Miss M Miss M, I Want Your Make-Up, Girl!

This week Belfast staged its own version of the Oscars as countless celebrities stepped out on the red carpet for one of Northern Ireland’s biggest events. Last night saw The Fate Awards, in association with Diet Coke, take place in the new surroundings of the Europa Hotel.

True to form, the awards turned out some of the most recognisable faces on the small screen. Jungle king Christopher Biggins and our very own Gemma Garrett hosted the event and among the audience were celebrities including Loose Women’s Carol McGiffin and Denise Welch, recent winner of Popstar to Operastar Darius Campbell, Gavin and Stacey star Margaret ‘Doris’ John, Pamela Ballantine, Kim Woodburn, Nicola T, Paul Rankin, Rory McIlroy, Michael Deane and Michelle Heaton.

So how do all these celebrities look picture perfect for their red carpet events? The secret is simple — behind every beautiful celebrity there is normally a highly skilled make-up team!

With a few insider tips, I’m sure I can help you get ready for your own red carpet event.

The one thing that I noticed at this year’s Oscars was that all the ladies embraced their natural skin complexion and, in most cases, the false tan was ditched as they went back in time to the classic days of the great screen names such as Audrey Hepburn, Rita Hayworth and Sophia Loren. It was all about natural beauty and making the most of what they have.

If you’re getting ready for any fancy party the first thing to think about is a really deep exfoliation from head to toe. Clinique do a great at-home chemical peel for the face — Turnaround Radiance Peel — which will get rid of all those horrible dead skin cells. For the body, try one of the gorgeous body scrubs from Molton Brown to leave your skin moisturised, replenished and ball-gown ready.

It’s important to really moisturise the skin after any procedure, whether it’s the face or body. For the face, try the Rose Day Cream from Dr Hauschka, a rich natural moisturiser, and Kiehl’s Creme de Corps on your body. This non-scented body cream will leave your skin feeling like silk and you can even add some essential oils to create your own fragrance.

When it comes to make up, always use a primer to give you a smooth, long-lasting application. Once your foundation is sitting flawlessly, try a few products from the brand new make-up range that Hollywood starlets can’t seem to get enough of. The brand is called Senna and now we have access to the entire range right here in Northern Ireland at Urban Beauty and Skin Care in Dundonald. It was created by Eugenia Weston, an Emmy-nominated celebrity make-up artist — Bette Midler and Jennifer Aniston are just some of the A- list celebs that swear by her foundations.

Senna’s Brow Guru Kit is fantastic for defying thinning brows. The kit comes with two colours, a clear pomade for texture and gloss, two mini brushes and four stencils to get that perfect shape.

Show off your fabulous newly contoured eyebrows with one of 13 sparkling eye colours. They are available in two sizes — large Pounds 14.50 and small Pounds 13.00. These eye colours are perfect for a more mature lady as the sparkling pigments are very gentle and not overpowering, creating a subtle and elegant look.

Mineral make-up is the new trend in cosmetics and, as it uses natural ingredients, it is much better for your skin. Senna Mineral Mix Blush and Tint is a sheer mineral blush with a shimmering tint on top. This is a great blush for spring/summer as it’s so light and fresh.

No red carpet look would be complete without a glossy lip colour. Senna’s Cream Glow Lipstick has a full-bodied, creamy texture with a slight metallic/reflective sheen. This lipstick protects and hydrates your lips while also staying put.

So ladies, now that you have the look enjoy strutting your stuff on your next red carpet outing.