Source:
https://scmp.com/article/318007/treatment

In Treatment

I have always been fascinated by what magic makeup can do for women and curious to try it myself. I decided to give it a go while still adventurous enough to push back social boundaries. Besides, something, artificial or not, needs to be done about the shiny forehead that has plagued me all of my life.

I went to MAC. The brand doesn't have anything formulated especially for men, but it does boast an 'all races, all sexes, all ages' philosophy and offers a product range wide enough for men to find what they need.

Polly, my makeup artist, began by priming my skin with moisturiser. Then she tried out a few shades on the back of my jaw until she found the exact match for my skin colour: the C35 Matte Foundation ($190), the C standing for cool, which means subtler tones like beige, olive or orange. It is meant to add some colour to my pale face. Had I been more daring, she would have gone for a bit of bronze, 'the tanned look is my favourite for men,' she said.

After covering up my eyebags, spots and moles with the 'neutral cool' NC30 Concealer ($150), mixed with a dab of Satin Foundation to prevent cracking, Polly started to work on my facial contours by brushing on the Studio Fix Foundation ($185).

My skin tone required olive C25 for highlighting and the beige-olive NC40 for shading. The oil-absorbing, colourless Blot Powder ($120) was then applied on the T-zone and cheeks.

To fine-tune the look, she added Ivory Eyeshadow ($150) to my sunken cheeks and other areas that could use some illusory puffing up, and Symmetry Eyeshadow ($150) to minimise unsightly protrusions like my Frankenstein forehead.

As the finishing touch she 'matte-ed me down', using Matte ($160), a cream formulated as a line smoother to be used before application of makeup. It also works wonders 'thinning' the finished face, making the makeup look lighter than it actually is. I looked in the mirror and had to admit my reflection did seem more refreshed. My face didn't feel weighed down at all.

But back outside in the 33 degrees Celsius temperature I could not tell whether it was the high humidity or the makeup that kept my skin from breathing. I walked into the MTR but did not get the stares I expected after spending almost an hour having my face painted. My girlfriend did not notice at all at first, but upon a closer inspection said my skin looked better.

The surprise came when I wiped it all off that night. My eyebags and moles resurfaced and I realised what it was all about. 'Barely there' indeed.

Value for money? Can't complain, consulations are free. The makeup itself can become addictive, I'm told, which can quickly add up.

So what's the score? 8/10. It is not a bad idea if you are in the mood for a little experimenting and you have an extra 30 minutes to remove the makeup before you go to bed.

Tips: If you are near-sighted, go with your contacts on. I had to take my glasses off and had no idea what was being done to my face because I could not see anything. Go on a cool day, and not during busy hours. You don't want your fun spoiled by strangers crowding around.

Reservations: Free consultations available only at the MAC counter at Duty Free Sun Plaza, Peking Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Tel: 2302 6888. Reservations made in person with a refundable $250 deposit, 11am-5pm weekdays only. A basic makeup course, costing $350, is offered by the MAC shop at Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong.

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