There is always a hurried atmosphere backstage amongst the makeup artists. More often than not, there is very little time but too much to do. Not enough colour here, too much colour there — you get the drift. So it was a refreshing breath of fresh air when I viewed the beauty look for the Audi Star Creation show. A slight spin on the raw beauty trend, this look offers a polished version of the barely there makeup, also known as the no-makeup makeup.
ALL IMAGES: WESLY KOW ©
The overall look was a stain finish with just a hint of eyeshadow above the crease. Cheeks were given a slight dab of colour, and lips were painted with just the right amount of a natural pink hue. The end result reminded me of Vera Wang and Christopher Kane’s Spring/Summer 2014.
The trend of raw beauty is almost getting a bit old, you might add, but designers are still falling in love with this very basic beauty look. Before I go into a ramble about how much I love the no-makeup makeup, let me give you a lowdown on how it was achieved for Audi Star Creation.
BASE - FOUNDATION, CHEEKS, CONCEALER, HIGHLIGHTER
The key in achieving a flawless glow is always in the preparation. Models were given the Optimal Brightening Concentrate to ensure that their faces were well hydrated. Once that was settled in, the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 was lightly applied all over the face. For imperfections, the Radiant Creamy Concealer was applied only where needed.
Notably no foundation was used, with only the Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder applied in circular motions along the visage. This was to ensure that the skin remained luminous and semi-matte.
The star product of the entire look was the Multiple in Copacabana. Applied as a highlight onto the T-zone, cupid’s bow, chin, and cheek bone, the product was used to give added radiance and focus onto the models skin. For a barely there cheek flush, a tinge of colour was added using a Cream Blush in Penny Lane on the apple of the cheeks. The use of pink is a refreshing change to the heavy contouring we saw the days before.
If you want to recreate this look at home, the rule of thumb is to keep your skin sufficiently hydrated, so that the luminous glow from the products will work well with your skin. The other tip is to invest in a good blending brush, as this will help you apply the products evenly across the face. Remember to apply in a circular motion, so that you avoid pressing too much powder onto an area, which will give you a matte finish instead. Remember, shine is key!
LIPS - LINER, LIPPIE, GLOSS
Using a cult favourite NARS product, the Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien was lightly brushed on. No lip liner or gloss followed, with only the staple concealer being applied on the outer corners of the lips. This lip shade gives a very healthy glow for the lips, so even if you have a darker lip tone, this colour will work for you.
EYES - BROWS, LIDS, LASHES
One eyeshadow, mascara, and your favourite eyebrow pencil is all you need to get this look. The eye socket (or upper crease) was filled by using the Shimmer Eyeshadow in Cario. The slightly brown hue gave the eyes a warm depth that was not too dramatic, yet good enough for added dimension.
Eyebrows were then simply filled with an Eyebrow Pencil, following the natural curvature of the brows. And lashes given a good curl with the Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara. No eyeliner or intense brows were observed, just the very minimum of perfecting to imperfect. So really, you don’t even have an excuse not to try this at home.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
With no eyeliner or intense brows, you would expect the models to look plain Jane. Thankfully, with the subtle use of eyeshadow and clever highlighting, the overall look turned out to be a polished version of the no-makeup makeup we’re used to seeing on the runway. Whether or not you apply makeup on a daily basis, this look is probably the one of the most basic and easiest to create. And you can even tell your friends it was “runway-inspired”!
NARS is the official makeup sponsor for Audi Fashion Festival 2014. Unless stated otherwise, all products used are available at Nars Cosmetics counters. For more information, visit www.narscosmetics.com and follow NARS Cosmetics on Facebook and Instagram.
Audi Fashion Festival 2014 is held at the Tent@Orchard from May 14 to 18, 2014. Tickets are available at sistic.com. For more information, go to www.audifashionfestival.com. Get updates on AFF 2014 on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AudiFashionFestivalSingapore, on Twitter @AudiFashionFest and Instagram @AudiFashionFest and by following the hashtag #affsg.