Education!

We all know a good education is a mu-st - and for make-up artistes my friends it is no different. To gain a solid 'foundation' of knowledge to build upon plus choosing the right college, school is vital! Of course we all know you never stop learning and growing in your craft but we cannot emphasize enough that you mu-st learn thoroughly and properly to make you a confident, creative and robust artiste - Mulain only wants the best for you.

MUs Natasha and Virginia both attended schools in London - The London College Of Fashion and Greasepaint - as well as the good old 'university of life' to add that va-va voom to their work.

http://www.fashion.arts.ac.uk/snapshot/2009/02/natasha-nischol-styles-slumdog-millionaire/

http://www.greasepaint.co.uk/

Of course there are many more and more to come..London, Paris, New York, Tokyo........but make sure you choose correctly for you and shop around first and please let us know where you went to school.....always good to know.

Mulain is off for a Bollywood song and dance rehearsal - 15 looks to create in 4 days - mon dieu! Wish me luck...

Mulain x

You want smokin' eyes......

...and don't 'ave time to call Mulain and the fat mu team? Well seems our wonderful Benefit 'ave done it again, with another mu-st-have for your beauty bag Benefit's Smokin Eye Kit! My friends, most of us want sexy, smoky, kittenish 'Bardot eyes' avec wonderfully groomed brows - so Benefit 'as come up with an all-in-one kit which provides everything to make your eyes smoke! With 3 shadows, a black eyeliner pencil, a brightener, 2 brushes, mini tweezers and a complete lesson packed in 'ow can you go wrong!

For Mulain it's just another day looking gorgeous and glossy with admittedly a slight glow to my cheeks....(it's the 'eat!)........but darlings I am too excited for ALL of you as now you too can look as good as me - so go smoke it up, look like a kitten and act like a movie-star!

Meow....Mulain x

P.s - available in the UK and USA and any other distributer who you can find selling our lovely Benefit goodies.

June 21st - 2009

Laxmi Menon for the month of June in the Taj Calendar 2009 - Natasha's make-up!

Half way through the year and Mulain is just reflecting on what 'as been....good, interesting, the glamour, the non-glamour, the 'ard work, the rewards......what a year so far.

We started with the success of Slumdog - and it's fever gripped the world, catapulting La Pinto and La Patel into the stratasphere, my MU's Natasha and Virginia celebrated the Oscar success with the team in Hollywood......they returned and went straight back to work! No rest for the wicked my friends - Natasha working with the Paa prosthetics team and the Big B and Virginia on a Disney film (releasing December 09) plus our usual shootings and teachings and bridal creations happening too. From the Taj Calendar to Shekhar Kapur's Schweppes Ad to making up Naomi Campbell to 'brightening' John Abraham - it's all go here and we are looking forward to the rest of the year.

Mulain is 'appy if not a bit hot in Bombay and may whizz to London and Paris in a few weeks to gather some inspiration and those all important creative updates for 2010 - oh la la - 'ow times flies.....So fat mu wish you all the best for the rest of the year, we are praying for world peace, a weekly massage for the team, for Benefit to adopt us and give us free make-up products, a date with Leonardo Dicaprio and some good movies to come our way! Not too much to ask for......?!

So bon chance my darlings and to quote Dave Allen....'May your god be with you!'.....Mulain x

Men in uniform!

MU Virginia surrounded by her lovely, uniformed Junior Artists on location in Jodphur, for Vanity Fair

Mulain read today about a World War I veteran who is now considered to be the oldest man alive! Henry Allingham was named the world's oldest man after the death of the Japanese record holder. Guinness World Records said 113-year-old Allingham, who was born in Clapham, south London, on June 6 1896, took over the mantle after Tomoji Tanabe died at his home in southern Japan earlier in the day. It is truly incredible to think he 'as lived in three different centuries, seen six British monarchs on the throne, and has five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild! Phew - can you imagine my friends? He is also one of only two surviving British veterans of the 1914-18 conflict - the MU's always like a man in uniform.....oh la la.....

It seems in March he was awarded my country's Legion d'Honneur award and said heartfully...... "There will be no more wars, I hope. There will be one big nation." How we all wish for that Monsieur Allingham and good luck to you sir.

Mulain asked the mighty search engines of the net.....'oo is the oldest person alive?'....lots of answers came up, from all over the world claiming the title....a Gertrude from LA, a Cuban great-great grandmother born in 1890, lots of 113, 114, 115 year olds!!.....It does not matter, Mulain still thinks it is amazing for all of them.

Someone had written Barbara Bush.....meow.....a leetle cruel don't you think?

