Get the celebrity look
Oscar nominee Penélope Cruz is currently big news at the box office, thanks to her powerful performance opposite Ben Kingsley in Elegy and her starring role alongside Scarlett Johansson in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
The Spanish actress oozes natural charisma and beauty, but her classic look - smoky eyes, nude lips and dewy complexion - is fairly easy to emulate with a little make-up know how. 'Penélope stays loyal to some hard and fast make-up rules, but these aren't just for red carpet queens,' says celebrity make-up artist Paola Recabarren, who has worked with the likes of Kate Winslet and Keira Knightley.
'Start off with a good foundation base,' says Paola. 'Then conceal any blemishes and seal the foundation with a translucent powder. Next, use a matt bronzer to contour the sides of the cheeks from the hairline near the top of the jaw; blend it very lightly downwards, but stop just before the apples of the cheeks.'
Then, on the apples of your cheeks, gently blend in a rosy coloured blush. Paola recommends MAC Powder Blush in Desert Rose (£14; www.maccosmetics.co.uk). 'Start off with a small amount then add more to achieve the strength of your choice,' she advises. 'Rosy cheeks always make you look healthy.'
What about your brows? 'They're so important and they frame the face beautifully,' insists Paola. 'Use a clear mascara to comb the brows into shape, then colour them in with eye shadow to give them real definition. And if you feel the need to pluck your brows, do so sparingly!'
To get Penélope's smoky eyes, use a natural base to cover the lid, then line your entire eye with a soft black kohl pencil and gently smudge it in, ensuring you work the corners out a little to create that classic flick. Then add a line of kohl at the top and bottom of the inner eyelid, and coat your lashes in black mascara.
Finally, line the lips with a nude colour to give them more shape, then apply a mixture of matt soft rose lipstick and clear gloss. 'Mix it on your hand first: the smallest amount of lipstick can go a long way,' says Paola. The result? You're now ready for your close-up...
