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Riku Campo - I Am Beauty

November 16, 2020

Riku Campo - I Am Beauty

Finnish-born, Riku is an international skincare expert, makeup artist, and beauty director but has worked as a makeup artist since 1988 and has lived in the United States since 2003.

His work has been featured in major fashion and beauty magazines and ad campaigns for L’Oreal, Neiman Marcus, Saks, Smashbox, Guess, and others, and he has worked with some of Hollywood’s most renowned actresses.

Riku is passionate about showing the beauty of many different women by highlighting their own personal style. Instead of following strict rules, he believes in using makeup to bring out joy and confidence.

Right, so that's his official bio out of the way and setting the scene for what we reallly want to discuss, Riku's brand new book about creating amazing day and night make up looks for women over forty.

Riku's PR got him a spread in the Daily Mail, which is where I came across his book before I rushed off to Amazon to purchase (yes, I bought it myself as per our self-imposed guidelines that we don't accept freebies).  In recent years I'm pretty sure that this is the only make up book written for us and I wanted a copy.

It didn't disappoint.

First, Riku doesn't recommend any brands, which I love.  I can't bear it when make up artists (MUA's, is what we call them in the world of beauty) only recommend the products that they are gifted by brands, particularly as if you are a very highly sought after MUA (like Riku) those brands are going to be Chanel, Dior et al which don't suit everyone's budget.

Second, he covers all skin types and all ages over forty years old - something for all of us.

Third, most looks don't need more than six products, which is perfect for those of us who want to look pretty good but don't want to spend hours in front of the mirror.

In short, it's a winner.

Riku was kind enough to give me a video tutorial on how to do my own make up (watch HERE) but the key findings are as follows:

  • There is a red lipstick for everyone.  You can pop this on with minimal eyes (just a bit of mascara) and you will look elegant/gorgeous immediately
  • The darkest part of the eye isn't the circle underneath it's where the corner of your eye meets your nose.  Apply concealer (and then a bit of ivory eye shadow) here and it will automatically lighten your face.
  • Eye pencils - experiment with the colour, but brown looks great on everyone. Also, don't apply along the whole lash line but from the centre of your pupil to the outer corner of your eye.  Blend the pencil line up.
  • Cream products are our friends, not powder.  Powders sit in our fine lines and give us a more "caked" look so chuck out powder bronzers, blushers, heavy face powders etc as you are not going to use them any more.  You can keep a translucent powder, but not for all over use.
  • Glitter be gone.  Sorry, Riku says no more glitter (unless it's eighties disco night) from now on.  Very ageing....
  • Balm can make cheeks pop and is a great alternative to a highlighter
  • Apply a line of ivory eyeshadow powder to the lash line before you apply your gel eye pencil. Don't know why, but he was quite insistent.

The looks are perfect for those of us over forty and he totally made me re-evaluate how I do my make up.  The result, I think, is fantastic.

I would absolutely recommend the book if you feel stuck in a rut with your look, or feel that it's no longer working for you and at £20.00 see if you can't get someone to buy you one for Christmas, it's a lot more fun than oven gloves.

Riku Campo "I Am Beauty"

£21.40 (at time of writing)

Purchase on Amazon HERE

My podcast with Riku is HERE

 

 

 




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