Golf Like a Pro (Or Just Look Like One)

If you’re a golfer, you may already have the latest issue of Golf Digest. If you’re reading this, however, I am guessing you probably don’t. Either way I think we can all appreciate a group of accomplished and handsome gentlemen walking across the green, right?

The January 2013 Golf Digest cover shows celebrity golf pros Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy at the Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey. Celebrity hairstylist Kristan Serafino and I had so much fun working (as we always do) making them camera-ready.

The Green Shot

Now - this job was a very big deal for those around me because I am surrounded by golfers. My father-in-law, for example, could not believe my incredible good fortune to work with Rory McIlroy. In his eyes, I now made it big.

Rory McIlroy

Rory McIllroy is the #1 ranked golfer in the world. I know because whenever there is golf, it’s on our TV. Being #1 can make a guy lose his perspective, become arrogant and careless (as we’ve seen before). Rory, however, is just the opposite - more humble and kind than most people you know.

Goofing around on the Green

Before I left, my husband told me to tell Rory he had visited his hometown. I answered with something like “No.” Didn't think Rory would be very interested. But when we had some down time and nothing to talk about I, yes, mentioned that my husband had been to his hometown. As noted, I did not expect him to really care. Instead I was surprised by his genuine interest when he asked, “Really? Why was he there?” Since I didn’t have any idea, it appeared that I either made the story up or don’t know my own husband. (Have since learned he was on a college golf exchange program in Ireland.) So thank you Rory, for helping me get to know my husband better. And for showing a graciousness that a #1 golfer in the world should have.

Though men have asked me to create moles or wanted eyeliner or mascara, most are pretty straightforward. If they’re not on camera much, they are sometimes alarmed when they see a makeup artist. But these athletes are used to cameras following them around on any give day, so they were fine and we just made sure they looked polished and right for the occasion.

Of course, your average guy will say he doesn't want makeup - and maybe he doesn’t - but at the end of the day everyone still wants to look good when the pictures come out.

CAMERA-READY SKIN Some common men's skin concerns:

Pore Minimizer

Larger Pores Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfector has an ultra smooth texture and minimizes the look of pores. Squeeze a bit on fingertips and smooth on skin.

Clean and Clear Sheets

Oil and Shine A lot of people have told me they like Boscia oil blotting sheets. At shoots, I use Clean and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets throughout the day. Oil-blotting paper is especially good for men because it absorbs oil without adding anything to skin. Just press and blot on skin so it looks matte, not shiny.

Redness Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Powdertakes down both redness and shine. It now comes in a compact form (used to only be a loose powder). I use it on almost everyone, even if they don’t particularly have redness because it just evens skin so nicely.

Dark Circles and Discolorations Most guys don’t want foundation - a little concealer is usually all you need. Concealers give more coverage than foundation and you can use only where needed. Hide dark circles, blackheads, other areas that are uneven. I still love YSL Touche Eclat. Guys may want a package less shiny and glam, however. Alternatives such as Lab Series Power Brightening Eye Balm may be more acceptable.

Nivea Men's Lip

Chapped Lips A chap stick such as Niveafor Men Replenishing Lip Balm used morning and night should do the trick. If this is a consistent problem, lips can also be gently exfoliated before applying a lip moisturizer each night. Drinking more water helps too.

HAIR Kristan styled the golfers’ hair, making each looked smooth and perfectly natural. After the shoot, she cut and shaped Rory’s locks. In the days that followed, we saw Rory on TV with his new hair, looking good and winning tournament after tournament. I can’t take credit for that. But Kristan can. When we discussed his winning streak she said, “It’s all about the hair.” So far it seems to be holding up as Rory is still #1. (Watch for if/when he needs another cut!)

The Dos and Don’ts of Concealing Under Eye Dark Circles

Did you watch this season’s Project Runway All-Stars? As they neared the finale, the designers were taken to the Hearst Tower to meet with the editor of Marie-Claire. I wasn’t there to meet an editor, but recently did some men’s grooming for a video shoot there. I’m only mentioning it from Project Runway because I love that beautiful building and hope you have seen it too (even if only on TV).Anyway, most men don’t want makeup, so my job is usually to make sure their hair and skin look good and they are camera-ready. But like women, even non-makeup wearing men ask about what to do with under eye dark circles. It’s tricky because if you need coverage but don’t want to look like you’re wearing makeup, application has to be just right. So if dark circles and puffiness are a concern for you, here are some makeup application Dos and Don’ts: DO

Start by applying a de-puffing eye cream and let it absorb into skin. A lot eye creams contain cucumber and caffeine and both are said to reduce dark circles/puffiness. Apparently, drinking a lot of caffeine is bad for dark circles, but putting it on your skin is good for reducing them! Try Origins No Puffery. Honestly, I completely forgot about this product until just now. When I was with Origins, I remember how people would panic when they could not find their No Puffery. Panic! I've never had a problem with dark circles or puffy eyes so cannot personally attest to its wonders - but I have seen other people worship this product.

Use a good under eye concealer brush. A good brush helps you “paint” dark circles away. Using fingers is much more difficult because it’s harder to be precise and get concealer exactly how you need it so it looks smooth and natural. I have several concealer brushes, but bareMinerals Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush is one of my favorites. Sometimes the bristles on concealer and foundation brushes separate and make application difficult. This one doesn't.

Apply a peachy-pink/salmon shade of concealer. Why this shade works so well I don’t know, but it does. Since you don’t want concealer to show on skin, make sure it’s the right shade. Sometimes if the peachy/salmon shade doesn’t completely “disappear” on skin I use a slightly lighter concealer to blend it in. But, if you're not a makeup artist with all different shades at your disposal, you can also just use a small bit of your foundation over the concealer to blend it in. I like Eve Pearl's Salmon Concealer. 

Finish with a tiny bit of sheer powder on top of the concealer to set it. I always use the powder from Laura Mercier Undercover Pot. It has two shades of concealer and a little bit of powder you can use on top.

DON’T

Don't use too much concealer. You don’t want to trade one concern for another – if you put too much concealer in an effort to lighten dark circles it can get cake-y and creasy. A little concealer will still lighten dark circles – even if they are not completely covered, it's still better than looking cake-y and creasey. If you are 18 or 20 or whatever age under eye skin is always perfectly smooth, you can probably use more than most people. Otherwise, too much is worse than too little.

Don’t use too much powder. Too much powder can also make the concealer look cake-y and unnatural. A very light dusting is just enough.

Don’t rub or be too rough with the eye area skin. Skin around the eyes is more fragile and more easily damaged. Be gentle to yourself, especially in the eye area.

Don’t forget about prevention. Like everything with health and beauty, taking care of yourself is essential. Most people are aware – from first hand experience – that dark circles and puffiness often are the result of stress and lack of sleep. So cut back on the partying!