To get the look:

Eyes
“Nikki has gorgeous dark eyes that I really wanted to play up. I started by smudging mark Eyemarker Color On Line in Java along her upper lash line, followed by two coats of mark Scanda-Lash Hook Up Mascara on the top lashes. For her bottom lashes, I took the tip of the mascara wand and carefully coated each lash for definition, then brushed it out with the wand for separation. I finished by applying mark I-mark Custom Pick Eyeshadow in Nomadic to her lids and Fairy Dust in her crease.”

Face
“I applied mark Face Xpert Flawless Touch Makeup in Natural to create a smooth canvas followed by mark Get Bright Hook Up Highlighter under her eyes to hide any signs of dark circles. I finished by applying a combination of mark Good Glowing Custom Pick Powder Blush in Cameo Glo to the apples of her cheeks, and mark Glow Xpert Face Shimmer in Champagne to the top portion to really bring out the contours of her cheekbones. To create an overall matte finish, I used mark Cheat Sheet Shine Blotters.”

Lips
“To finish off her look, I used mark Dew Drenched Moisturlicious Lip Color in Toffee on her lips, with a layer of mark Pro Gloss Hook Up Plumping Lip Shine in Spice for added shine.”

What do you think of actress Nikki Reed’s premiere look?

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MM: How did you get your start as a makeup artist?

MQ: After high school, I decided to go to makeup school. Once I finished makeup school, I got a job working at MAC and stayed there for about 3 years. On my days off, I worked as an assistant to other makeup artists on music videos, commercials and photo shoots. After assisting for a few months, I became consistently busy, so I left MAC. I assisted many makeup artists for about 4 years until I was able to get my own jobs and eventually signed with an agency.

MM: What do you love most about the job?

MQ: One of my favorite things about my job is that I get to meet and see the coolest people & places. Because I work for various shoots and projects, I’m always doing makeup somewhere different and on different people. I love it!

MM: Any challenges?

MQ: Sometimes, it’s hard for me to keep doctor/dentist appointments because if an amazing job comes up, most likely I’ll have to re-schedule the appointment. Also, as fun as my job is, it also has an unpredictable schedule. Some days I’ll have to be at work at 5am or 5pm, so it’s definitely challenging to make and keep plans.

MM: Tell us a little more about working with mark. What do you love most about the line?

MQ: I love working with mark because they’re so inventive and they are always coming out with new products and packaging. The color ranges for all the products is very diverse, which makes it easy to find an entire palette for anyone – that makes my job a lot easier!

MM: If you had to choose 2-3 mark must haves, what would they be?

MQ: My must haves would definitely be the mark Flip for It in Urban Neutrals, mark Hook Up Brushes and the Britt Bardo for mark Only Need Me Tee.

Visit www.meetmark.com to shop for the products that Mai mentions above – and keep reading Makeup Minute for more scoop on her celeb clients!

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Lead artist Diane Kendal created a look that focused on luminous skin and contoured cheeks.

The inspiration for Thakoon Spring 2010 came from the idea of “samurai-meets-surfer.” The collection consisted of so many sharp edges and aqua-blues that Thakoon wanted the girls to look like warriors so that they could really wear and carry the strong clothing. With such bright colors, the goal was to keep the face a bit more monotone overall but still to impart strength around the eyes and cheekbones.

A very strong and luminous face is the key to getting this look right. “It’s a beach warrior look – surfer girl meets Seven Samurai,” explained Kendal. She used a minimal amount of makeup everywhere, but contoured the cheeks and kept the eye deeply set to convey an image of power through minimalism.

Are you feeling the face of Thakoon?

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For Spring 2010, the designer introduced a clean and sleek collection comprised of neutral, solid colors with post-modern touches. Lisa Butler’s approach to the makeup was to create a soft, subdued, and fresh look to complement the collection’s uncomplicated sophistication, “We wanted the girls to look as fresh and natural as possible,” said Butler.

To achieve this level of minimalistic elegance, Butler used the TEMPTU AIRbrush Makeup System, with the AIR Pod Highlighter in Champagne to add light and sheer accents underneath the brow bone, around the sides of the eyes, on top of the cheeks, and on the lips with a touch of clear mascara to lift the eyebrows. “Using airbrushing as an application technique really pulled the essence of natural beauty together,” said Butler. “It provides light, natural-looking coverage while adding dimension to the face.”

I must say, this look leaves me a little cold – it’s a bit too bare for anything but the runway.  Do you agree or am I totally off base?  Tell me what you think in the comments!

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The theme behind the collection was collage, with inspiration springing from the late works of Picasso and the Cubism period. The pieces look different from every angle leaving a sense of mystery to them, while remaining timeless. The same idea was applied to the makeup. An abundance of different textures- matte, sheer, shimmer and shine- were portrayed differently as the model moved around. The clothes, like the makeup, were meant to stimulate the senses, be emotional, and also to sympathize with current times.

The 3.1 phillip lim look was clean and textural, giving a sense that makeup is there but not detectable from the plain eye. “The idea is not to be harsh. The look is part sheer with shades of green, brown and lilac fading into each other” said Butler.

