Ask the Expert: Top makeup tips and tricks from MAC to see you through the party season
Whether it is perfecting your foundation base, ensuring your makeup lasts the entire day or achieving the current trending looks, we've got you covered.
Whenever a guru graces our town, Yahoo Life Singapore loses no time grilling them with top beauty tips, as with sharing our top beauty buys. In this article, who is better than Anton Zimin, Senior Artistry Manager of MAC Asia Pacific, who has been with MAC since the brand started, to answer your burning questions on all things makeup?
From building a solid foundation, the best way to prep our skin, the latest must-have makeup from MAC and exclusive insider beauty tips to achieving your best face forward for the upcoming festive season and parties to come. We’ve got you covered for Halloween, Christmas and the New Year!
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Yahoo Life Singapore: Why is applying a good base important? Which MAC product can help us achieve a poreless appearance?
Anton Zimin: There are many good reasons for applying a base before your makeup. For example, it helps minimise your pores, blurs any imperfections, mattifies your skin and adds an extra glow to your skin. If you need to hydrate your skin and make your skin look matte and pore-less – Studio Fix Mattify Primer will be your magic wand!
Step-by-step guide to building the perfect canvas or foundation base
Step 1: Always start with hydrated skin!
Apply Hyper Real Serumizer to moisturise your skin for a healthy, glowing look. If you have dry skin, you can also massage your skin with Hyper Real Skin Balm to reduce dryness.
Hyper Real Serumizer Skin Balancing Hydration Serum
Hyper Real Skincanvas Balm Moisturizing Cream
Step 2: Choose a suitable primer for your skin
At MAC, we have various products designed for different skin needs:
Studio Fix Mattify: Controls oil and shine and minimizes pores (recommended for oily skins)
Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer: A radiant primer that prepares your skin for the smooth application of makeup and delivers soothing hydration and radiance (recommended for dry skin)
Studio Radiance Moisturizing + Illuminating Silky Primer
Lightful C+ Coral Grass Tinted Primer SPF 45/PA++++: To perfect, prime, and protect your skin. Once applied, your skin will be immediately hydrated and look more even in tone (recommended for all skin types)
Step 3: Use foundation with brush
Use 2-3 Studio Radiance Serum-Powered Foundation pumps with brush #170 to create a flawless, softly luminous, and even skin tone.
Step 4: Correct and conceal where necessary
Use the Studio Finish Conceal and Correct palette to cover dark circles or redness as needed.
Step 5: Set and blur
Finish the look with Studio Fix Powder Set and Blur to achieve a soft radiance.
Studio Fix Pro Set + Blur Weightless Loose Powder, 12g
Since the latest MAC Studio-radiance serum-powered foundation comes with serum, can we skip our skincare?
I recommend using skincare products before your foundation because the formulae and skin needs differ, too. Hyper Real Serumizer preps your skin by hydrating deep layers to give a healthy-looking radiance. It also strengthens the skin barrier and improves skin quality. On the other hand, Studio Radiance Foundation, which works on top of the Hyper Real Serumizer, helps to create an even skin tone and a flawless, radiant look because its base is 80% skincare to enhance results.
Studio Perfect SPF15/PA+ Foundation Refill Radiant Intensified Moisture-Fusion Complex
What ingredients went into the MAC Studio-radiance serum-powered foundation, and what can it do for our skin/makeup?
We made sure only the good stuff goes into it which includes 10% Hyaluronic Acid Solution which hydrates and helps the skin hold onto moisture; and Vitamin E which protects against environmental pollution and digital blue light. And there's more! the MAC Studio-radiance serum-powered foundation also comes with Jojoba Oil and Olive Oil to nourish skin with 33 ingredients, instantly increasing skin hydration by 209% and providing 12 hours of lasting radiance, 24 hours of hydration, and a flawlessly radiant look.
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How do we use a makeup-fixing spray? Which one would you recommend, and how do we use without streaking our eye makeup?
One and Only Fix+ Stay Over is always my go-to product. Just spray it over the face when you finish your makeup. The new pump creates a more even and weightless mist, so you do not need to worry about streaking your makeup.
Fix+ Stay Over
What makeup trends have you observed, and how can the layperson achieve them?
Glowing, radiant, healthy-looking skin is a trend on social media and in real life!
In MAC, we called this trend #BACKLIGHTING! To be inspired by trends and know how to get the look, follow us on social media using #mactrend! Our artists worldwide share their favourite tips and tricks to achieve these looks effortlessly.
Please walk us through one or two makeup trends we can quickly achieve using specific MAC products.
My current favourite trend is #BACKLIGHTING. Everyone can achieve a beautiful, flawless glow that can be quickly finished with just a drop of foundation! It takes just three easy steps:
Step 1: Apply Hyper Real Serumizer with your fingertips and massage into the skin.
Step 2: Use the #170 brush and 2-3 pumps of the new Studio Radiance Serum-Powered Foundation and blend well for an even skin tone
Step 3: Add Studio Fix Set and Blur Powder on the T-zone — and that’s it!
I also love the #90snude trend, a soft brown monochrome makeup inspired by 90s supermodels. To achieve this, use 2-3 shades from the Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette in Unfiltered Nudes shade using your favourite technique — either for a smoky eye or a monochrome look.
I recommend using the Spice lip pencil (or darker) for lips to get a beautiful soft brown lip contour and the Thanks, It's MAC on top (from the MAC Lustreglass lipstick range).
Which products from MAC would you recommend for someone looking to elevate their makeup or get out of a makeup rut? How can we use these tools/ makeup to achieve different looks day and night?
These are my top tips and tricks:
1. For the day, use blush instead of contour to make you look fresher.
2. Use the same shade for the eyes, cheeks, and lips to balance your makeup (for example, peachy shades).
3. Add sparkle to your eye makeup for an evening with Dazzleshadow in Flash and Dash.
4. Change your lipstick before going out — I recommend our iconic Ruby Woo lipstick!
Pearlescence Eyeshadow X 12 Palette (Limited Edition), 17.2g
To be inspired and find something new, follow the #mactrend hashtag on social media or visit a MAC store to talk to one of our professional makeup artists.
Which are the top MAC makeup essentials we need to have in our makeup stash? And why?
1. Our Hyper Real Serumizer and Studio Radiance Serum-Powered Foundation are the perfect skin couple. They work together seamlessly to create even, radiant, and flawless-looking skin.
2. Fix+ Stay Over locks in your look for 24 hours.
3. Lustreglass lipstick in the Thanks, It's Mac shade is ideal for an everyday look.
4. Glow Play blush is just beautiful! Try it, and you will fall in love with the texture of this long-lasting blush.
Studio Radiance Serum-Powered Foundation
Glow Play Blush Wild Cherry (Limited-Editon), 7.3g
Any other makeup tips to share?
Try Prep+Prime Fix+ right after Studio Fix Powder Foundation for a natural finish foundation that is less powdery.
Keep a MAC lipstick in your makeup bag. You can refresh your lip look anytime and add a little to your cheeks as a blush!
Locked Kiss 24hr Lipstick, 30g
More about Anton Zimin
Anton Zimin is the Senior Artistry Manager of M∙A∙C Asia Pacific. He has been with MAC Cosmetics since day one. “After 14 years working in this industry, inspiring the next generation of makeup artists for MAC is my biggest contentment. With MAC, I am able to make magic dreams around the world, from big fashion magazines to international fashion week from London, Paris, New York, or Milan. “
