MBFWA- Australian Fashion Week

WOW so, WOW. How cool is Australia, right?! Now that Ive been working at the PRO store Ive been lucky enough to be surrounded by some of Australias best makeup artists.. and those that were selected to be apart of MACs Fashion Week Team. Sadly, I wasnt on it this year but Im so proud of the kids that are.. cos they are doing some amazing stuff!!

With MAC doing the makeup for more than half the shows its great to see some really lovely makeup coming out. And lots of it is definately proving to the rest of the world- oz has def got its own style and vibe; whilst still holding their own against the heavy weights.

First show up was ROMANCE WAS BORN and Pauly B and Keira were amazing!! The look was all centered around Marvel Comics involvement with the brand- with their much more wearable collection complimented with flaming neon orange hair and structurely comic-y makeup.
 Key Artist Natasha Severino described the makeup as  "superhero and otherworldly with a sexy modernist twist," .



The team used Fix + Spray and Strobe Cream to prep the skin, Face & Body Foundation teamed with Studio Finish Concealer as the base, with Careblend powder (my fav!) and Prep & Prime Transparent Powder to set. On the eye was simply Cyan Blue Chromographic Pencil and on the lips was a mix of Red & Crimson Lipmix!

Brows were kept clean and brushed up. Pretty much, on trend with the 'Neon' element with very clean and uncompromised skin.

Amazing hey?

At MANNING CARTELL, Key Artist and Lara Bingle's number one man Max May won over the MAC team with his chilled, friendly approach. The makeup is inspired by Frida Kahlo and hot mexican summers. The models channeled the "wet-looking" skin thats trending at the moment with soft washes of colour all over the eye, withe the only structure coming through the brow..



The MAC products used were Face & Body foundation with no cheek colour, just the Gloss Texture Creme as a highlight. On the eyes was the new Extra Dimension eyeshadows we have out at the moment, in Havana, a pigment pearly highlight in the eye corner and a bit more of the gloss creme.
The lip were knocked of the colour, with the Lip erase balm applied all over to put emphasis on the eyes and brows.

BY JOHNNY had the mac kids raving! Cool edgy makeup teamed with Amber D's awesome keying- the makeup looked brilliant. A really boyish yet non-androgynous biker eye complimented the glowy, clean skin! Cream Colour Base's were the product of the hour- heavily used on the face and eye.



MAC Products Used are Face & Body foundation, Cream Colour Base in Antique Gold on the eyes, played with Steamy eyeshadow. Another highlight was used in the eyes corner and a soft brushed up brow using Clear Gel.

Ill post some more info on other shows over the next few days!

x

My fav new nail art looks...

ORANGE revisited!

Ok, so as predicted a year or so ago... Orange lips have been beyond huge these past few months.
Particularly in Australia, where the women like their makeup sheer, but their statement clear. Ha! That totally rhymed.

So, I wanted to extend on my previous Orange post, to push it further and to take it from just the statement orange lip and the pop of orange on the lid.. And I want to show you the vaired array of colour that allow you to wear this seasons hottest colour, regardless of how you want to wear it.

For those who love the nude lip, but get sick of the usual pink tones of a nude (ie.Myth).. then
Shy Girl has to be your new fav. I reach for this colour again and again and again for women that want to balance their smokey eye or block out their pink lips.

 Shy Girl

Also, another nude colour that I always like to wear, which is not as light as Shy Girl.. is Peachstock. Found only in MAC Pro Stores, this colour is so easy to wear and works with everything.

 Peachstock

For a little bit more colour, brighter, but not too hard to wear- Ravishing one lipstick that i tend to give as presents to everytone. Why? Because everytone loves it! Easy to wear to work, out for drinks, wherever!

 Ravishing

For more of a summer or brighter hit.. which you still can wear for a day event or for more for a pop of colour at night- this colour is definately for those wanting a bright lip, but may not want to do a standard orange Vegas Volt is incredible!



