Softly defined eyes

Alexander Wang's Autumn/Winter 2013 collection Photo: GO RUNWAY

Alexander Wang may be a fan of 1990s grunge, but the make-up at his autumn/winter show was oh-so modern, a brilliant example of a subtly defined eye as reported by Telegraph's Beauty Editor, Sonia Juttla .

To achieve the look, the first thing to do is to even out the eye area with a brightening concealer, such as By Terry's Touch-Expert Advanced (£29, spacenk.co.uk). Blend the light, luminous liquid under the eyes and on the lid a little to soften dark circles and brighten the area. 

Then for easy-peasy eyeshadow, apply and blend Clinique's Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes in Lots o' Latte (£16, clinique.co.uk) on the lid and in the contour. It provides a soft, pretty sheen, nothing more than a gentle focus on the eyes. 

Then, to give your eyes defined focus, try Dior's Style Liner Intense Liquid Eyeliner (£22.50, houseoffraser.co.uk). Rest it on the lash-line and, staying as close to the bed of your eyelashes as possible, draw a thin line from the inner corner of the lid to the outer edge. 

Finally, set the effortless with our lightweight Collagen Spritz (£39, facematters-skincare.com). It's refreshing touch will bring you instant cool in a hot day like today and it will keep that beautiful makeup of yours intact throughout the day (Psst! - we're also giving one away on Twitter ).

There's no need to flick: the beauty of this look is in its subtlety.

Image: Telegraph

Apply perfect make up with your hands?

A make-up artist gets hands-on backstage at Alexander Wang  

For years, beauty experts have extolled brushes as the only way to achieve a flawless finish. But with s/s 2013 comes a new dawn in make-up application - make-up artists use their hands to buff, pat, tap and smear. But surely this defiant act can only result in misplaced, daubs in all the wrong places?

Instead, by warming it between their fingers, make-up literally melted into the skin, creating a lit-fromwithin radiance. At Alexander Wang, DKNY and Valentino, lips were stained, eyes shining and cheeks flushed with the kind of glow usually provided by 90 minutes of Bikram yoga. Luckily, Stylist Magazine is here to give us all the tips on how to get handsy.

DOWN TOOLS

Get hands on to create a fresh, natural daytime look. Feel your face as you read this...    

INDEX FINGER: This finger is directly linked to the brain and the most responsive to temperature changes (according to Melita Ryan, hand specialist in the neuro-physiologist department at the London Brain Centre). It heats up fast — good for blending — and exerts the most strength. Smudge Double-Wear Pencil, £16, Estée Lauder, into the lash line or press on eyeshadow (minimising the ‘pigment drop’ on cheeks that brushes can cause).  

THUMB: The fleshy part of the thumb is perfect for applying blusher, as it’s exactly the same size as the cheek area you want to cover with blush. After foundation, press the pad of the thumb into a cream blush (try Crème Cheek Colour in Rosebud, £20.50, Laura Mercier) and gently pat onto the cheekbone.  

HEEL OF THE HAND: Use the chubby part that hinges with the thumb (a bit like a chicken fillet shape) to contour. Apply Shade & Illuminate, £55, Tom Ford, into the hollow of your cheeks, then push and roll, ‘smooshing’ it to smooth out any visible lines.  

PALM: For the perfect face primer rub Face Matters Anti-Ageing Elixir, £85, between your palms to warm the product and sweep from the middle of the face outwards, working into the skin. Follow the same technique with a foundation.

MIDDLE FINGER: This long digit is perfect for dabbing on a lipstick stain without the others smudging it. Use also to pat liquid or cream highlighters like Face Sculpting Palette in Kick Start, £12.50, Topshop Make-Up, onto cheekbones, brow bones and the bridge of the nose. This motion helps reflective particles lie flat.  

LITTLE FINGER: The pinky works with creams or powders. “Use it to dab pale shadow into the inner corner,” says Andrew Gallimore. “I call it a fingerprint of eyeshadow.” Try Color Tattoo 24Hr in Eternal Gold, £4.99, Maybelline New York.  

RING FINGER: This finger has the softest touch — ideal for this delicate eye area. Charlotte Tilbury advises tapping around the eyes and temples “in a pitterpatter motion” to stimulate blood flow, plumping up the skin for an airbrushed effect. Try Hydra Life BB Eye Crème, £29, Dior.  

Let me know if you tried it and what you think. Are you sticking to your brush collection?