Make-up with Susan Stephens

I have always loved make-up. This goes without saying as I began my working life on the professional opera stage and later worked in cabaret on the Cunard liners etc. The make-up I used had to be heavy in order to retain my features beneath the blaze of stage lights. I was also ‘painting’ a smooth, unlined canvas.

From a professional case packed full of make-up, it all boils down to this...

An all in one powder/foundation combo, peach coloured lipstick, black mascara, a divine Stila soft kohl liner in grey, a fine black eyeliner pen, peachy-coloured rouge, a taupe eyebrow pencil, a Charlotte Tilbury smokey eye palette, and an eye make-up primer to keep everything in place.

As I’ve grown older I’ve learned to love my face more. I know that sounds contradictory, but I’m not ashamed of my laughter lines, or the lines drawn by the inevitability of loss across the years. 

I do have to be very careful where my eyes are concerned. Once a source of great vanity in my youth, I now have the conundrum of either they weep at the slightest puff of wind or cold air, or at night when I’m asleep they suffer chronic dryness, which means I generally wake up with bright red eyes. But eyes express our thoughts, our character, and how we respond to the world around us and each other,  so I use eye drops and waterproof mascara, and forget about the discomfort. It’s such a small thing in the scheme of things.

The older face is not a smooth, unlined canvas, so thick make-up only lands in the crevices and looks ugly. Less is definitely more. Colours need toning down too. What suited me in my pomp would make me look like a clown now. 

I steer clear of fads and fashions, and strive to enhance without distracting. Eyebrows are essential to frame the eyes and to give the face definition, so I tint mine, as I was born a redhead and they are completely blonde.  

The best piece of make-up advice I can give anyone of any age, is to smile and have confidence. A happy face is an attractive face, and that friendly expression will bring you more happiness than a drawer full of make-up. Having said that - treat yourself - a new lipstick, a blusher that really brings your face alive, or some new eyeshadow, will make you feel good, and I can’t think of anything better than that. 

Love to you all from Susan xxx

Susan was a professional singer before meeting her husband on the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta. In true Harlequin Presents style they met on Monday, became engaged on Friday and were married three months later.

A menagerie consisting of dogs, cats, horses, a donkey, several guinea pigs, a husband and three terrific children, keeps Susan busy when she isn’t writing!

She enjoys entertaining, travel, and going to the theatre. To relax she reads, cooks and plays the piano, and when she's had enough of relaxing she throws herself off mountains on skis, or gallops through the countryside singing loudly.

Susan Stephens on the web:

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Snowbound with His Forbidden Innocent

There’s nowhere to hide from their chemistry…

Stacey has worked hard to become a successful businesswoman. She won’t let anyone—even frustratingly sexy tycoon Lucas Da Silva—remind her of the overlooked girl she once was.

Carrying responsibility for his worldwide company and siblings, Lucas is always in control. Especially of himself. But snowbound with Stacey, his best friend’s untouched—and very off-limits!—sister, he discovers temptation like no other. And as their mutual attraction grows hotter than the fire in his luxurious mountain chalet, Lucas has never been so close to breaking the rules…

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