Before last night's Dally M Awards, we went backstage with La Biosthetique to watch some lovely ladies get ready for the big occasion. We quizzed every hair and make-up artist, and this is what we learnt.
1.A pre-red carpet make-up look takes around 45 minutes to complete, which explains why so few people look this glam on a day-to-day basis.
2.The secret to keeping good make-up flawless when flash photography's involved is translucent powder. If you like a dewier finish, only apply powder to the centre third of your face, as that's the oiliest area.
3.For a ~natural wave~ leave the ends of your hair straight, as this will make your look more beachy, less old Hollywood.
4.When packing a handbag ~touch-up kit~ be sure to include blotting paper to get rid of excess sweat and oil, a lipstick to reapply after eating, and your blush, as it tends to be the first product to fade.
5.If you're planning on wearing your hair up - or in curls you don't want to fall - wash your hair the night before, rather than before you start styling.
6.A basic smokey eye can be created using three shades of eyeshadow - one to cover the whole lid, one to be blended along the lash line and into the crease of the eye socket, and another to highlight the inner corner of the eye.
7.If you're booking in for a spray tan before your glamorous event, avoid getting the product applied to your face, as it's not great for your skin.
8.If you do decide to tan your face, apply less base and bronzer.
9.If you're a fan of nude lipstick, make sure the shade you choose is the same colour as your bare lips - or a shade darker. Never, ever, go lighter.
10.Apply moisturiser and primer before your foundation. Moisturiser keeps your skin from soaking in your make-up, and primer acts as a physical barrier to make sure that 100% definitely doesn't happen.
11.Don't forget to apply an eyeshadow primer too. The eyelids are the oiliest part of the face, which is why you often see creases in your shadow.
12.If you want to keep your hair looking messy and textured, brush your curls out with your fingers, rather than a comb.
13.If you've got a long space of time between getting ready and actually going to your event, add some extra volume to your hair, as it's bound to fall a bit flat in that spare time.
14.When it comes to fake lashes, apply a thin layer of mascara to your real lashes before application. Once the glue is dry add another light layer of mascara to bind your real and fake lashes seamlessly.
15.And most importantly, just make sure you're going to end up looking how you WANT to look. Because there's nothing less fun than feeling uncomfortable.
