The Power of the Make-up Artist!

Le maquillage!

Ok.....ranting today my darlings....make-up artistes the world over have to constantly fight to gain recognition, respect, understanding.....people think doing make-up is 'easy', 'non-intelligent' and it sits low-down in the pecking order of jobs......Mulain gets so cross!!!!! Such ignorance...really.....make-up is a huge, vast industry from special effects, to beauty, professional to non-professional. It is one of the few industries that not only survived the recession but made profits. To be a good make-up artist takes technical know-how, patience, endurance, talent, lots and lots of training (which never ends in your lifetime..you always keep learning) and it's an ultimate multi-tasking job, dealing with people while doing your job...and sometimes under huge pressure. Mulain says don't knock it til you try it......here are some make-up giants for you....inspirational figures....

Madame Estee Lauder at work....

This 'make-up artist' became the only woman on Time magazine's 1998 list of the 20 most influential business geniuses of the 20th century! Make-up a no-brainer....I don't think so!... Estée Lauder Companies, Inc. is one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of skin care, costmetics, perfume and hair care products. They own Bobbi Brown, Aveda, Clinque, Bumble and Bumble, La Mer, Jo Malone, MAC, Donna Karan, Origins and more! All started from a make-up artist's dream.......thank you Madame Lauder!

In the world of special effects make-up, Dick Smith has pioneered, created and lain the path for sfx in an extraordinary way....starting his career in 1962 he has worked solidly in films like 'The Exorcist', 'The Godfather' and in 1983's 'Amadeus' he creates the most life-like 'age' make-up ever done. Check out Salieri below, the old and young look....just superb and he won one of us many Oscars for this make-up. Where would sfx make-up artists / actors / directors be without him?......Do check out his site http://www.dicksmithmake-up.com/...... He also is kind, generous and open with his information and incredible knowledge....an icon for sure......thank you Monsieur Page!

Older Salieri

Young Salieri

Max Factor was Maximilian Faktorowicz (1877–August 30, 1938 a Polish-Jewish cosmetician and 'make-up artist' who became the artist of the Hollywood Sirens from Harlow to Hepburn, Crawford to Colbert, Garbo to Garson. He made make-up accessible to everyday women, through his work on the stars in their films and through creating products that could be sold to the masses. Max Factor pioneered the high-street make-up brands, Max Factor started make-up trends, Max Factor dreamt up fabulous products....La Lip Gloss! Another giant - thank you Monsieur Factor.

There are many make-up artists out there in today's world also pushing the boundaries, creating great products and education centres, creating magic on screen, designing cosmetics and setting trends.....think Rick Baker, Bobbi Brown (she is even starting her own make-up course for University level), Pat Mcgrath, Gucci Westman, Trish McEvoy, Laura Mercier, Jenny Shircore (Natasha's mentor).....there are hundreds, thousands more.....fat mu! :).......

So whenever you hear someone 'dissing' our wonderful world, get your facts and figures out there and tell them how wrong they are. Very wrong. The power of make-up is totally misunderstood on all levels.....we are artists, who through our medium of make-up create characters...on screen, on stage, on tv, on ramps and never forget the real woman....she has many sides to her character we which can be brought out....it is a fantastic art!

Ranting always makes one feel better.....thank you for listening and have a wild Saturday night!

Mulain x