Luxury shopping in Mumbai

Mulain and the girls are off for a shop today at the Palladium Mall at Phoenix Mills....squeezing a bit of retail therapy in and a make-up reccie between meetings. Our lovely MAC is there but we want to check out the beauty scene in thorough detail...so looking forward to telling you all my darlings. Would love to hear where you all shop for make-up in India? Are you Shopper's Stop people, Lifestyle shoppers, MAC devotees....it's getting better and easier than ever before...the MUs are just waiting for Benefit and Bobbi Brown to come....don't stress am sure they will be coming to our shores soon...seems the whole world is! India has arrived....

Mulain x

Bourjois's foundation brush...

Mulain braved the crowds on a busy Saturday afternoon to head to Mumbai's shopping mecca Phoenix Mills. Always good to check out what's new on the beauty scene...only for you my darlings......It was so busy my god and jammed with so many products Mulain could n't believe his eyes. Bumper to bumper.....and got cornered by the perfume army who sprayed me to high heaven and left me for dead...they don't take no for an answer!!!!

Anyway...found myself in Lifestyles cosmetics and trawled the counters of Revlon, L'Oreal, Maybelline, Chambor, Lakme, Bourjois to see if there was anything that would make our life that little bit better....Have to say was a little bit disappointed with the sales staff.....far too aggressive....the Chambor girl was great and showed me all her pencils....love the eye-pencils with smudgers and the new waterproof ones....superb, good colour range and affordable at around 400 Rs. Revlon did n't really have anything new, the matt shades we had seen before. Lakme did n't rock my world, nor did L'Oreal offer anything new......Maybelline offered me the 'yellow' mascara that I had seen last month, great buy but I wanted something new!

Bourjois showed me new foundations which looked great but was so disappointed as for Indian skins they were simply too ashen....Bourjois's 10 hour Sleep Effect Foundation is anti-fatigue, aims to make your skin look like it's had 10 hours of good sleep.... seemed nice but has only 5 shades! ....There was a great all in one foundation with brush.....easy to use, with a pump action (like a pen)...but the shades were not for Indian skins unless you want to look like a dead body...ummmm what to do?...Mulain is going to write to these companies and tell them.

I don't think people want to look like a mime-artist...or do they?

What do you think my friends?

Mulain x

Celebrated even in death.....

Today Mulain is sad....yes we know Mumbai is full of 'MNIK' news and 'up-the-revolution' antics....but we lost one of our favourite designers.....Alexander McQueen passed away, very tragic....today we remember his designs and images and imagination....what a talent.....enjoy and remember. And yes...go see 'MNIK'....we know life goes on....Mulain x

Statement lips....

Cyber lips from MAC!

Morange lips from MAC...truly divine!

Mulain was with the MU girls this morning, working the MAC counters....what colours, what textures, what fun! Such a great make-up brand for professionals and non-pros. Well done MAC HQ. Mulain was so entranced by the two colours above that he bought them. 'Cyber' for my dark, dangerous, mysterious moods. 'Morange' for my stop-the-traffic, I want attention, 'are n't I fabulous?' mood.

So Mulain says go have a play yourself and see what colours jump out at you. We are all different my friends so other colours will appeal to you. That's the beauty of the world and we should embrace it. Love each other, love the planet, love lipsticks, love freedom of expression, of speech.......maybe someone should remind a certain political party in Bombay that India is all about that.....a lovely, wonderful, bright, colourful, talented masala....all rolled into one!

Mulain x

Are you sitting comfortably?

An artiste at work mu-st always make sure his actor / model / client is comfortable while being painted, pinned, poked, preened. Tres importante my friends. Plus....you yourself mu-st be relaxed and at ease while working. No point breaking your back and contorting yourself into 'cirque de soleil' positions while working only to find you can't walk the next day. Let's think long-term my friends and think sensibly. A make-up chair should be the right height for you to create your designs at leisure. It will free you up so much and let you concentrate on working. The MUs are finally investing in some lovely chairs found at the Kryolan shop in Bombay, Beauty Palace. They are worth every rupee my darlings...totally ergonomic (Mulain's buzz word of the day) and look pretty cool too.

We need to know how long our actor / model / client will be in the chair for...for a heavy-duty prosthetic job which can take hours....their comfort and your comfort are vital.