Congratulations Monsieur Allingham enjoy your mu-ment......Mulain is also feeling 113 today so off for a spot of Yoga to keep himself looking young and 'andsome and if you read this blog....any tips on living the long life would be greatly appreciated.

Mulain x

NYX colours galore

A trio of NYX bleu!

Mulain was doing some shopping in New Beauty Centre, Mumbai and checking out all the new products, colours, textures and brands that are out (anything to escape the doom and gloom of the world my friends!)....... Some new international brands are now on display, from all over the world.......Beauty is such a big biz non? A certain USA brand, NYX display caught my eye and I was quite dazzled by the colours I saw.......I took a brave move, jumped mentally out of my comfort zone, and taking on-board Nar's 80s inspired make-up designs for Marc Jacobs - I bought a blue eye-shadow palette and a lovely mosaic - coral / orange blush!

Oh la la.....it's time to experiment and 'ave some fun and give myself a new look - am thinking Abba's Agnetha meets Boy George! Also invested in a NYX invisible mascara to keep my brows in shape. Very excited now in trying out my new palette of coleurs. This is my first time with this brand so let's see how I get on.....quite reasonably priced.... and neat packaging.....watch this space.

Mulain x

Max Factor 1909 - 2010

Gisele - the new and last face of Max Factor

My darlings...I told you a few days ago that I heard a very ugly rumour that one of the victims of this recession, depression period that we are going through is our very own Max Factor. Oui, c'est vrai..... our Great-grandfather of La Maquillage is being phased out in the US next year....one hundred years of make-up. Makeup! The term we use so commonly literally does mean, “to make up (ones face)” and was first used by Monsieur Factor. He has given us lip gloss, he created the forerunner to cake makeup, he developed the first foundations for different skin undertones, he also created the first smear-proof lipstick and worked on countless sirens of Hollywood - creating looks from Garbo to West to Dietrich.....Wunderbar! Really he was our pioneer and the world of make-up will have lost a good dependable friend and brand - Mulain is wondering how he will survive without his 'Max Factor waterproof mascara'....it truly is....like Monsieur Factor....world-class.

Au Revoir Max Factor and thank you......for everything....

Mulain x

The Caring McCartneys

How can we contribute to saving our planet? Well it seems the McCartney tribe 'ave come up with un bright idee of having a 'meatless Monday' to save the world - cut back on your steak tartare, your caviar, your black sausage, your crispy bacon bits, your piggy trotters, your tripe for one day a week and you will help climate change - makes sense non? We all 'ave to help in some way and this it seems everyone can do.

Stella M even has her own skin-care range now 'Care' by Stella McCartney....totally natural and organic, making us aware of what we are putting on our skin and encouraging us to think in an organic way. http://www.stellamccartneycare.com/UK/

MU Virginia's brother is currently crewing on Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior and doing 'is bit for the environment, sailing on the high seas and risking life and limb for a good cause - personally I think he's in it for the chicks and the T-shirts, but 'oo am I to judge? Bon voyage monsieur and bon chance to all the eco-warriers out there.

Anyone for a veg-cutlet?

Mulain x

La Courage!

My friends...all over the news we are seeing demonstrations in Iran, with the people angry that perhaps the voting has been rigged.....in an increasingly apathetic world Mulain applauds these people for showing la courage and taking action for something they believe - we should all learn a lesson from this. 'Ave attached my favourite YouTube clip, which still takes my breath away, please see below.....the courage and conviction that this man showed - complete selflessness......Mon Dieu!

Tiananmen Square demo 1989

What does this 'ave to do with make-up you ask? Well....I feel we can only enjoy our lives of liberty, lipstick and lashes because of people like 'im. So we should all be thankful, thoughtful, grateful. We are lucky we live where you can be anything, wear anything, say anything.....

So Mulain is off to practice his luxurious life of liberty and paint his nails rainbow bright, coat his lashes like a Broadway star and gloss-up for lunch while quietly wishing all in Iran goes well.....

Mulain x

fat mu's Thriller.....

Thriller!

Monsieur Baker at work with Monsieur Jackson

'Cos this is Thriller....Thriller night.....la la la la la-la!' Surely this 'as to be the best song and music video in the world ever. Non? The MU's are filming on location, in a haunted house so had the cool idee of re-making Michael Jackson's Thriller with the film crew - starring the fat mu team! What fun we are 'aving dressing up as zombies and doing the MJ moves - we will post it as soon as shooting is complete....watch this space. Our MU Virginia is playing Michael, directing, doing the choreography, shooting it and having a great time.

