GET THE LOOK! - Rupert Kingston

Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stefani is a fashion icon for the noughties - she has a very distinctive style, her own fashion label and with a tour coming up, Rupert Kingston gives Relentlessly Positive the heads up on how to re-create her stunning make-up.

Gwen’s look is obviously very influenced by the fifties, and there are a few simple elements that make the look work.

The first is porcelain skin, great news as none of us have had any sun this year! This look will not work with bronzed skin. Use a foundation that is as close to your neck colour as possible, and blend over your cheeks, forehead and the bridge of the nose. 

Touch up any blemishes with a little concealer. It is essential that the skin has a matte, velvety finish so take a loose translucent powder and press it into the foundation with a powder puff, dusting off any excess with a large powder brush. Gwen’s skin would never look shiny!

Next Gwen’s eyes are all about eyeliner and it’s always liquid. Liquid liner is all about practise, but there is a simple cheat. Line the top of your eyes with a black kohl pencil, keeping as close to the lashes as possible and use a thin flat brush or a cotton bud to sweep it along the line and lift at the outside corners. Don’t make the lift too exaggerated or you could end up looking like Cleopatra! Making sure both sides are even, go back over the line with black eye shadow powder which will make the line look blacker.

Keep your eye shadow very simple, beige through the socket line and a cream colour on the brow bone. Finish with two coats of mascara. Now comb your eyebrows through to create high arches use a fixing product to keep them in place (i - fix by new<id cosmetics) if they need a little filling in, I find it easier to use a fine brush and a light brown eye shadow as it is a little softer than pencil.

Gwen always uses a true red lipstick. There are basically three types of reds, the blue reds that sway towardsburgundy and plum (great for brunettes) orangey reds which are warmer and yellowier(better for blondes and redheads) and finally true reds which are perfectly balanced. Pillar-Box or London Bus reds will suit all skin tones if you dare to wear them.

Line your lips with a nude lip liner to stop the colour from bleeding ( try i - define by new<id cosmetics in nude) To get the colour to look great, apply and blot with a tissue and re-apply, this will take the oil out of the lip colour leaving only the pigment on your lips and making it last longer.

Typically with this look a salmon pink colour works best as a blush, apply along the cheek bones and blend well,( try i - blush by new<id)