One man trying a MAC Cosmetics makeover

Days after London Fashion Week was over, quite a few street style photos of me appeared on various fashion and news sites. Everyone said I looked great but I honestly thought I looked awful in them – and still do. One thing that really bothered me was that I appeared to have dark eye circles in some of the shots – which is completely bizarre because I have been told that they are not visible in person yet for some reason they appear when shot by camera. Determined to do something about it, I went down to the MAC store just off Carnaby Street, to tell them about the problem. The make-up artist told me straight out that she could not see any dark circles and felt baffled by my claims. Another problem I had was that my skin is so pale that my facial features simply disappears when a professional DSLR camera flash is used. I have lost count of how many times I have had my photos taken by photographers at launch parties, standing with my friends, and my friends always looked good because they use self-tanners (I don’t) or make-up to darken their skin but due to my super pale skin, you could only see my eyes and lips – other than that it would just be just blank white. The real problem is the DSLR camera flash used by professional photographers tends to be much too powerful for pale skin. Compact camera flashes are usually fine because they are tiny.

So I had asked the make-up artist if she could significantly warm up the colour of my skin. First, she used the Prep & Prime SPF 50 and slowly massaged it in using the palms of her hands. My God, the massaging felt rather HEAVENLY. After this she used the Careblend Powder (Medium) and brushed it all around my face, warning me that it was three shades darker than my normal skin colour. The final product she added was the matt bronzer.

MAC Cosmetic makeover for men

MAC Cosmetic makeover for men

I took these photos at home and never intended to share them with anyone, then a few days later I thought, why not blog about it? What do you think of the look? Does it look too dark (I think it does)? Or does it look good? I would love to try a more yellowish-golden look, rather than the bronze it is. Any suggestions?

Editor of BoyMeetsFashion.com. I eat, sleep & breathe fashion. Love the arts. Named as the 8th Top Fashion Insider by Daily Telegraph. Featured in TATLER's Bystander (four times). Described as one of London's "most stylish" people by Daily Mail. Named and featured in Evening Standard's "the Capital's Most Influential" article. I have written for The Times, Stylist Magazine, Harrods, Huffington Post, DUNE and Debenhams.

29 Comments

  • May 7, 2012

    Iram Imtiaz

    You look amazing here! Good job :) it looks really natural too.
    A more golden look would be pretty cool too, you should try it out and let us see. My only suggestion to you is to use the same products on your neck as it’s seriously pale compared to your face but other than that you look fab!

    xo

  • May 7, 2012

    Sarah Betty

    I think it looks really good, but I think you might need a shade lighter. I am pale too and have the same problem. I tend to find Mac a bit dark for what they call pale, so might try a stage or two up?

    Sarah Betty xx 

  • May 7, 2012

    Fiona Savvy

    I definitely know what you mean about flash photoagraphy.. it can definitely make someone like myself look ghostly white and washed out however for me personally a little bronzer in the right areas and eye makeup is enough to not make me look as ghostly… and also fake tanner in summer!

    For you it’s clear to see your complexion looks nicer a little warmer (haha loving the last pic btw) however I think this is a little TOO warm and looks like you are wearing makeup even if it was brought down on to your neck… though when foundation/powder is brought down on to the neck it does tend to come off on clothing – not good! So I think you should definitely try out some  facial fake tanners as then you wouldn’t need to worry about it coming off or looking heavy on the skin either.

    Fee x

  • May 7, 2012

    Leigh Wildthyme

    I’m with the others – if you do want to try this look more often, because it does look great on you, go one or two shades lighter. Try Illamasqua on Beak St as well as Mac. 

  • May 7, 2012

    Chel

    It’s too dark. Go 2 shades lighter. Also, you can’t just look at your face in a vacuum. It looks out of place compared to the white skin of your neck.

    Be careful of using any “HD” products because they’ll white you out even more under lights or flash.

  • May 8, 2012

    Anastasia & Duck

    I agree, it’s too dark.  You shouldn’t be able to see a difference in skin tone between your face and neck…

    DSLR flash is a nightmare, I always think it makes skin/facial features look weird.  Somehow it highlights every blemish too.  I think differently pigmented layers of the skin reflect/absorb the light differently, so features not seen in daylight appear. 

    If you’re mainly worried about the dark circles I really recommend YSL Touche Eclat for Men – it’s the only “make up” product I ever wear.  It’s just a a subtle pen you use under your eyes and really helps with dark circles.  The “men” part of it is (according to shop assistant) a smoother mixture so you can spread it with fingers easily rather than with a make-up sponge. 

  • May 8, 2012

    life/style/flash.

    Personally I think it looks great, very natural!

    Maybe it’s because you’re not used to it…or is it darker in the flesh? (Pun intended!)

    Becky at life/style/flash. blog x

  • May 8, 2012

    Addict For Dramatics

    It looks nice, but the difference in tone to your neck is extremely noticeable. The MUA should have applied these products all the way down and blended into the neck x

  • May 8, 2012

    Jai'me Jan

    Thaaaank you, Iram!  Pretty much everyone mentioned the neck too and I agree with them!  It’s too noticeable!

