Strobe your face: Learn about 2015’s key make-up trend

While make-up trends in recent times have been about re-shaping one’s features (think contouring), the look for 2015 is about keeping true to one’s natural beauty. PHOTO| MARTIN MUKANGU

What you need to know:

  • “Strobing, in effect, is placing the light exactly where you want it to be.”

  • Strobing is achieved by using highlighter or strobe liquid to emphasise areas where the light hits the face.

While make-up trends in recent times have been about re-shaping one’s features (think contouring), the look for 2015 is about keeping true to one’s natural beauty.

We met with MAC senior resident make-up artist Marco Louis, who has worked with MAC for the past five years, who says,

“The go-to trend in make-up for 2015 would have to be personalisation. It is important for every woman to acknowledge every feature that makes her incredible and play on this. We have moved away from transforming. Enhancing and accentuating is key.”

One of the best ways to do this is to utilise strobing, which is basically the opposite of contouring.

“Strobing, in effect, is placing the light exactly where you want it to be.” Strobing is achieved by using highlighter or strobe liquid to emphasise areas where the light hits the face. “The most flattering area for this would be the high planes of the face. Pay attention to where natural light hits the face and work with that,” Marco says. There is the perception that to get this dewy-skin look, one must have a particular skin-type. “(Strobing) can work with any skin type or tone,” Marco says.

It is better to strobe specific areas rather than the whole face. “It is definitely more effective when placed only on the high planes of the face, like the cheek bones,” Marco says.

“This look gives a sense of ultimate femininity.”

Marco’s go-to products for this look are MAC’s Strobe Liquid and the MAC 224 blending brush. “Using circular motions, feather Strobe Liquid onto the high planes of the face,” he says.

You may then layer your regular foundation and some bronzer, if you’d like, and finish off with your favourite make-up colours.

 

Pictures: Martin Mukangu. Products available at MAC stores.