MAC AW14 LONDON FASHION WEEK

I'm a sucker for Backstage makeup - especially so when many of the MAC artists on this video are friends I worked with over the last 9 years in London! Take a look at what went on backstage at London Fashion week AW14.

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH MAC AT HOLLY FULTON

I love watching behind the scenes videos just as much as I love rummaging through other people's kits (am I a make-up Womble?). Here MAC Senior Artist Cher Webb shares the look Andrew Gallimore designed for Holly Fulton - natural looking freckles and a neon, two-toned lip. YUMMY!



Video courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

Base:

• Select Cover Up lightly blended over hydrated skin to create an even, flat, “mannequin” look to skin.

• Strut Eyebrow Pencil used to stipple freckles across the nose and cheeks, varying in size and density, and then patted over with a fingertip to create a “realness” to skin.

• Pro Blot Powder Loose swept through the t-zone to polish and set.

Brows:

• Brows are combed and groomed

Lips:

• Embrace Me Lip Pencil (available s/s 2013) used to define the bow of lip and contour a more rounded shape, while avoiding the centre of the lower lip.

• Pro Fuchsia and White Lipmix- mixed to create a neon pink and applied through the outer corners of the lip.

• Pro Orange Lipmix applied though the middle of the lip towards the lower lip edge, finger width in size, in a rounded heart shape.

• 217 Blending Brush used to softly blur the two hues of fuchsia and orange together to finish.

BACKSTAGE AT WESTWOOD SS'13

Backstage Video and Pics at Vivienne Westwood Red Label SS13

all photo and video material sourced from Westwood

KIT CLASSICS FROM CAMILA FERNANDEZ

Make-up Artist Camila Fernandez shares her favourite kit products

At London Fashion week this year I was talking to my buddy and fellow Make-Up Artist Camila Fernandez about some of our favourite products. While a lot of our bits were the same we also introduced each other to some new gems - this led to the inspiration for today's post.

Camila has very kindly agreed to to fill us in on her current kit loves:

Clinique Airbrush Concealers £17

I absolutely love this product for using under the eyes. It conceals as well as illuminates, without creating that “panda eye” look. My most used shade is “Neutral Fair”. I also find that unlike other concealers, whilst still creamy it is light in texture and sets well (without looking dry) making it last on the skin.

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealers £26

These concealers do not budge and cover even the most pesky of blemishes. The high level of pigment means you require very little product to achieve complete coverage. Each one has a unique two-shade system, one to match the skins depth of color & one to match the skins undertone.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector £33

I first discovered this product when I assisted the amazing Lisa Eldridge. This highlighting cream works a bit like MAC’s strobe but without the harsh blue tones and much more reflective (and effective!). You can mix with your foundation however I mostly like using it along the cheekbones to make the skin look dewy. I used to always use shade “Pearl” but recently they brought out “Moonstone” which is a light gold tone – which I actually now prefer!
I posted about this product earlier this week - link to it here

Bags By Kirsty Set bag £28.99

Set bags were always something I was having issues with. I could never find anything in them, they were either too big, too small, not enough pockets, not the right sized pockets etc… When I was working on the junket for ‘American Pie Reunion” I enviously spied another make-up artist with the niftiest set bag. She put me on to www.bagsbykirsty.co.uk which is an online shop created by another make-up artist having similar woes!
The bag that I’m currently rocking is “set bag 1” with a retro apple side panel design and shoulder strap. These genius bags have a tissue dispenser, inside pockets and two circular side holders for your brush holder (I put my Paris Berlin brush tube in them) or hairspray (if you do both).

Sponges - cheap as chips!

Sponges are a tool that I never used because I considered them to be dated and didn’t see the point of, “I have hundreds of brushes that do the job just as well.” I thought. Or so I did until I started working with the legendary Kay Montano, who is also the total don when it comes to skin! She taught me to only apply foundation where it is needed, if the model doesn’t have any blemishes on the forehead? Then leave it bare. It’s beautiful to actually SEE the skin, not cover it in a one dimensional mask. Kay has taught me to blend and take away product using sponges to create a flawless base.

View more of Camila's work on her website here.

 

BECCA SHIMMERING SKIN PERFECTOR

A product that has continually appeared on my radar over the last wee while is the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector. A number of makeup artists, including Lisa Eldridge have listed it as an adored classic and recently I dipped in to a friends makeup kit backstage at one of London's Fashion week shows to try it for myself.

The product does exactly what it says on the bottle - delivering a highlighted shimmer without glitter in a light, smooth fluid in four shades:


Pearl - a soft pearlised illuminator giving a soft sheen without the violet pigments contained in many so it doesn't look blue or icy on the skin. In fact it doesn't really leave a colour at all, just leaves a dewy, glowing highlight.

Opal - a warm pinky/peach which I have seen used on pale cheeks to give a very subtle flush or layered underneath powder blush. Beautiful when mixed with foundation for glowing skin in editorial work.

Moonstone - a pale gold, fantastic highlighter on yellow/olive skin tones.

Topaz - a golden bronze wonderful to mix with foundation and buff onto the cheeks for the ultimate summer glow. Gorgeous on dark skin as a highlighter.


What I really love about this range is that it is so beautifully light and buffs onto moisturised skin like a dream. It doesn't contain glitter unlike many other highlighters - more like finely ground pearlised pigments so it looks simply like dewy skin rather then makeup.

Click this link to go to Beccas website- 
Shimmering Skin Perfector 
50ml/1.7 fl oz pump bottle 
£33.00