And of course, Morange is always the go to colour for those wanting the standard bright orange..



But.... go for other options Neon Orange from the Pro Store is just a wee bight brighter and then there is the Pro Longwear lip cream 'So Good' which will hold for a much longer time, but not dry your lip out or cause feathering like some others.

I want to also emphasise how amazing apricots are to use throughout your makeup looks. Seen alot through recent S/S12 shows.. soft blushes, washes of eyeshadows and apricots pressed into the lips, look amazing on so many skintones.



Jeremy Scott S/S12. Makeup by Val Garland



Preen S/S12. Makeup Val Garland

X

November 2011 Update!

Hello guys!

Well, I hope you have missed my blogging as much as i have! Its been far too long between posting and for that, im sorry! Have finally got a trusty steed in which to ride me into the blogging sunset.. for now.. and whilst this bad boy isnt mine, Im going to make it work hard for my love! There has been so much good stuff going on in the world of makeup/fashion/music/art in the past 2 months since I had my computer last and I was in London!

What has been my most interesting change in my view of fashion and beauty has been the change in hemisphere... and given that so much of the trends are based/formed in the Northern hemisphere, when I moved to oz I am now living A/W 11-12 trends in Australia's S/S 11. So how to adapt.. for all the fashionistas here, simply follow S/S12 trends.. so ultimately.. if us aussies are really really onto trends- we can be a whole season ahead of the rest of the world, rather than one behind.

So! Trends.. The bright pops of colour are still lingering strongly in Australia, with so many of my clients here excitedly asking for a bright lip. Can I be honest- Im so bored!! This bright lip may be a big step forward for a normally natural and makeup shy aussie girl, but coming from London where my Arabic, Asian and African clients demand so much more from their makeup.. I cant help but feel a little uninspired.

There are a few though that do understand how to adapt a simple look and turn it into one that makes them stand out, for the right reasons from the rest of the pack! Rather than go for a bright lip colour, change it slightly.. make it super glossy... or ultra matte; wear dark purple/plummy colours
Eg.

For the slightly shy: MACs Rebel







For those wanting a sexier step up: MAC's Violetta (Pro Store only), Diva or the new christmas 'Glitter and Ice' 2012 lipstick What Joy!



The above picture is also a perfect example at how texture can change the look of your makeup. With the above left being a matte lipstick (Diva) and the above right, a glossy colour (HangUp or a matte with gloss on top)

And for the more hardcore, who love to push makeup boundaries: Mac's Cyber, Film Noir or my fav.. Nightmoth Lip pencil all over the lip.


Photo: Temptalia



Lip above is done by lining the lip with Nightmoth lipliner (my fav!), filling in with blacktrack and then hitting highlight areas (cupids bow and centre of lip) with pink Bronze pigment. Lara Brewster, you genius..

Other trends are the bright orange lip (please read post, that will follow this..), heavily contoured creaselines and disconnected liners. I have been loving the disconnected liners for a while now, and have been estatic to see some amazing high profile covers using such a strong look. The best Ive ever seen though, was actually by a fellow artists and amazing illustrator Lara Brewster. Below is a random creative half an hour she spent with fellow MAc artist Mel. The talent of her work in rediculous.. if you're in London, do look her up!

I also have attached a strong black lip above, she did on me a few days before I left MAC in London for good.. shes such an inspiration for me. Miss her to bits!!



 Gaga, always the face for the most awesome makeup...always ahead of her time, has been wearing such makeup for some time now. Below are some examples of heavily contoured creaselines that look amazing on just about everyone..

 

   


To do it, simply choose a matte nude colour eg MAC's Brule, Blanc Type etc, apply over the top of a prepared lid (paintpot first!!), then using the #217 blending brush, apply a strong flat matte brown/black into the crease. Making sure you blend it perfectly, to assure a flawless finish!!

I could go for years, happy to be back!

X

BOLD Terry Barber for I.D