Merry Christmas from fat mu!

Mulain and all the fat mu team wishing all our MU-ettes and the whole world a very merry and happy Christmas!!!! Ho ho ho....off for a couple of days to make merry my friends.

Thinking of you all of course!

Mulain x

Winter's Bone

Mulain saw Winter's Bone and so enjoyed this gripping tale. Great direction from Debra Granik, superb performance from youngster Jennifer Lawrence and great characters. Story is set in the US in the Ozark mountains of the South. Hard, gritty life tales and of course Mulain was looking at the make-up. Real life 'no make-up' looks...great detailing from hair to nails to lips...invisible make-up. Mulain's must-see movie of the month...also highly recommend 'The Kids Are Alright!'...great performances again...get to a movie hall near you my friends.

Hope you are all gearing up for the holiday season...ho ho ho! MU Virginia has landed in Arctic UK...it's chill to the bone weather out there right now. Even Mumbai has the chill factor non?

Anyway my darlings...off for a quick Christmas shop. Toodle-loo...M x

Still got dry skin?

Ok...it's emergency situation for all the MU's in India and UK....skin so dry it's like a matchbox.....our MUse Nomita is trying Glycerine....MU Virginia is onto Kiehls's Ultra face cream! It really is helping allieviate the rough effect and give comfort to the skin...so Mulain says if you know anyone who is travelling get them to pick some up for you....seems the whole world has frozen over. White Christmas for millions again!

Our show with Raelle P went really well....well done MU-ettes Bianca, Ekta, Reshma and Deepti and of course our MUs Prajakta and Xavier who were brilliant under pressure backstage. Bravo and roll on the January shows.

M x

The Sound Of Music!

The hills are alive......

My favourite things .....

Doe-a-deer....

The Baroness!

Mumbai Sound of Music cast 2011!

MU Virginia has been busy busy this week with designing the Hair and Make-up for Raelle Padamsee's production of The Sound Of Music, everyone's favourite musical! So keeping in with the times of Austria and the 1930s the fat mu team created looks for the children...all 7 of them and of course Maria, the Captain and the wonderfully elegant Baroness. Wigs, styling, make-up lists and lots of technical rehearsing to do. Mulain just loves the world of theatre....show time is Wednesday night, a preview show...other performances happening end of Jan and early Feb 2011. Do come and see!

Mulain

Whip my hair!!!

Willow Smith whippin' that hair.....

Cool nails.....

Fab hair....

Just how many looks does little Miss Willow have in this vid?

Candy floss hair...

No it's not Holi but cool coloured hair!

My friends...just when we've finished raving about lil Jaden Smith in Karate Kid ...we have now fallen in love with lil Miss Smith ...Willow...barely a twinkle in her dad's eye...Willow has released her first single which has got the world 'whippin their hair'.....check out the video below and the making of...great fun for hair and make-up and nail ideas!!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5mKAgb5gb5pxO

So looking for some Christmas / New Year party looks....look no further get inspired and get used to explosions of art and colour for next year!

It's colour all the way my friends but do throw a little caution to the air when 'whippin' and don't break your necks!

Mulain x

fat mu at 'out of the blue'

fat mu was at 'out of the blue' the other day demonstrating quick fixes for the ladies.. Mu Sara did a smashing job, and had everyone excited with her 5 minute fixes.

A little concealer, mascara, blush , gloss and powder go a long way mes cheries, not convinced?.... want the pros to show you how best to enhance your features?.... then call us on 9920753846 and the fat mu team will be de-lighted to show you how to put your best face forward... whatever the occasion may be!

Mx

Grandma's Recipe

This one's been prompted by the cool weather we've been having off late and the dryness everyone's skins seem to be feeling.... an so to the rescue comes Glycerine!

Mulain's sister was struggling to find even the richest creams doing the trick and then she remembered what grandma Mulain used to use- good 'ol glycerine.

Glycerine is a humectant, which means it attracts moisture to the skin, thereby moisturising and softening the skin too.

Use with a little water on damp skin .... pat on... and let it do it's thing.... seems to work!

Mx

Double up!

A quick guide on how you can make some of your products multi task...

Lip tints and lipsticks = cheek stains and blusher

Brown/ black eyeshadow = eyebrow filler

Pale sheeny/ shimmery eye shadow = highlighter

Kajal / Kohl pencil = black smudgy smoky eye

Soft coloured eye pencils = coloured eyeshadow

Mascara = eyeliner ( applied with a brush)

Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream = hand and face moisturiser / lip balm/ lip gloss

Liquid foundation + moisturiser = tinted moisturiser

Hope this helps for quick fixes.....