Lon Chaney nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema. He is best remembered for his characterizations of tortured, often grotesque and afflicted characters, and his groundbreaking artistry with film makeup. Mulain loo-ves him......His look below for 'The Phantom of the Opera' took 10.5 hours!!!!! Let's hope he had a nice pink, comfy chair and music to listen too.....a true cinema soldier for sure.....

So know Mulain is lecturing you ...but think comfort for all involved in your work......and a have a wonderful day my darlings...off to meet the MU's at the Dynamix Mall, Juhu...make-up shopping on...my favourite.

M x

academy on the mu-ve!

Mulain is super excited for the fat mu team...today we launched our 8 week pro make-up course....bookings are open!

fat mu’s 8 week professional make-up course

‘PUTTING THE ART INTO MAKE-UP'

april 20th – june 11th 2010 / 120 hours of teaching
monday – friday
2pm to 5pm
3 saturdays for photoshoots
15th may, 22nd may, 5th june
at
windchimes school, hill road, opposite st.andrews church, bandra west, mumbai 400 050

HIGHLIGHTS

what will YOU get out of this course?

* 3 photoshoots to start your portfolio / working in a professional, shooting environment
* intro to airbrushing
* excellent product knowledge with placements from mac / kryolan / ben nye / onyx
* development of design / business skills for an indian and international market
* you will learn to think for yourself and develop your own individual style

So my dears..call the MUs if you're interested!

fatmuadmin@gmail.com

9821174351 / 9820657194

Mulain x

Do you dare to wear?

Mulain had a lovely day yesterday with a beauty journalist who came to have a make-up lesson with MU Virginia. What fun we had, going through her make-up kit and dividing it into two sections for her.. 1) neutral, day products and 2) party / night / glamour ones. Our guest was super comfortable with doing her face for an everyday look...the generic/neutral glamour....she came to us because she had in her kit a host of colours / textures that she did n't know what to do with. One colour we found was an acid/lime green eye-shadow from MAC. Looks completely scary in the box and most people don't know what to do with bright, fantastic colours....do not fear....fat mu are here!

Firstly we had to get the colour out and get a feel of it. So we had a play on her hand, mixed it with other colours and then eventually decided to have a play on the lids. We went for a bold, solid shape on the eye, supported by a dramatic black eye-line to set it off. It looked lovely and unusual and wonderfully 'non-frightening'.

So Mulain's advice today is not to get scared of colour and textures - get out your kits / make-up bags, find the bright colours, be it lipstick, blusher or shadows and start to have a play. Remember make-up is fun and very theraputic my darlings.....so dare to wear!

Mulain x

A thank you from the Big B...

At the 2010 Star Screen Awards our MU Natasha got a thank you from Amitabh for helping him with his amazing look. How kind that he thanked the whole make-up team and said without the make-up he would n't have been able to do the job! Mulain loo-ves a make-up acknowledge meant....please watch.. Bravo make-up team for helping an actor feel the part and win an award!

Mulain would like you to watch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oLgiRo0iKg

And the Oscar for best make-up 2010 goes to.....

Drum roll please.......well of course Mulain and the fat mu team want 'The Young Victoria'...Make-up Design by the legendary Jenny Shircore!!! Jenny is a favourite fat mu muse and is MU Natasha's mentor...wonderful and talented goddess of le maquillage........we will be loudly applauding you for maybe your second Oscar....the best make-up nominations are...

"Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
“Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
“The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore

Last year MU's Virginia and Natasha were in LA super-excited with the Slumdog team...how time flies eh my friends?

Who do you want to win? Check out all the Oscar nominations at http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/82/nominees.html

Mulain x

Step back in time....

Mulain wants you to feast your eyes today my friends.....yes it's 2010 but wanted to take you on a journey back in time .....Vogue covers from 1920 to 2000....have found every decade to show you below...also do check out the Vogue archives for your referencing...http://www.vogue.co.uk/magazine/archive/ .......there is a lifetime of inspiration there! Enjoy...Mulain

2000

1990

1980

1970

1960

1950

1940

1930

1920

The perfect blush.....

YSL limited edition creme de blush.......3 fabulous colours.....





