Pro Tip: What makes this photograph for me is Chantelle’s skin. There are a variety of tricks I used to make Chantelle’s skin glow this way,  read on and I will share them with you.

1) Hydrate. Luba is a photographer who chooses models who do not smoke, drink coffee 24 hours before the shoot and who drink a lot of water. However this is not always enough. Make sure you use a good moisturiser prior to you make-up application, and whenever the skin looks or feel thirsty spray it with a fine water mist – I like to use the body shop’s “vitamin C spray” or MAC’s Fix+ spray – both have a lovely smell and have no negative effects on the make-up.

2) Use a primer or illuminator under the foundation. Personally I am not a fan of spreading primer all over the face as I feel it adds an unnecessary layer and with make-up, unless it’s for stage, I prefer thick over thin. So instead of using a primer I strategically blend MAC’s “strobe cream” along the cheekbones, cupid’s bow and between the eyes – if you can afford it, Chanel’s illuminating primer is even better!

3) Use a sheer glossy foundation and powder only when necessary. I love MAC’s “face and body” foundation. It is water based, looks and feels like skin, and is powder free. If you want the skin to look really glowy or plastic you can use MAC’s “studio sculpt” (gel based) foundation. As always, apply with a foundation brush, and then buff into the skin, in circular movements, with a duo fiber brush such as MAC’s #188 brush. Powder with a sheer powder such as MAC’s prep and prime finishing powder or PMU’s finishing powder, using a small compact brush. Powder only the areas that are creating hotspots with the lights and go light with the powder.

4) Contour with a light bronzer, around the edges of the face and under the chin. No one’s face is naturally one flat colour, your model’s should not be either.

5) Create shadow’s with neutral eye-shadows to give depth to the eye.

6)Use a lip liner to really define the lips. Definition and definite shapes are what ground shiny glossy skin taking them into the land of sophistication.

Photographer: Luba V Nel

Model: Chantelle Kruger

Make-Up: Samantha Laura Kaye

Location: Cape Town

Date: 2009

“A Moment in Time” is the brainchild of Boss Models and Artist Management along with Bell-Roberts Gallery. It is an exhibition of photographic works by some of South Africa’s most talented fashion photographers, stylists and hair and make-up artists, all of which are 1/1 and signed by the artist. The exhibition opened on the 22nd of October, and patrons are invited to bid for the works online up until the 30th of October 2009.  All proceeds go to “Missing Children SA Charity.”

I worked with Bevan Davis for some of the images in his part of the exhibition. Bevan asked for make-up that was simple and clean, but still sexy rather than nude. Bevan is not only a fantastic photographer, but also a master of post production, all of which he does himself. For me, Bevan’s series is timeless, and I gaze upon the images the way I do a painting, rather than a fashion photograph.

Make-up:  Kudzani has amazing bone structure and in order accentuate said bone structure I focused the majority of my time with this make-up look on her skin. I started with Face and Body Foundation (for hydration and glow) thinly spread over her entire face. Mixing it with some “Golden Bronze” loose powder, I used this paste to further accentuate her collar bones, cheek bones, shoulders etc. Witha #187 brush I then buffed in some Studio Fix Fluid, lightly over her nose, cheeks and forehead where needed. This allowed me to matte certain parts of her skin, and further even out her skin tone. Using the #224 brush I buffed studio finish concealer into the few remaining discolorations on her skin, with the exception of the skin around her eyes. Around her eyes I used Studio Moisture-Cover in a NW shade. The NW shade neutralizes the purple undertone often found around the eye area on medium dark – dark skin, whilst the texture of moisture-cover is lightweight, glossy and moisturising, allowing it to care for and moisturise the eye area (rather than drying into a matte line accentuating paste) and it is glossy enough to bounce light out of the shadow created around the eye socket, much like the theory behind the touche eclat and other such eye-brightening creams. Finally I dusted her skin with Mineralize Skinfinsh Natural, and further accentuated portions of her face and her body with Mineralise Skinshimmer. For her lips I used “Part-Nude” gel-liner lip pencil (limited ed.) followed by clear Lip Conditioner. I lined her eyes with “Fascinating” Kohl Liner and coated her lashes with Prolash Mascara.

Photographer: Bevan Davis

Model: Kudzani from Boss Models

Make-up: Samantha Laura Kaye

Shot in Studio in 2009

If you would like to bid or see the rest of the exhibition click here