Mx

Go Natural

Earlier I had written about a lady called Bharti that I had met at the organic farmers market in Bandra .... Bharti does a range of natural cosmetics and skin care called 'Waterline'. What I remember from my conversation with her was her mentioning natural cleansers... here's what she said..... to cleanse your face morning and night use milk- not the tetra pack kind but fresh milk.... for those of us living in India... boil the milk first and keep in the fridge so it lasts longer. Using a cotton pad soaked in cold milk clean the entire face.... this works for ALL skin types, so for all you people prone to breakouts you will not erupt!

Milk also contains a natural bleach which will gradually lighten/ even out your complexion- don't get me wrong I am not into fairness at all, all this will do is help you achieve a clear even creamy skin tone.

To remove eye make-up she suggested olive oil... once eyes are clean, go over with milk to clean entire face and then finish off by rinsing with water.....

Results- lovely clean skin. Try it... I know I am!

Mx

Too much make-up?

Christina on X-factor UK

Brit gal Cheryl on the X factor show....

A close pal of Mulain's commented recently on celebs wearing too much make-up!? Is this possible I ask you? We are living in the times of Lady Gaga non...what is too much in this Gaga land? The situation that my friend was talking about was Britain's X factor talent show. It seems that popstress Christina Aguilera was on last week and appeared next to one of the hosts, Cheryl Cole, both seemed 'plastered' with make-up. I had a sneaky peek at the show in question....and thought is it the lighting? Is there too much? We are so used to celebs sporting different looks and really pushing creative boundaries so I think it's not so much the 'too' much it's the way it's applied. It's all in the art! If it looks disagreeable / bad / not happening...look at the whole package too...the hair, make-up and clothes....sometimes celebs make mistakes ...we are all human afterall. It's good to notice these things my darling as it makes you think about your own work. The make-up you do must work alongside many factors...situation, lights, clothes etc.....always take this into account.

Today is Monday and the MUs are reflecting on the year gone by....Christmas, New Year and of course 2011. Have been shooting like mad....on beaches, under palms, in studios, in airplanes (?!)...make-up artists do get around you know...:)....do tell us your funny locations!

MU Prajakta is running our hairstyling workshop this week and MU Sara gearing up for her makeovers today. Whatever you're doing today Mulain hopes you have a great day!

Pink Friday

Nicki Minaj....Lady Gaga meets Barbie?

MAC's lipstick especially custom made for Nicki Minaj....

MAC make-up have teamed up with cool hiphop songstress Nicki Minaj to give us a super cool pink lipstick for the party season. It's called Pink Friday (like her album) and is totally traffic-stopping and out there to say the least. Apparently Nicki helped create the shade, wanting a head turning, wow factor pink. It has a creamy, satin finish and is super comfy on the lips apparently. Mulain can't wait to get his hooves on this one! Lady Gaga has someone hot on her (very high) whacky heels methinks....Nicki M is totally pushing creative boundaries too. Mulain's tip if you like the look of this lippie...make sure you go for it with your hair and nails too, plus your outfit...push your look as far as you dare go!!!

Let Mulain know how you've got on!

M x

Highlight 2011!

For 2011 make-up artistes across the globe will be focussing on highlighting the inner corner of the eye but with a modern twist. We all know a little dab of highlighter in the corners makes the eyes wow! ...but take it to a new level. Try different colours, different textures...have fun with it and get creative.

MUs super busy right now....shooting in Goa, Alibaug....MU Xavier back from shooting in Rajasthan ...good to have you back Xavi...Mulain missed you so! Also gearing up for Christmas and New Year. 2011?! Can you imagine my friends? Time surely flies.....

Have a great day my darlings...M x

Dip and dye 2011!

Nicki Minaj giving Lady Gaga a run for her money...

Bohemian pink streaks.....

Edgy dip/dye look with Drew.....

Bouncy blue.....

Pink tips...too cool for school.....

Purple ends...love it...

Mulain was checking out all the trends for next year and came across Hiphop singer Nicki Minaj's hair. Absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this look....dip and dye your hair...just how cool and different....what fun! Wonder what Gaga makes of this.....such fun and so colourful and edgy. What's great is that you can pick a colour and look to match your personality. Pink and playful, blue and cool, rainbow and fun...Mulain wants to try! Look out Bombay here I come!

Manish Acharya

R.I.P. Manish.....from fat mu

MUs Virginia and Natasha were shocked to hear that their friend Manish Acharya had passed away on December 4th. All our thoughts our with his family at this time. Such a funny man Mulain can't tell you....extremely hardworking, bright, giving and inspiring. We met him on his film 'Loins of Punjab Presents' in 2005 and have been in contact ever since.....great movie (do see if you have n't) and so much more to give. Gone far too soon....we will always hear his laughter and see his wicked smile and admire his sharp life observations.... why he has gone...nobody can explain...life Mulain says with a big sigh.....what a heavy heart I have.....

