Makeup, Models, and MAC: we go backstage at Client Liaison’s runway show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2018…
“I’m throwing people out, not letting them in!” We got past quite a bit of security and a maze of escalators and elevators at the Overseas Passenger Terminal to meet with MAC makeup director Nicole Thompson backstage prior to the Client Liaison show.
We were really excited about the show; we’d already seen and loved the witty lifestyle collection onsite at The Suites at MBFWA, and everyone loves a good evening off-site show. Fashion Week used to be based at the OPT so it felt a little bit like visiting your old home.
Backstage was huge and buzzy and Nicole was at full effervescence. She’d created an ‘80s-inspired look in three variations: “The Eye,” “The Cheek” and “The Full Brooke” – no prizes for guessing which Brooke!
The key colours are ochre and terracotta of the Australian landscape, used as a base on the eye, on the cheek and basically everywhere on the full Brooke!
“Once we’ve done the lipstick we’ve popped powder over the top: Devil blush, Modern Mandarin blush” Nicole said.
“On the skin – we wanted it to look really fresh. The ‘80s is all about matte but I didn’t want to go too matte ‘cause it’s not as modern, we want to see fresh, healthy skin. So we use Strobe – even though it’s a body product we use it all over the face and body, it’s super-hydrating; Fix Plus, Foundation only where they need it, Face + Body, and a little bit of concealer just round the nose.
They wanted an iridescence on the skin. These powders get better when they get wet, using Fix Plus.
Glow With It is my Fashion Week favourite – I hate bronzer normally! We are taking it across the face because it is bronzing as well as highlighting.
For the nude lip we are using Strip Down and Freckle Tone lipstick, with Show Gold highlighter over the lip for a slightly frosted feel.
For the Full Brooke, it’s a beautiful terracotta lip, and Chicory lip pencil – it’s a colour we’ve had since MAC started – and Chili Lipstick. Lip Primer first to hold everything on, we take it just over the edges so it stops the colour from bleeding.
The look has no eyeliner – just lots of black mascara top and bottom.
We used our new brow pen, Shape + Shade Brow Tint – for the brows – a lot of it! We’re going full Brooke, we have to do eyebrows.”
By Julie Roulston
Photos Megan Robinson and Julie Roulston
16th May 2018