Bio-Ferment to nourish and calm the skin.
Next, to help repair my skin, Alan used the incredible Advanced Night Repair Ampoules. I absolutely loved the texture of this serum/oil, it was instantly plumping and calming.
After applying moisturiser to my skin Alan then went in with the Revitalizing Supreme+ Global Anti-Aging Cell Power Eye Gelée. This is an incredible product! First, the eye gel cream is dispensed through a cooling metal applicator, which is brilliant for de-puffing the under eye and working the product in gently. The cream gel is lightweight, whilst still being so smoothing and plumping. Alan called this product ‘fatigue-fighting’ and I have to agree with him!
So on to the makeup! Alan stressed the importance of primer, as it helps over makeup cling on to something throughout the day. After all the nourishing skincare, Alan went for The Smoother. This smoothing primer, part of the new primer range to the brand, is amazing for lots of skin types to smooth the skin and help products glide on.
As I hadn’t tried much Estée Lauder makeup before, Alan had to get me to try the cult favourite; Double Wear foundation. As I hadn’t tried any Estée Lauder foundation before, Alan used the shade matcher at the counter to match me perfectly. I loved the fact that Estée Lauder scans three different areas of your face to work out what would be the best colour for you overall. I had always imagined that Double Wear, although is a multi-award winning product, would be really heavy. But Alan showed me how the foundation can be used lightly for the day, by applying a light layer, and how to build the coverage up for the evening.
To perfect my under eyes, Alan used the Double Wear Brush-On Glow BB Highlighter to conceal and brighten. I had read a lot about this product before trying it and have to say I absolutely love it! If you are looking for a product that can give you coverage and brightness under the eyes quickly – this could be for you. It was really interesting to see how Alan placed the concealer. I think with all the Instagram tutorials out there it is easy to assume we all need a thick swipe of coverage directly under the eyes. But Alan placed the product in two C shapes in the inner and outter corners of the eye.
With the base looking fresh and dewy, Alan moved on to my brows. Just filling in the areas that I needed colour in, Alan used the Brow Multitasker. This product is such a brow saver! In one little product, you have everything you need to fill and shape the brows. On one end is a spoolie to brush out the brows, on the other end is a slanted brow pencil and then in the middle is a brilliant brow powder.
Finishing off the skin Alan used the Pure Colour Envy Shimmering BlushLights in Sultry Glow to give my cheeks colour and sheen. For warmth, he dipped into the Bronze Goddess Powder Bronzer.
On the eyes Alan went for a simple smokey look. First he used the colours in the Pure Colour Envy Shimmering BlushLights to give my lids a bit of shimmer. For depth around the lash line, Alan used the Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil, to create a messy line which he smudged out with a brush.
Alan created a really lovely lip look on me by using two colours of the Pure Colour Envy Sculpting Lipsticks. The lighter of the two he placed on my top lip, the darker of the two on the bottom. Then he asked me to really smooch my lips together. This meant that the colours mixed together perfectly, and gave a sort of ombre pout!
Finally, Alan went in with a huge dose of the Set + Refresh Perfecting Makeup Mist.
So have you tried any of the products in this post? Or did you learn anything from Alan’s techniques? Let me know in the comments below.
Sam
You look amazing Sam, although a lot of products for quite a natural look, but that is the way I suppose! I’m interested in how he did the concealer, did he then blend it into the under eye area like we do too? I love the brow pencil and eye pencil too, the way he’s smudged the eye liner I could never do! Didn’t know they had the foundation scanner tool now too, do most brands have it? I guess the exclusive period that No7 only had it is finished now.
Amy at Amy & More
Love double Wear, this is one of the best foundations for wearing to weddings etc although it gives flashback i still love it. Some great tips in here too :)
Gill McLaughlin
Estee Lauder is probably my favorite skincare brand. It’s so gentle on my skin but works miracles! I love their products, they smell great too! And you look beautiful!
Love, Layla Rosita | http://www.laylarosita.com