Powdery Pink


Velvety Peach

Silky Praline

Mulain spotted these little gems in Shoppers Stop, Linking Road, Bandra...Mumbai....yes deep in the heart of 'Bollywoodland' think we 've found the perfect blush.......3 great shades....a light creme applied to the cheeks (a little goes a long way)...and it sets as a powder, meaning that in the heat it has more staying power on the face. This is excellent news my darlings for those of you who find their rouge does not stay put. This product is not cheap, and is a limited edition....but I assure you it's worth every rupee, penny etc...it will last a long time and give the perfect pop of colour on the cheeks.

Marvelous non?

Mulain x

P.S - these are available wherever you are in our global village my darlings...don't fret :)

IMATS!

The fabulous IMATS....London 2010...

Alex Box make-up artist demo-ing

Make-up industry's current IT girl...Alex Box...

Examples of Alex Box's work....lovely non?

Loads of SFX too.......

Ok...so it's been an IMATS weekend in London....hope some of you went.....as their website says...http://www.imatsshow.com/london/london_index.php......"Four shows. Five countries. One show....the IMATS". For those of you unfamiliar with what this is let Mulain explain.....organised by Make-up Artist Magazine this is an International Make-up Artist Trade Show...it travels the globe from LA to Vancouver to Sydney to London to Toronto showing latest techniques, products, demonstrations and great speakers. It's not just movie make-up it's bridal, beauty, fashion, special effects, body art / painting, theatre..etc etc....an all-round make-up exhibit.

Alex Box who co-founded new Brit beauty brand Illamasqua (Selfridges) was a highlight this year in London. She really is the current make-up artist around town.....putting the art into make-up....tres importante my darlings .....that's what our professional make-up course (starting April 19th...plug plug) is all about.

So do get a chance to go to them if they are in your neck of the woods......your exposure to products and experienced artists is essential for your professional growth......off for a meeting now with Hi-Blitz magazine.....very exciting project coming up...Mulain will reveal all soon....

Caio for now...

Mulain x

Grammy Glam!

Rihanna Rocks!

Grammy girls together....uber glam non?



Lady Gaga in another league altogether....


Never one to go for understated chic na.....

Well hope you had a wonderful weekend my friends.....we have been so busy in wedding world, 'Disney-world', skin-care TVCs so catching up with the rest of the planet and checking out all the different looks at the 2010 Grammies....So many popstars / rockstars to look at...Mulain's head is all a-spin this morning. I have to say Rihanna (as per usual) looks amazing, she seems to set a new trend as soon as she steps out of her door non? Great style, hair and what lashes.....short hair, great skin and big lashes is definitely a look for this year.....big and bold my darlings. And like last year, Lady Gaga did not disappoint....slightly fewer costume changes this year....but great fun and so different....sort of a Cyndi Lauper / David Bowie tribute I feel. Don't think she's a shy girl somehow.....(or boy? not sure that issue was ever cleared up....never mind her talent speaks for her/himself). Dying to see the Elton John duet she did...mu-st be quite spectacular...

MU Natasha was holed up in studios and doing another skin ad....look out for the up-and-coming Genelia Garnier TVC she did....should be running soon.....will get her to write a leetle skin lesson for you all this week....as we know my darlings...your make-up look starts with skin.....so you mu-st know all there is to know....

MU Virginia did her first Irani Bride....and what fun! This bride is a London gal by birth and wonderfully eccentric and wanted a traditional Bridal look with a twist. Make-up was subtle, with lovely fresh, glowing skin and a slightly 60s smoke look on the eyes....we were all set with the nail polish being a dark, vampish red when the bride changed her mind last minute and said she wanted pink! So on we popped a new brand called Wet 'n' Wild, a crazy eye-catching pink called 'Pink Pearl'...http://www.wnwbeauty.co.uk/nails/wildshine.html....it just popped the look and added a bit of funkiness....pinky lips completed her look and she looked just fabulous.....a happy, glowing bride!

Mulain is off to the Disney shoot now to check all the MUs are doing ok.....

Mulain x

Is it the Avatar Influence...?

