In the play An Ideal Husband, Oscar Wilde wrote: ‘an acquaintance that begins with a compliment is sure to develop into a real friendship.’ I’m inclined to agree with Mrs Cheveley who is assigned this line – I find that compliments are always an agreeable accompaniment to a burgeoning friendship (and, indeed, to a firmly established one).
His words ran through my head last week when the make-up artist Amanda Bell told me that my look called Talitha Getty to mind. Google that Getty: I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s a compliment of the highest order. After this watershed moment in our friendship, I flung any flimsy pretence of professionalism aside (I was at a work event and trying to project a suitably polished air) and started to enthuse over the wonder of caramel tones with Amanda.
On leaving, she thrust the below Pixi lipstick into my hands and told me it’d be the perfect shade to complement my colouring. In light of the experience I’ll amend Oscar’s words: in my opinion an acquaintance that begins with a compliment – and the gift of a lipstick – is sure to develop into a real friendship. Amanda: you have my number.
Here’s my take on Talitha’s insouciant glowy make-up look //
Base / Nars Concealer in Medium 1 Custard on blemishes and under eyes and then Eve Lom Mineral Powder in Alabaster buffed in with a Spectrum Brush.
Bronzer / Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder in No 30 applied with the same Spectrum Brush.
Brows / Smashbox Brow Tech Matte Pencil in Brunette set with RMK Brow Gel.
Eyes / Pixi by Petra Mesmerizing Mineral Palette in Mineral Contour – I applied the reflective bronze (third from bottom) on lids and under eyes with the Liz Earle eyeshadow brush and added depth to the contour and towards the outer corners with the shimmering deep brown (second from the bottom).
Mascara / Lancome Hypnose Volume-a-Porter.