Kicking Makeup Goals: Sports Star Goes Glam

With the Met Gala and The Logie Awards just passed, SPA+CLINIC have been on a mission to brush-up on the protocols of “wow-factor” red-carpet glamour.

This is why we were beyond excited when Inglot Cosmetics (official event sponsor) invited us to the pre-event styling session before the 2017 Dolan Warren Awards.

2017 Logies Red Carpet Looks: Sophie Monk, Jessica Mauboy, Delta Goodrem

Organised by The Football Federation of Australia, the celebrity-studded ceremony held at the Star Casino Ballroom in Sydney, acknowledges the best players of the season in A-League and professional soccer.

While the red carpet wasn’t rolled out until the evening, hair and makeup for the elite athletes started early.

Western Sydney Wanderers captain and centre-back defender having her platinum locks primped by Schwartzcroft stylish at the hotel suite at the Astral Towers

When we arrived at hotel suite at 9am, styling for the female award nominees was already well underway. Fresh-faced Caitlin Cooper, captain of the Western Sydney Wanderers and former Matildas player, was mid-blow dry!

SUPER TALENT: What an honour it was to meet such an inspiring, talented fellow Australian woman – who was so fun to be around. Hats off to you, Caitlin Cooper!

She told us she only wears the most minimal makeup while playing as “everything pretty much sweats off anyway” and keeps it to a slick of tinted moisturiser with SPF.

Observing Caitlin’s transformation, we share the secrets from Courtney Sinclair, (her makeup artist for the day) and other pros who regularly achieve red-carpet allure on high-profile clients.

Courtney Sinclair, who’s also the national marketing manager for Inglot, is super confident in all her techniques

Prime Position

[l-r: Jane Iredale Pommisst, Inglot HD Corrective Primer, Eles Minerals Pore Refing Primer, Bodyography Exfoliating Lip Primer, Youngblood Cosmetics Stay Put Eyeshadow Primer

When it comes to special event makeup, mastering your base is key and Inglot makeup artist Courtney Sinclar says she loves using a colour correcting primer.

After a generous spritz of hydrating face mist, she reaches for Inglot’s HD Corrective Primer in green, to counteract any redness on Caitlin’s fair complexion. Then, using a large concealer brush, stipples on eye-primer over the whole socket.

“I always apply an exfoliating lip-primer as my first step when I’m getting a client ready for an award ceremony,” adds celebrity makeup artist Michael Brown.

“Then, when it’s time to apply lipstick (at the end of the makeover) dead skin cells are gone, so it makes for a smooth canvas, enabling the colour to last longer.”

“This is why I usually use two primers – one for radiance on the outer-areas of the face, and a pore-refining one down the t-zone because they may shine-up throughout the day.”

Party-worthy Peepers

[l-r: Blind Cosmetics Amplified Black Mascara, Inglot false eyelashes, Blinc Smudge-Proof eyeliner

Once all points of the face have been primed, rather than apply foundation as you might expect, Courtney begins Caitlin’s eye makeup. She prefers to work in this order because it’s easy to clean up any fallout.

“When it comes to eye-makeup, always do the under-eye first – the technique will “lift” any eye shape,” author and celebrity makeup artist, Rae Morris, advised her fans at Melbourne Beauty Expo this year.

Courtney shares her secrets for applying individual false lashes, which are arguably vital force in creating the “wow-factor”:

If you’re using a good quality glue like Inglot, don’t use too much, you only need the finest amount.
Wait until it is almost dry (tacky) before pressing them to the lash-line.
After they’ve bonded, apply mascara over all lashes, including the falsies.

Voila! From sports star to supermodel. The final look

Complexion Perfection

[l-r: Bodyography Buffer brush and Contour Brush, Youngblood Cosmetics Mineral Powder Contour Palette, Eles Minerals Powder Foundation, Jane Iredale Pure Pressed Base]

As a heavily defined face is no longer fashionable, Courtney says she prefers to add depth using a contour powder palette (rather than the cream formulas favoured by the Kardashians) working in light layers and being extra careful to blend.

To avoid white flashback associated with night-time photography, both experts recommend using a “high definition” foundation formula, as they are designed for exactly this purpose.

“If you’re concerned about getting the dreaded white cast, use mineral powder (never matte) to finish the look,” advises Michael Brown.

“I only use powder in the centre of the face for red carpet work, and I use a really small brush – the old school way was to get a really fat brush, dust all over the face, then that’s it but that can be mask-like.

To ensure skin makeup lasts the distance, Michael says he uses a “stippling motion” to press in every layer of makeup from concealer to powder.

“Every product should literally be ‘bonded’ to the skin – if you are too light with your application, it will transfer and fade very quickly.”