Make up tips for a day at the races

by  jaguarmena 

Have you been to the races before? If so, you'll know that it's one of the most fun events for dressing up and looking glamorous during the day time. Women spend hours choosing the right outfit for the races, and with good reason. Many racing events have special days where a prize is given to the best dressed person. As a result, these events aren't just about betting on the right horse - they can also be something of a fashion parade and the general rule is that you dress to impress. Besides choosing the right ensemble, your choice of make up for the races is equally important – after all, it needs to enhance your look, complement your chosen colours and balance out bold hats. Here are some really useful tips for what makeup to wear to the races.

Choosing the right makeup for your hat

A dramatically designed head piece, hat or fascinator can steal the show, but you shouldn't let your features go unnoticed at the same time. Contrary to what you might think, a bold piece of headgear also calls for bold makeup, otherwise your look is going to be unbalanced. Don't believe me? Even the world famous hat designer Philip Treacy holds this opinion.

So, bold is the way forward when it comes to complimenting your hat for the races. As luck would have it, Philip Treacy, who has designed hats for Kate Middleton and Lady Gaga in the past, has recently launched a special hat-inspired make up range for MAC. His products have fun names like the “Royal Wink” fluidliner in blue and the “No Faux Pas” lipstick in hot pink. They sound like the perfect bold statement shades to give you and your hat the wow-factor.

Another great brand for dramatic shades is Illamasqua. Check out the video below for a dramatic eye look that's perfect for the races:

 

If your chosen hat has a wide brim, bear in mind that it will create a shadow over your face. There are a few ways to combat this with make-up. Firstly, make sure your eyes pop under that brim by creating a bold look for your lashes. A few false lashes along your lash line should add extra drama where it's needed. Secondly, since your skin is going to be in the shadows, it will be in danger of looking slightly dull. The good news is there are lots of handy illuminating products out there to give your skin an extra glow. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm or Revlon Photo Ready Skinlights should do the trick. Finally, don't forget to conceal dark under eye areas that could look more dramatic when shadowed under your hat.

How to match your dress to your make up

Obviously, there are certain colours that are going to be harder to match to your make up than others. Neons are one example of a palette that isn't going to be suitable for the highbrow dress codes at the races. Instead, when choosing the colour of your dress you want to go for something vibrant, yet sophisticated, and the same can be said for your make up. One look that's been popular on the red carpet lately is the “matchy-matchy” trend for makeup shades that match the dress colour exactly. Harper's Bazaar magazine recently described this trend as “both classically chic yet refreshingly innovative”. It's a tricky look to pull off, but if you get it right it will certainly turn heads. Here are some colours you could try:

• Deep plum lips to match a plum coloured dress, a look suited to olive skinned beauties like Selena Gomez
• Peachy cheeks and lips to match a pinky-peach outfit, best worn by those with an English Rose complexion, like Emma Stone
• Electric blue eyeshadow to match a blue dress or hat, as seen on Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o

Tip: a word of warning on the use of bold make up colours. Whilst you want features to stand out in order to balance out that statement hat, don't go overboard. Stick to one bold make up item, either eyes or lips – never both at the same time. 

By  Idhren  

How to do day time makeup

One important thing to remember when getting ready for the races: it will be day time, and your makeup needs to be adjusted accordingly. A lot of the glamorous make up we usually have in our makeup bags is designed to be worn at night time, and can look too heavy in the harsh light of day. Foundation in particular can look cakey and can settle into creases, which isn't a flattering look to be sporting in the sunshine. So, take care! Invest in a natural looking foundation with just the right amount of coverage. If you have blemishes, you will still need good coverage to create a flawless base for the bold eyes or lips that are going to compliment your outfit. Choose something with a slightly dewy finish for the most natural look. You can always use some loose powder over the top to set it. If you're going to be photographed, remember that some foundations contain SPFs that cause a flashback effect in photos, giving you the effect of a ghostly white face. Shop around for a foundation that has been thoroughly tested and reviewed, and has been proven not to create this effect. The video below has some advice:

by  j3ffm4n 

Making sure your makeup lasts the day

Obviously, you are going to be way too busy enjoying the races to re-do your make up. So, make sure you plan ahead and choose some long-wearing makeup that will last all day without rubbing off, fading or smudging. Most makeup brands do “8 hour” or “12 hour” ranges that are made with special long lasting ingredients. Eyeshadows and lipsticks aside, you need to be sure that longer lasting foundations are still natural enough for day time wear, so choose wisely.

Here are some final tips for flawless day time makeup:

• Carry a bag that's just big enough to fit a few essential items like concealer in it, so you can do touch-ups throughout the day
• Bring a compact in case of emergencies (smudges, watering eyes, etc)
• Choose a long-wearing lipstick or lip stain to avoid lipstick marks on your champagne glass

Hopefully these tips have helped you to come up with the perfect makeup look for your special day out. Good luck at the races!