I am one of those people that hates having their makeup done, in day to day life this wouldn't really be a problem, except that as a beauty journalist I'm constantly dodging a waggling arm with a makeup brush. But when I was offered the chance for Rihanna's makeup artist, Priscilla Ono, to paint my face I was in that chair quicker than Bad Gal RiRi can get on a carnival float.
Priscilla first met Rihanna back on the set of her S&M music video and as global makeup artist for Fenty Beauty I knew she was going to give me the kind of makeover that would make me never want to wash my face again, but I wasn't quite prepared for her to make my skin look the best it's ever looked.
Here's everything I learnt from Priscilla in those face-changing 45 minutes (yes I took copious notes... Thank me later).
1. Prepping your skip will stop your foundation emphasising your fine lines
Confession time: I wasn't a fan of the Fenty Beauty foundation when I first tried it. Personally for me, the matte, longwear formula was super unflattering and emphasised every single line and crevice on my forehead. I literally looked like that guy that's made up of tiny bits of rock from The Fantastic Four.
When I explained this to Priscilla she looked at me like 'I got you' and told me that the key to making a matte foundation work if you have dry skin is all in the prep. Not only did Priscilla take time cleansing my skin - using the exfoliating side of the cotton pad on those typically dry areas like the corners of my nose - but she moisturised me like I've never been moisturised before.
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"You want to make sure you're hydrating and keeping the skin as moist as possible. I apply a lot of moisturiser and then I spray a hydrating face mist like the Mario Badescu Rosewater. I spray before makeup, in-between and after, to give skin that sheen so you don't look dry."
After all that prep work my skin - with the same Fenty foundation I thought I hated - had never looked more glowing, hydrated, or plump. After swearing I would never use that foundation again, it's now back at the top of my shopping list.
2. Don't just use a sponge to apply your foundation
When it comes to foundation application I either use a sponge, a brush, or my fingers depending on the formula, but Priscilla's preferred method is a combination of two.
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She starts by applying the foundation with the Fenty Beauty Full Bodied Foundation Brush (£26), before blending in with the Fenty Beauty Precision Makeup Sponge (£13). That way she has more control over the amount of coverage she wants, but still gets the airbrushed finish a sponge normally gives.
3. And don't apply it everywhere
I realise that my first 3 points are about foundation, but seriously my skin has never looked like this in my life, so here we are. If, like me, you're guilty of drowning your face in foundation to achieve that perfect base, you might want to rethink your technique after hearing what Priscilla has to say.
"You don’t have to do a full face all the time. I usually don’t put that much makeup on my forehead or outer part of my face. I only put it where needed and if you do that it actually makes your skin look more like skin, which is what everyone wants."
It's like she can read my actual mind...
4. You'll never highlight the same after learning the 'Rihanna technique'
I thought I loved highlighter but it turns out that both Priscilla and RiRi love it just that bit more, which is how Priscilla came up with 'Rihanna technique'. This involves using one colour of highlighter on the cheekbones and blending that colour into a slightly darker highlighter shade on the temples and outer corners of the eye.
The result is cheekbones that glow brighter than my future and yours combined... No offence.
5. Soap brows aren't as much of a faff as they seem
If you're a fan of a full, bushy, brushed-up brow, Priscilla recommends using soap instead of brow gel, but achieving that editorial look isn't as hard as it sounds.
First Priscilla fills in the eyebrows like normal with a pencil, before brushing a wet spoolie (eyebrow) brush in a clear un-scented bar of soap and brushing it through the brows. This not only gives your brows that editorial look, but it also keeps them in place ALL DAY.
6. Wetting your eyeshadow brush is a MUST
For my warm shimmery eye, Priscilla used Fenty Beauty's new Moroccan Spice palette but to turn up the heat that bit further she spritzed her brush with her beloved face mist before dipping into the shimmer shadows, to really intensify the colour and sparkle.
Buy now Fenty Beauty Moroccan Spice Eyeshadow Palette, Harveynichols.com, £42
7. Dot to dot is not just for children
If you struggle to get your eyeliner flicks even (let's be honest who doesn't), Priscilla draws a teeny-tiny dot on both eyes, to mark where she wants her flick to end. As long as you follow the dots you can guarantee you won't end up with a lopsided face.
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Now, if only Priscilla could help me with my selfie taking skills...
With thanks to King of the Booth.
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