denveralamode.com

The finished face: summer beauty tips

Denver beauty expert Sara DeLuca says a “finished face” is a must this season as you plan your warm-weather makeup routines.

The co-owner of Berencies salon, 3500 E. 12th Ave., fills us in on the latest trends.

PRETTY POLISHED: Beauty expert Sara DeLuca likes a pop of cheek bronze or color applied to the meaty part of the apple of the cheek. "It is so gorgeous when you have really fair skin," she says.

By Lesley Kennedy

Beauty trends haven’t changed a lot in the past few years, says Denver beauty expert Sara DeLuca, but to achieve a face that looks “finished,” she offers these tips.
 
Brows:A strongly-defined eyebrow is key, DeLuca says. “Don’t do as much cutting or trimming – you want a more natural look,” she says. “If they’re light, have your brows tinted. You don’t want anything wimpy.”

Eyes:Mega lashes are a must. “RevitaLash is a great product that works well, or invest in lash extensions,” she says.

Trendy shadow colors are bright green, bright aqua and bright purple. “I always like to contrast shadow color with eye color. Green eyes look great with lavenders, violets and purples. Blue eyes look great with burgundy or copper. Brown eyes look great with aqua blue.”

Afraid of color? DeLuca says to try a more neutral hue on the eyelid and add a pop of color at the lash line. “Color on the upper line gives a softer look, especially for people with dark circles under their eyes. The same goes with lashes – if you accentuate the top lashes rather than bottom, it takes away from dark circles. Or just skip the lower lash line all together.”

PRIVATE EYES: Mega lashes are a must. "RevitaLash is a great product that works well, or invest in lash extensions," DeLuca says.

For night, try the pop of color under the eye for a more dramatic look.

Cheeks:DeLuca likes a pop of cheek bronze or color applied to the meaty part of the apple of the cheek. “It is so gorgeous when you have really fair skin,” she says.

“If you have any undertone of yellow to your skin tone, go opposite with a very bright pink.
I actually used a MAC matte eye shadow called Passionate (for our model) and used a blush brush to apply it.”

JUST BROWSING: "If they’re light, have your brows tinted," DeLuca says. "You don’t want anything wimpy.”

Skin:“Skin is really finished,” DeLuca says. “If you tend to have oily skin, use an oil-free sunscreen and concealer where needed and a powder like Max Studio Fix. Use a brush to apply, not a sponge. A sponge will mix with the oil and make your skin look really cakey. If your skin is really dry, use a tinted moisturizer, apply concealer on top of the moisturizer and light powder. Skin should look matte, not dewy. Around the eye, use Aveda Green Science eye cream. It’s great for any skin type.

Hair:“Buns and knots are really popular right now,” DeLuca says. “Even if you have shorter hair with lots of layers, just pin it in and leave it messy. It looks really fresh and fun, but still polished.”

HOT CROSS BUNS: A messy knot "looks really fresh and fun, but still polished," DeLuca says.

For a side bun, DeLuca says start by parting your hair on the side and use hairspray (she likes Aveda Air Control) before back curling your whole head of hair with a 1 to 1 1/2 –inch curling iron. “Run your fingers through it and pull hair to the side and put it in a pony,” DeLuca says. “Pin it nice and lose and clip in a hair flower right in front of the bun. Let pieces fall nice and loose. You want pieces to fall out.”

If your hair is too short for a pony, take it to the side and just smush it in place, DeLuca says, pinning it into place. You can hide the bobby pins with a flower clip. Look for inexpensive clips at stores like Claire’s or Forever 21. For smaller clips, try kid stores like Justice or Limited Too. Also look for feather clips.

Photos by Joe Mahoney
Model: Gia Mora

LIPS SERVICE: "An intense, creamy, full-colored red lip is great for evening," DeLuca says. Try a glossy red that's a bit more sheer for a softer, more wearable take on the trend.

Related posts:

1. Cute summer beauty look to try
2. No sweat! The hottest summer beauty products
3. Get Gorgeous at Neiman Marcus Beauty Event
4. ‘Mad Men’ makeup artist Q&A
5. Serena Williams scores new beauty line