The key points include highlights of iridescence and gold to the cheekbones, light liner (almost invisible) and peach lips. “There is some shimmer so when the face moves around, the light really captures it. But there are no lines- no eye lines, no lip lines.”

What do you think of the 3.1 phillip lim face?

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Image via Coutorture.com

The face of Erin Fetherston for Spring 2010 focused clearly on the eyes and was created by makeup artist Lucia Pica for MAC. I was lucky enough to be backstage at Milk Studios during the test (which is when the first model’s look is created as a template for the other artists) and Lucia shared her techniques in detail. Check out the YouTube video below and let me know what you think!

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Backstage, models’ complexions were evened out with Stila’s Sheer Color Moisturizer SPF 15, while Pomegranate Crush Lip Stain was used as blush.  On the eyes, Camelia Convertible Color, the Fandango duo shadow and the Cobalt Smudge Pot left a gorgeous wash of color.

The finishing touches were Camelia Convertible Color on the lips and a few coats of Stila Major Major Lash Mascara (which I am now dying to try!)

Check out this video of Sarah Lucero chatting makeup backstage – she even gives her secret to great lashes off the runway!

Image via Stylelist, Photo Credit: Laura Kenney.

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“It always seems that inspiration ends up coming from the dress. Last night Amy wore a gorgeous full length Carolina Herrera gown with a charcoal and white pattern speckled with gold beading. So I borrowed from that exquisite color palette. We went for a steel and copper smoky lid, gorgeous full lashes, a peachy cheek and a golden amber lip.”

Face

I first started by prepping her skin with a refreshing spray of Jurlique Rose Water Balancing Mist. And then moisturized her skin with La Mer’s Moisturizing Lotion.

Next I based her skin sparingly with the new Cle de Peau Cream Foundation. Then I warmed up her cheeks with the gorgeous new COVERGIRL Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush in Plush Peach.

Eyes

For her eye, I based the lid with a combination of Shu Uemura’s Cream Eye Shadow in P Taupe, and Vincent Longo’s silky orange liquid eyeshadow.

Over that I blended the new NARS shadow in Brumes.

Under her eye I smudged COVERGIRL Exact Eyelights Eyeliner in Radiant Sapphire in the outer corner and on the inner corner I dabbed a smidge of Shu Uemura pressed eye shadow in NME gold 350.

On her lashes I coated them with COVERGIRL Exact Eyelights Mascara in Black Sapphire.

Lips

To finish off the look I tinted her lips with COVERGIRL Outlast Lipstain in Cinnamon Smile with a dab of YSL golden gloss over top.

I love that Molly used a great mix of high and low products for Amy’s look though I’m not crazy about this lip with her skintone.  What do you think?

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Her hair was pulled into a chic, modern chignon ponytail and makeup artist Kate Lee for Chanel took inspiration from model/rock star wife Jerry Hall and the images of legendary photographer Helmut Newton to create the face. Kate says:

I began by gently smoking out the eye with a mid grey matte shadow. Inside the eye I used Chanel Intense Eye Pencil in Graphite to add intensity, and the silvery grey reflects the light. I wanted to balance the look without conflicting with her amazing suit. On the lids I used the grey shadow from the Chanel Smoky Eyes Quad, with the Chanel Eclat Lumiere in Beige Rosé as a base. On her lashes I used several coats of Exceptionnel de Chanel Mascara. I sculpted the cheek bones with Powder Blush in Fresque.  Final touch… the lips were Chanel Rouge Allure in Instinctive.

What do you think of Sienna’s look?

p.s. As always, be sure to check your own makeup bag first for similar products to the Chanel goodies listed above. No need to spend extra money if you have a great dupe for these colors already! That said, if you do want to snag the exact products, visit www.chanel.com.

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Raychel’s particular expertise is in sizing up women’s “makeup personalities” based on their lifestyles, then helping them edit their makeup bags to streamline keepers and fill in the holes of anything that’s missing. From CEOs to recent college grads, brides to baby boomers, Raychel’s worked her makeup magic on them all. In fact,  I had a chance to sit down with her last week and she had great insight on what to lose and what to add to my personal stash.

Raychel’s kicking off her official partnership with La Prairie at Saks Fifth Avenue New York during their annual “Brushes with Greatness” event on Wednesday, July 15 and Thursday, July 16.  During her appearances, Raychel will also be sharing a sneak peek at La Prairie’s stunning Plumage de Nuit fall colour collection (below).

Plumage de Nuit is a complete colour story for Fall with products for the eyes, face, cheeks and lips. The collection (each item under $70) showcases an essential array of rich autumn colours encased in La Prairie’s signature, stunning silver beaded compacts.

Raychel’s pick for the must-have item in the collection is the universally flattering Cellular Treatment Illuminating Face Powder – a sleek highlighter / diffuser with a subtle shimmer that brings a radiant glow to any skin tone and act as an instant pick me up, morning, noon or night.

To sneak a peek at the collection and tap into Raychel’s expertise, stop by Saks this week. To learn more about La Prairie, visit this link.

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