Mulain x

TVC in the making...

On set checks with MU Virginia and 'God'...

MU Sunita with MU-ette Bianca creating tribal make-up....

MU-ette Loveleen creating tribal looks in the make-up van....

Japanese family .....soft delicate look

African tribe....

On set checks with the Eskimo family....

Mulain thought you would like to see behind the scenes of an ad film we worked on recently.....it was for Dominoes Pizza and involved creating 'God', an Eskimo family, an African tribe and a Japanese family at home......so for anyone who thinks make-up is just beauty centric....think again please! It's all about creating characters. We worked with a wig for this, body make-up, Japanese hair-styling looks and sfx for the Eskimo family.....want to be a versatile artist...think creatively...do your research....play around to get the looks you want....it's great fun and all the MUs and MU-ettes really enjoyed themselves....afterall as Mulain always says...variety is the spice of life!

Mulain x

'Nets Instead'

Let's take a wee break from the world of maquillage and end the week instead on a charitable note shall we?....

I got an email from a friend who's brother started this charity on the 'nets instead' idea . What's that you may ask.... and so... to quote him, here's what he said...

'My brother set up a small charitable venture a couple of years ago aiming to help tackle malaria around the world. The 'nets instead' idea came into his head as he witnessed the astonishing waste of money he was seeing at kids birthday parties in the UK where kids were discarding goodie bags at $15/ $25 a time. Why not instead of wasting this on kids who have everything-spend it on malaria nets to help kids who have a whole lot less.'

What a great idea! Mulain loves it and is going to do his bit with the fat mu team and hopes you will too.... and please pass on the word. The more people that can help... the more children and families can be protected from this dreadful disease.

To know more about the work and how to donate please visit their website www.againstmalaria.com

Mx

YSL Spring 2011 Boheme Libertine make-up collection

We at fat mu love YSL make-up and its gorgeous textures. Below are some images from their new spring collection for 2011, not entirely impressed i have to say. I do love the fact that they have some pastels and muted shades as part of the collection, especially love the nail colours, the mint green eye shadow, the highlighting powder compact ( especially now that Shiseido have discountinued their S3 highlighting creme stick-sob!).... and the 3 new vibrantly popping shades of creme blush (these are particularly lovely...). Other than that it all looks pretty standard to me , but have a look for yourselves......

YSL is available at Shoppers Stop in Mumbai.

Mx

Organics

Mulain recently found out about an organic farmer's market that takes place every sunday in Bandra at Windchimes school. I was super excited and so trotted along... and found stalls selling fruits, vegetables, plants, grain, cereal, even stones...ummm..... but what particulary stuck with me was that everyone there, farmers and entrepreneurs alike were all working together promoting wellness and helping each other out... and everyone was SO NICE!

It was a particularly lovely experience...

The market is the brainchild of eco-nutritionist Kavita Mukhi who founded the organic brand 'Concious Foods'. Along with her was Lovely Jenni who runs the 'Metta' foot spa( previously written about) where you can get a foot massage or a back rub by blind people that she trains and a lovely lady called Bharti who makes natural cosmetic, skin and hair care products( lovely natural lip and cheek tints- watch out benetint!....). This is where I thought you all would be particularly interested.

Her range is called ' Waterline'. Everything is chemical free, and she promises that you start seeing results within 2-3 days of using her products. How did she start I asked- she was a swimmer she said and her skin was ruined by the age of 19. Living in America she tried all the big cosmetic and skin care brands, but nothing worked and so... she started her own... and as they say the rest is history.

Bharti is a beautiful 52 year old woman with a peaches and cream 'taut' complexion. Guess her products really do work then....

To know more about her do visit her website www.waterlinecosmetics.net or stop by the organic market sometime and pay her and all the other lovely people a visit.

Mx

MAKE-UP IS ART

Books ( 2 editions ) with images of inspirational make-up art and techniques to inspire and bring out the creative artist in you! Worth checking out!

Mx

The Genius of Heston Blumenthal

Mulain is addicted to Masterchef Australia.... recently there was a challenge for the contestants and it was to recreate the masterpieces created by one of the world's best chefs 'Heston Blumenthal'. I was blown away by his creations... he takes the world of food to an entirely new level, one that I never thought possible and each of his dishes are like works of art.

I was so inpired by him and his out of the box thinking, to think he could do that with food.... I had to share it with my MU-ettes and all of you to say.... don't be limited... explore your creative sides and constantly push boundaries.... try doing something different with things that have been done the same way for years.... experiment experiment experiment!!!

Here are some images of his work... the best that I could locate online for you all to see what he does..... take a look at his colours, textures and shapes and get inspired!!

Mx