Use a Foundation Brush to Apply Concealer- Tips from a Chanel Master Class

Use a Foundation Brush to Apply Concealer: Tips from a Chanel Master Class

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A Chanel Master Class workstation…

I am *so* hooked on those free Chanel Master Classes…

The one I went to last Saturday was at the Macy’s up the street from me. It was two hours of glorious makeup fun, during which time the other students and I (about a dozen of us) were able to gets some hands on experience with a bunch of Chanel makeup, all under adult (read: makeup artist) supervision, of course.

Check with your local Chanel counter if you think you might like to attend one. I think they’re a great way to unwind on a Saturday afternoon.

The classes really are free to attend, but the store does sort of expect hope that you make at least a small purchase while you’re there.

I left with the Sparkling Satins eyeshadow quad (LOVE!) and a slew of ideas and application tips like these:

1. Natural brows

I’ve attempted to use brow pencils before but never really liked my results. I always felt they made my brows look too severe, overdrawn and heavy.

But I guess that’s just because I never knew the secret. It’s actually pretty easy to get natural-looking brows with a pencil.

Start with a brow pencil in the correct shade.

How do you know the correct shade? Well, if you have dark hair like I do, opt for a brown pencil, instead of a black one; black pencils often look too severe. In class I used and loved Chanel Precision Brow Definer in Soft Brown ($28), a medium brown without red undertones.

And if you have lighter hair, Chanel just released a new shade of pencil for fall called Blond Clair, which the instructors said works great. Not too dark, it has just enough color to define lighter brows.

Chanel Precision Brow Definer in Blond Clair

Using the side of a sharpened pencil nib (not the tip), shade your brows. Sharpening extends the length of the usable edge.

To fill in your brows, place the side of the sharpened nib (not the point) parallel to an eyebrow, and fill using small strokes. Try to concentrate color in sparse areas, and use less where the brows are already thick.

Finish by combing the brows with a brow comb. It softens the color and creates a more natural look. Chanel’s Precision Brow Definer conveniently comes with a comb.

2. Buh bye, dark circles

One Chanel instructor suggested using a foundation brush instead of a concealer brush to cover up dark circles, strategically placing concealer into an area she called “the triangle.”

Concealer brushes have thin, pointed brush heads, but they can sometimes leave a caked-on look.

Foundation brushes, on the other hand, may deliver a lighter, more natural look thanks to their fluffier brush heads. They have more surface area with bristles not as densely packed as concealer brush heads.

I gave one a try on Saturday (I’ll describe “the triangle” in a sec), and it did a great job of covering my dark circles without looking caked on or obvious.

As for the triangle method, the instructor who used the phrase said to think of the lower lash line as the first side of the shape, the side of the nose as the second and from the nostril to the outer corner of the eye as the third.

With your foundation brush, fill the triangle with a light application of concealer. I think it really brightened up the area under my eyes.

She tried the trick on me using Chanel Lift Lumiere Concealer in Apricot ($45) and a Chanel #16 Foundation Brush.

3. Not into Nude? Try Praline D’Or

Last year I wrote about a Chanel bestseller called Precision Lip Definer in Nude ($28), a creamy brownish pink lip liner that works on a wide range of skin tones.

Chanel Precision Lip Deinfer in Praline D’Or

The shade has reached cult classic status, but some women still feel it’s too dark for their lips.

Swatches from left to right: Praline D’Or, Nude

For fall, Chanel released a similar but lighter shade called Praline D’Or ($28), a creamy, peachy pink; if Nude gave you trubs, Praline might be worth checking out.

Just another manic Monday

Thank gawd for random old school hip hop… Remember this song from Ghost Town DJs? This was the JAM back in the late ’90s!

I just got back from dance class, and now I’m nibbling on some edamame and mushroom ravioli for dinner. Exciting, huh?

How was your day? Is it Friday yet?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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