Estee Lauder lady Liu Wen, shouldering the burden of being impossibly beautiful ... Image: La Perla
Ladies, now is the time to try your hand at clavicle contouring. Say what? In contrast to your face proper, I’m betting your clavicle (AKA collarbone) is probably terribly neglected.
Why bother? When done right, collarbone contouring makes them “pop” against bare skin, lending your shoulders a lifted effect that’s very fetching, especially when you’re in swathed in a strapless shape-hugging dress. Convinced yet? Here’s how.
STEP 1. Prep time starts in the shower. Grab a gentle exfoliator and massage it liberally into your shoulder blades, making sure to get the granules into the “grooves”. Mildness is of the essence on such thin skin, so a doctor’s product like IDS Facial Scrub, with its soothing face-friendly formulation, ought to do nicely.
Or go big and go Cle de Peau Beaute: I love the new top-of-the-line body range, which includes a Body Exfoliator that comes with all the beauty bells and whistles expected of the prestige Japanese brand, such as hydrating honey and an anti-aging amino acid complex.
STEP 2. Next, hydrate. Seal in your freshly scrubbed skin with a rich moisturiser like Yves Saint Laurent’s opulent Or Rouge Creme, the heroine product of an incredibly indulgent anti-aging range.
The famed Parisian fashion brand says more than 1,000 man hours go into creating the “couture-like cream”, stuffed with saffron and seven botanical oils said to prop up saggy, baggy skin. Aside: The posh packaging itself, with its hand-swirled gold cap, is a thing of beauty that will get you in the mood for strappy dress season.
For something a little less intimidating, go for Nivea’s purse-friendly Body Intensive Moisture Serum SPF25 PA++, which has a very salad dressing-like blend of grape seed and avocado oils, coupled with a decent SPF – perfect for sun-dappled garden parties.
STEP 3. Wait five minutes or so for this protective layer to sink in, then proceed to even out the canvas with a custom collarbone concealer.
You’ll need a luminising liquid-type product – my current obsession is Estee Lauder’s very laudable Double Wear Brush-On-Glow BB Highlighter, which boasts a pen dispenser that’s perfect for “painting” directly onto your decolletage. Dab your brush on the hollow indentation in the centre, then blend outwards, using the “wings” of your collarbones as a guide.
Top tip: Go one shade lighter for a 3D effect that deflects attention away from sunspots and other discolouration. At this juncture, I usually find it useful to thin out the tint with Cle de Peau Beaute’s Body Emulsion. The silky “mouthfeel” comes courtesy of a comforting camellia oils and an intriguing botanical extract said to siphon off water retention; just a smidgen on top of your concealer will suffice. Blend like there’s no tomorrow for a breathtakingly beautiful translucent finish.
STEP 4. Almost there. All that’s left to do is to set with a dusting of shimmery powder; this has the entirely welcome effect of sopping up any residual stickiness which might read as sweaty instead of sexy. I’m mad for Urban Decay’s new Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder for Face and Body in Aura, which has pearlescent pink pigments that are just so very pretty.
Use a brush to pat the product onto the edge of your collarbones and beyond, for a flirty flush that directs your admirer’s gaze towards well, where you want him to be gazing. Done? Then step into your strappy dress and out into the night. and brace yourself for the deluge of collarbone compliments that are sure to come your way!
Clé de Peau Beauté Body Exfoliator, $120, and Body Emulsion, $165, is available at Clé de Peau Beauté counters at Takashimaya Shopping Centre and TANGS Orchard. For more information, visit www.cledepeau-beaute.com/en and follow Clé de Peau Beauté on Facebook.
Estee Lauder Double Wear Brush-On-Glow BB Highlighter, $44, is available at all Estee Lauder counters. For more information, visit www.esteelauder.com.sg and follow Estee Lauder Singapore on Facebook.
IDS Facial Scrub, $62, is available at the IDS Clinic at #05-07, Novena Specialist Centre. For more information, visit www.idsclinic.com.
Nivea Body Intensive Moisture Serum SPF25 PA++, $7.55, is available at at Watsons and all major supermarkets and pharmacies. For more information, visit www.nivea.com and follow Nivea Singapore on Facebook.
Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder for Face and Body, $43, is available at all Sephora stores. For more information, visit www.urbandecay.com.
Yves Saint Laurent Or Rouge Crème, $559, is available at all YSL Beauté counters and at the YSL Beauté store at #B2-34 Ion Orchard. For more information, visit www.ysl.com and follow the brand on Facebook and Twitter.