Unfortunately we don't 'ave the time for a full on make-up look, our MU Xavier works a bit of magic with some greasepaint et voila, ready to spook and spin - no Rick Baker special effect touches...but we are dedicating our video to him and director John Landis who made the original video fantastique! Rick Baker is a personal hero of mine, love his work! Have lost count of the amount of Oscars he has won. His work inspired me to be a make-up artiste.....I watched his work in 'Amercian Werewolf in London' and then 'Thriller' and was wow-ed and won over. Dick Smith, Rick Baker.....legends. John Landis directed both these projects and MU's Virginia and Natasha got a quick intro at the Oscars this year.......the 'ighlight for Virginia for sure.

The sun is setting now on our haunted house set, night shoot is on - perfect light for Zombies coming out of graves and from behind trees......as the song goes...'it's close to midnight and something evils lurking from the dark' - that is me, Mulain ..with my camera!

Caio from a moon-walking Mulain x

2009 trend check list!

Natasha's look for Konkana....'In the nude' with focus on the eyes....

We are nearly half way through the year madames et monsieurs....can you believe? Life goes so fast and time passes so quickly.....Before we know it 2010 will be upon us and more trends, fashions, technological advance-ments will be coming our way - so Mulain is asking you today....'ave you ticked your boxes and tried the make-up trends of 2009?......I am trying to 'elp, make your lives easier and add fun to your lives.... that is all....

1. Rainbow Bright Nails - lift your recessionista spirit with bright nail colour.
2. In the Nude - a tribute to the pale/nude face of the sixties, focus on eyes.
3. Just Peachy - fresh coral/peach blush - fresh without being too girly.
4. The Golden Girl - gold on the eyes - a powder, cream or eyeliner - all cool.
5. Flawless Skin - glowing skin as natural as possible - try mineral bases.

Easy and fun to do so don't miss out on the 2009 fun. Enjoy your Sunday my friends......

Au revoir, Mulain x

Arch de Triumph!

Mulain is in loo-ve with this wonderful product - what fun and super cool packaging.... Soap & Glory Arch De Triump two-step shaping and highlighting crayon for instantly beautiful eyebrows - it apparently shapes, shifts and lifts! A face-lift in a box......and as a fab extra it includes a free professional brow shaping stencil or two.... seductive, shapely brows guaranteed. Cha-lo - available from good old Boots for a very affordable, recessionista price.

Happy shaping - Mulain....x

We love the Eighties!

"Her name is Rio and she dances in the sand - la la la"..... fat mu are having happy 80s memories at the moment and delighted that one, Francois Nars came out of retirement to design the look for Marc Jacobs Fall collection 09 and two, he went totally 80s in his looks.....Gravity defying hair, bright pops of colour for lips eyes - fabulous - retro magic with a modern twist - a mix of Blondie, Duran Duran, Kim Wilde and Banarama......Welcome back Monsieur Nars and uber respect for giving us an 80s flashback -http://www.style.com/beauty/backstage/032709_Marc_Jacobs/ - Mulain's tips for the looks....go for it and be bold! Photo 'ere is from an MTV fat mu promo with 80s make-up, model Lisa loving the look!

Mulain got hold of a photo from Virginia's 80s themed party a few years ag0 - see below ........shhh - don't tell her...she will keel me...

Narcissism now....

Diana Vreeland - RIP...

After reading our 'Pink is the navy blue of India' entry one of our avid followers noted it was said by the wonderful Diana Vreeland. They asked me what I made of one of her other clever sayings.... 'I loathe narcissism but I approve of vanity'......Well I would agree with the lovely lady (R.I.P).....as where would we all be without a bit of vanity in our lives - would n't the world be ugly, dull, benale, boring, tee-dious, no colour? A world without lippy, mascara and rouge? Terrible! Can you imagine? I am like my grandmother - never go out without my eye-brows on and a pair of heels.....and like anything my darlings, moderation is key.......vanity in moderation is ok by me. It is nice to have pride in one's appearance, making the best of ourselves. Narcissim however is to-tally not cool and is a pyschological disorder......she was right about the loathing part and I ask you, what would Madame Vreeland make of our world today? Vanity gone mad....it's a me, me, me society - think we are all bordering on narcissistic behaviour....facebook, twittering, constant status changes. Par example.....some people 'ave how many photos of themselves on-line? It is not naturale.....we are going from vain to insane.....so Mulain says take pride people and enjoy yourselves but leave the disorders in the clinic. Non?

Mulain x

Locations, Locations, Locations!

fat mu in London at the Slumdog Euro Premiere - Oh la la!

fat mu at the Taj, Agra for Slumdog...

On location in Goa for Honeymoon Travels 2006 - it's a hard life!

