Famed for her signature "dewy dumpling" glow, no one understands radiance better than Nam Vo. She took Vogue through her tried and tested make-up tips.
To scroll through Nam Vo's Instagram feed is to end up in incredulity at the glossy, glowing complexions. Cheekbones shine as if you could see your own reflection in them, and skin seems impossibly luminous.
On a recent visit to London with Marc Jacobs Beauty, Vo broke down exactly how she creates her signature skin from start to finish, telling Vogue, "Healthy skin is not this one-size-fits-all situation. You can have skin that's completely free from blemishes but still looks flat and dull. I don't mind seeing imperfections on the skin – that's what makes it look so fresh and appealing."
Analyse your skin fully
"What works for somebody else might not necessarily work for you. For example, if you have slightly more lines around the eyes, you may not want to use so much highlighter on the temples and instead focus on your Cupid's bow. Or if you have larger pores on your nose, you don't necessarily want to add shine there. Look at your skin in natural light before you start, and work from there. Don't feel that you must conceal everything. It's much more flattering to have skin with a handful of imperfections than skin that looks heavy with product."
Get the blood flowing
"I like rollers, I also like the FaceGym Pro Tool. Anything that will get the skin moving and the circulation pumping is good. Jade rollers are good for de-puffing, but anything that massages is really useful. Or a sheet mask, maybe. That gives the skin a really nice plumpness and juiciness that makes make-up glide on."
Use the "burnt toast" rule
"When you're adding depth, a good rule of thumb is to think about burnt toast. It's always lighter in the middle, and then darker around the edges, and you want to do something similar with skin. Keep bronzer and contour to the outer perimeter of your face for the most natural effect. I do a very sheer, light base and then add targeted concealer where it's needed, but don't over-use foundation because it doesn't need to go all over your face. Look at your skin in natural light, not just shadowy bathroom light and really analyse the tone of your skin."
Mix and match your tools
"I use a combination of brushes, a Beauty Blender and my fingers – fingers are free, you know! I really do like Beauty Blenders for base and I really like this brush from Marc Jacobs. I always say to my clients, 'slide for sheer, press for coverage'. What I mean by that is if you use a light side-to-side motion, you'll get a sheer finish. When you press, you get density. So if you're looking for real coverage, keep more of a pressing than buffing motion."
Layer it up
Source: vogue.co.uk