  • May 8, 2012

    Jai'me Jan

    Thank you!  She just wanted to show me what my face would look like if I went for a warmer tone but I would definitely blend it into the neck! :]

  • May 8, 2012

    Jai'me Jan

    Thank you, Becky!  The colour shown in the photos is about the same as how it looked in person – not darker or lighter.  Yeah the darker shade takes some getting used to – she said it was three shades darker than my skin colour.  I may try a lighter shade today to compare the difference! :]

  • May 8, 2012

    Jai'me Jan

    Thanks, Sarah!  Yeah I am going to try a lighter shade so that I can compare the difference, and I think it looks a tad too dark on me!

  • May 8, 2012

    Jai'me Jan

    Thank you for Leigh – I am definitely going to try lighter shades. I think they will suit me better and thanks for recommending Illamasqua!  You are the second person to recommend them to me! :]

  • May 8, 2012

    Jai'me Jan

    Thanks, Chel!  I will try two shades lighter and avoid HD products!  Hopefully going to try Illamasqua either today or tomorrow. :]

  • May 8, 2012

    Jai'me Jan

    Thanks, Michael!  Nearly everyone is saying it’s too dark and I agree that I need to try some lighter shades.  DSLR flash is certainly a nightmare, particularly the ones the pro photographers use at launch/press events – they are much too strong!  Most women get away with it because they are usually tanned but for those who are pale, it gives us that blank white ghost look!  

    Heck, yes they do exaggerate every blemish and it’s something I feel self-conscious about.  Thanks for recommending YSL Touche Eclat for Men.  I am at Selfridges later and will have a look! :]

  • May 8, 2012

    Jai'me Jan

    I loooove your detailed response, Fee – thank you so much!  It’s exactly what I need.  Yes I hate the ghostly white effect – you look dead.  I agree that the shade on my face is too warm so I will try some lighter ones!  What you mention about the neck is so true – the make-up will certainly rub off onto the clothes and you’ll see it.  I have to be extra careful because I wear a shirt and of course the collar goes up the neck.  The only reason I have not gone for a tanner is because I have been told that they make you look older?

  • May 8, 2012

    Elizabeth Fleming

    I think some product should have been applied to your neck too as it is mega light in comparison! It would look strange to you though as that’s not your usual look! I don’t mind, you could use a gradual tanning moisturiser if you wanted instead of trying make up every day. Either way though, you still look great!

  • May 8, 2012

    Iram Imtiaz

    Uh, and do you mind me asking what kind of skin you have?
    Cause your skin is looking seriously good. I’m jealous.. like so jealous. Gimme your secret! :P

  • May 9, 2012

    Jai'me Jan

    Very funny!  My skin is very normal!  Nothing special about it at all.  There is no secret – I have never smoked and always stay out of the sunlight. :]

  • May 9, 2012

    Jai'me Jan

    Yeah I guess she should have applied some on the neck too!  Is there any particular gradual tanner that you have used and like?  I want to go for one which gives me a more yellow-golden look than bronze.

  • May 9, 2012

    Elizabeth Fleming

    Nay. I’ve used one on my pasty pins on holiday to try make me a more even colour, a Johnsons one and it was streaky and orange, generally rubbish. I don’t do fake tan or gradual tanners. I kinda like my pasty self, and I used to tan well as a child but seems I’m losing pigment… Sorry I can’t help more! x

  • May 9, 2012

    Chel

    Ok, just in case you don’t know (which I’m sure you do, but just in case) HD is not a brand, I meant High Definition stuff. If you look on You Tube you’ll see how it photographs – and you’ll be horrified. LOL  btw, SERIOUSLY love your blog!

  • May 10, 2012

    Aanya

    You look fab! 

  • May 10, 2012

    Aanya

    Oh also forgot to mention – MAC foundations are great but sometimes tend to be have yellow or pink tones to them. You should try out Nicola Roberts Dainty Doll liquid foundations, they’ve specifically created for paler skin tones, I think Harrods stock them.

  • May 12, 2012

    mentrend

    I really love it! But your neck is too white on the pic.. they should have done your neck as well!

    http://mentrend.blogspot.com/

  • May 12, 2012

    Snoo

    Have to say I think it’s too dark. I think you are potentially paler than me, but I have a lot of pink blemishing to my face which never goes away because of how pale I am. I have bought a Clinique foundation which is OK but it ends up patchy at the edges of my face (I hardly brush it there so it that my neck and edge of face blend better). It is darker than I am and it was literally the palest shade :( just stick to being pale! :D xo

  • May 14, 2012

    Lela

    Your skin = wow. Like the others, the neck needs to be blended, but you look great!

    Besos,
    Lela
    Enter to WIN my hotel, afternoon tea and beauty Competition!

  • May 15, 2012

    Emily

    Yes, too dark for you. Instead of using an all-over concealer – try just a light bronzing powder and or blush-type of makeup. You have beautiful skin you just need a little contrast. Also, don’t neglect the neck!

  • May 17, 2012

    Kristine

    You are gorgeous just as you are, but when you do want a bit of colour, try Kate Somerville’s Somerville360 Tanning Towelets. They’re like oversized handwipes, permeated with clear self tanner. Take it out of the foil packet, unfold and rub it over your face, neck, arms, legs, whatever and in a few hours you’ve got natural, streak-free colour. Just remember to wash your hands after applying.

You must be logged in to post a comment