Jack Waterlot, Vogue Arabia April 2017

There was a lot to be learned at Fyza Ali’s first Dubai makeup masterclass, from how to create the illusion of a slimmer nose via contouring to how to make your lips appear plumper without injections. But it’s the celebrity makeup artist’s famous buffing technique that had the 100+ guests frantically scribbling down notes. Discovered during Ali’s endless quest for flawless makeup, she credits the method for earning her a sizable number of followers (more than 530 000) and clients. Most – particularly brides – book her for the out-of-this-world results of her buffing technique. “I was never satisfied with my makeup because the lines from my blush or contour were so harsh. So I thought, what can I do to make my look flawless without making it look caked on?” says Ali.

The Turkish-Iraqi makeup maven decided to grab a fluffy brush, swirled it into a pressed powder compact and applied it from the neck up and over her entire made-up face. “This technique makes your makeup melt into the skin for a seamless effect. All the lines of your contour, highlighter, and blush blend into the skin for a natural finish, and it prolongs your makeup for over 18-hours.” The trick, she says, is to use the right brush. Don’t choose one that’s too stiff or too soft, you want one with a good balance (Her favorite is the Wayne Goss Brush 11 Powder Brush). Ali says anyone can use this technique, even those with problem skin who worry that too much powder may dry out their skin or clog their pores. “The density of the brush picks up just enough product for any type of skin, including dry and oily complexions.”

To create the look, she recommends a pressed powder foundation such as MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation, Illamasqua Powder Foundation, or Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder. “It’s great because it doesn’t smudge or remove any of your makeup,” she assures. “Rather than having your highlighter or bronzer sit so harshly over your foundation, buffing it in allows it to melt altogether, and gives a soft, blurred effect that looks amazing in photographs” she says. “I call it the real-life Photoshop.”

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