Red carpet reverse: How to take down a full-glam look for the bus home

Sometimes, you need to go from full glam to no thank you ma’am quickly; instead of desk-to-dancefloor, you’re going from ballgown-to-Ballygowan at the gym, or getting the last bus after a big night out. Here’s how to take your look down a bit…

Usually, it’s all about building up your look – adding liner, glitter, lipstick and whatever you’re having yourself, in order to take your beauty up a notch.

Make-up artist Patrick Ta will be at the IMAGE Beauty Festival on May 25-26 and will be talking about red carpet beauty, but what happens if you’ve been at a big meeting, a night out, or a glam event and now you’ve to go to the gym, go see your nan or take the 17A bus back home?

Three ways to reverse glam

Here are my three tried and tested tips to take things a bit more low-key…

1. Hide the shadow – if you’ve got heavy eye make-up on, remove what you can with eye make-up remover, and reapply a bit of eye cream, a base shade like MAC Groundwork, and then a lick of mascara for a daytime appropriate look. This includes false lashes – get RID!
2. Lip lower – If you’re wearing a pop of bright red, pink or wine on your lips, remove it and replace with a nude shade or a simple slick of gloss. It’ll say ‘relaxed glam’ rather than ‘red carpet vixen’.
3. Soften that contour – blend, blend and blend some more. Take down any harsh contouring with a fluffy brush or foundation brush, and pop a fresh, healthy bit of peach blush on the apples of your cheeks.

Mega Slim Skinny Mascara €4.95

MAC Paintpot in Groundwork, €22

Bobbi Brown Coral Sugar Blush, €27

IMAGE Beauty Festival

The IMAGE Beauty Festival is set to me an unforgettable weekend of beauty.

On Saturday May 25, don’t miss your chance to meet make-up artist to the stars Patrick Ta for tips on how to create some of the hottest red carpet looks. He’s joined by an expert panel: Adam Reed, L’Oréal Professionnel UK Editorial Ambassador and one of Ireland’s most in-demand session stylists David Cashman will be there telling you all.

Tickets: €45. Available now, limited places!

We look forward to seeing you there on May 25-26.

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More like this:

• Patrick’s Ta’s top looks… here
• Sculpting tips from the expert… here
• IMAGE Beauty Festival: What’s it all about?… here