Today we are shooting in an old Maharajah's palace, outside Pune - delapidated charm my dears for sure, just fantastic....got Mulain thinking how lucky we are - the glamour side to being a make-up artiste ....to work in what we want to do and travel around, seeing the wonders of the world? What more could you ask for?....the MU's have shot in London, Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodphur, Ladakh, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujurat, Malaysia, Tajikistan, South Africa, the Maldives....Madh Island!.....wonderful non? The joys of travelling and seeing the world - it keeps us alive and ticking and inspired.

Mulain is off now, as am on a night-shoot and need a strong cafe du lait.....all MUs working round the clock it seems - it's all go at HQ!

To keep you in the loop tomorrow mon amis we are discussing Narcissm and Vanity....and make-up colours of the season.

Bon Nuit!

Slumdog Millionth English Word?

Just when we think the Slumdog buzz is dying down something else crops up......apart from the Pussycat Dolls remix of Jai Ho of course.....Will Slumdog be the millionth word in the dictionary?.....think Jai Ho is also a front-runner. Mon Dieu! Do we have too much time on our hands people? Ummm.....

Mu-ving on....the MUs are delighted that Ben Nye make-up will be sold in Mumbai in the near future - such a fan of the brand which we have used on all our films and projects - great quality and super dependable. The MUs are in touch with the Nye family and hope to meet soon in LA or Mumbai to discuss make-up in India. Watch this space.

Mulain is a busy little bee so back to work......bye for now......x

Pink is the navy blue of India!

Mulain once had a t-shirt which said Pink is the Navy Blue of India!......I just loved it and it's a great way of saying colour rules in this subcontinent. We are so spoilt here with the most wonderful spectrum of pinks, oranges, yellows, blues, greens....just marvellous....colour everywhere you look! Sarees, flowers, fruits, elephants, foods, trees, cottons, silks - it's colour galore and I adore! Embrace it my darlings, let it lift your spirits and use it in your make-up palettes, on your eyes, on your cheeks, on your lips - it's there to inspire you. Non?

So no Monday blues in Bombay - it's totally pink!...and green!...and orange!....and yellow!.....and red!.....and purple!....

Mulain x

Sharing a Sunday Snap

Bonjour! Today Mulain found a lovely shot of MU Natasha in Mumbai, working on Zoya's 'Luck By Chance' last year - what a great photo...and I wanted you all to see....Thought it quite apt seeing as she is working with the Big B too....

Hope all your Sunday's were good!

Mulain x

P.s - Did anyone else hear of the ugly rumour that Max Factor make-up is being phased out in America? Can you imagine...the Godfather of all of us MU's having his make-up line disappear....I am feeling quite faint...off to investigate!

Bollywood's wonderful wigs

fat mu's lovely Kailash-Ji at work...

The MU's have been whizzing around Mumbai today - de-lighted with the little morning shower which cooled the city for all of two minutes and then it went back to pure steam again, oof! We all have a permanent sweaty lip, where's the glamour people?!.......From Bandra, to Juhu and even up to Film city area we've been jet-setting all over town and today we saw our lovely wig-maker and general 'wig-man' of the stars (who must not be named), Kailash-Ji. His address book is packed with the Who Who's of Bollywood-land and top society la-dies and gents..... He has moved with his wonderful team to a new studio in Goregaon West - an air-conditioned sanctuary, with chai and his charming company - it's like an ashram really. What a lovely soul he is.....and wonderful work he does too.....so anyone wanting a hair piece, beard, moustache, wig - he's your man.

Mulain x

Mulain's Weird and Wonderful India cont....

Check out a wonderful discovery on the very streets of Mumbai that we live - these 3 jolly fellows were cruising along in a rick et voila a friend managed to catch them on camera - please watch....not to be tried at home!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrmDdyBLXLI

Does n't the main dude look like Johnny Depp....in a Sadhu/Pirates of the Caribbean sort of way?

Mulain loves Mumbai x

What to do?

How sad...as much as Paa's security people tried to protect Mr.Bachchan's amazing new look, those forever hungry 'snaparazzis' managed to click a photo on the sly and put it on the front cover on all the papers. Shame non? Hopefully people will be so wow-ed with what an amazing job the prosthetics team have done that it will pull the audiences in my friends. Mulain is wondering is nothing sacred anymore?......It's a sad week. I am completely heart-broken without The Tonight Show with my favourite Jay Leno. Trying to get into the new guy....ummm....let's wait and watch.

You remember Virginia's little mention on the show.....her little 15 mili - second of glory with our lovely Mademoiselle Pinto!
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=75589243122

Waiting for the rains to cool the city down! So hot my darlings - we are all steaming!
Any tips for cooling down, please let me know....fast....I am a little puddle in this melting metropolis!


Mulain x