Natasha MU told me to check out the Alexander McQueen show in Paris for the make-up looks....'Wow' is all I can say....again he 'as taken le maquillage de fashion to another level my darlings....alien make-up non? All the models look 'other worldly'.....you think he watched 'Avatar' and got carried away? Who cares I say....so creative and different...Mulain and girls are so inspired......We have super creative shoots coming up too....so excited....lots of work but great fun and we are always trying to push the boundaries of our art....

Off to a Pune/Parsi wedding with Virginia MU this weekend....Natasha MU is tied up with Genelia doing a skin TVC...she won't see the light of day for a while (tinted moisturizer my darling) and the fat mu team are on a patchwork shoot for Zokkomon!

So have a looverly weekend....let's chat Monday.

Mulain x

P.s - our professional course is starting April 19th!!! Will blog all about it soon.....Mwah!

J'aime Paris....

et Monsieur John Galliano......what a show!...the MUs have been going crazy looking at the make-ups and hair-styles from the shows from Gay Paris....my favourite city! Love the 'Sunset Boulevard theme' and loved the whole look...clothes, hair, scarves and the make-up just rocked! The MU's applaud you...am guessing it's a Pat Mcgrath job...it 'as all her trademark talent....we love it and will work out how we can tranfer this look for all of you party boys and girls.....Let's take this 'Sunset Boulevard' look to the streets of Mumbai....Hurrah!

We are super busy at the moment.....our heads are spinning....Oh la la....let me know what you think of the Paris shows.....

Keep in touch,

Mulain x

3 lipsticks in one day!

Morning time lips....Revlon's Nude Attitude

Lunchtime statement lips in Revlon's Strawberry Suede

Stunning dinner mouth in Revlon's Wine Not.....Wow factor galore!

Ok...so Mulain was meant to run around the stores today checking what's 'out there' in the make-up world. Confession....I got stuck at the Revlon counter testing all their new Matt lipsticks for a long time....so many lovely shades to try out.....just could n't decide which one to get so got 3! The great thing about Revlon is it does n't break the bank....so I did n't feel too bad treating myself here. Decided on a neutral shade 'Nude Attitude' to start the day....then decided on a fabulous red 'Strawberry Suede' to add glamour to a lunch-do or midday meeting.....and fell in love with a vampy dark colour called 'Wine Not' for a deadly night, party, dinner look. How easy to put on and change my look! Instant pick-me-up and creatively fun. With each shade it brings out a new avatar of me.....understated chic....confident class....devastating glamour....how clever, thank you Revlon.

Off to meet the girls, with my wonderul new red mouth....shooting, shooting and more shooting...my the MUs are busy....roll on 2010!

M x

Happy Replubic Day India!

Mulain today saw the poster for fat mu's latest movie....Zokkomon is releasing in May 2010 and is Disney's first live-action feature film....make-up and hair by your very own MUs.....can't wait to see the trailer and of course watch it on the big screen. It's starring Darsheel Safary and is the story of a little's boys adventure into the wonderland of being a super-hero.....great fun!

No time today to check out the make-up counters...tomorrow my friends. Looking for a new lipstick colour me-thinks.....and a blusher that does n't melt away in the heat and a wild new nail colour...will keep you posted.

Mwah...Mulain x

Culture Vulture

Mulain has just returned from the Pink City, yes that's Jaipur my friends, and the Literary Festival. What a weekend...my god....completely gets you inspired, mentally refreshed and tuned in to the world around us.....great location, fantastic speakers, lovely crowd....Wunderbar. Saw Roddy Doyle, Niall Ferguson, Louis De Bernieres, Tina Brown, Stephen Freyers and many more......Mulain ran into a friend who was surprized that I was there...meaning....'you! a make-up artist...at a literary do'?.....'ow narrow-minded eh? I 'ave a brain like everyone else, I write a blog everyday, I read whenever I can.....how silly....think people really think we are all fluffy and talk only about 'colours' and 'lipsticks' and 'gloss'.....shame on them all....and that goes for us too my darlings....we must really not judge people....we are always proved wrong....

Mulain and the team are back to the city with a bump and getting ready for more shoots and weddings.....who said the wedding season is over? Not at all....it's always wedding season my darlings....

Ok....tomorrow will be checking out what's in the stores make-up wise and see if I can spot any goodies for us all..

Mulain x

http://jaipurliteraturefestival.org/