Animal make-up!

Animal continuity...

MU Virginia is working in the middle of India on a period film with a fantastic Australian make-up and hair crew - what a talented bunch of gals! Dropped in to visit her and one of the artistes was telling me about one of her most unusual jobs...animal make-up and hair! Yes that's right...on the film 'Charlotte's Web' which is the story of a little girl and her relationship with a pig, there are many animal characters in the film and she had to make sure that continuity for all the animals was in place. Eyelashes, adding hair, clipping hair, colouring...what fun! So think about that my darlings and how our skills / techniques have to be adapted to meet the needs of a film / job etc. Exciting and challenging really!

Happy Sunday! M x

Japan!

Know this is a make-up blog but Mulain found this image from the net so haunting that it stopped me in my tracks. We are madly busy right now with the academy and shoots and we are so into our own worlds that sometimes what happens outside does n't sink in. Saw this piccie of a mannequin head so similar to our ones at school and it brought it all rushing at us. The sheer horror of what can happen to our little planet is visible in Japan...so out of our control....so Mulain is pausing today to stop and think and send positive thoughts to Japan and the Universe....fashion week, film shoots, TVCs, school all take a back seat today. It's not all work my friends. We MU-st get that balance right.

And here endeth the lesson!

Talk to the tan!

Mulain has just packed MU Natasha off on a shoot to Goa looking after a certain male celebrity for a few days in the hot, hot sun...she is packed with suncreams / blocks / airbrush / oils / and a product that always helps us out for beach shots..."Talk to the tan" by one of our favourite brands 'Benefit'. This little number is super light on application, gives a good even coverage and best is you can build it up as much as you want from sun-kissed to baked. Lasts in heat and humidity too so perfect for that oppressive Goan heat. Batch 4 are winding up this week....aahh!!! will be so sad to see them go...off into the big bad make-up world!! Character week is on now...think it's Mulain's favourites...so much fun.

M x

The McQueen Magic continues.....

McQueen may be no more but his art, his vision continues to live and inspire us through his talented visionary team behind his brand.

At Paris fashion week for Autumn/Winter 2011-2012 we saw the Mc Queen magic on the runway once again. Fabulous as the collection was, what struck me was the entire concept and in particular the monotone futuristic take on the make-up and the fabulous metal heads( love it!!)... so clever.... and bringing mettalics back as the trend for this winter!

Paled down matte faces where every feature and all definition has been blanked out including the lips, brows and lashes... and all there is , is a hint of mettalic sheen around the eyes and lips in the same tone... a bit of the natural pink of the lips peeping through... and sculpting in the eye sockets and cheekbones......

Fabulous hair... well heads in this case... where metal clips have been arranged all over the heads for a very mettalic futuristic, almost skull cap effect.... and then there's the fabulous nails... not to be missed... black and metal contrasting with the paleness of the skin and faces.... just gorgeous!!!

McQueen you will forever live in our hearts and continue to inspire us! We salute you!!

Mx

Raw!

Mulain was with MU Virginia yesterday shooting for GQ with their delightful team and with uber talented photographer Burman and fab pro model Mia. The piccie above was a ref pic for all of us for look and mood. Sexy, raw glamour at its best. First thing's first lovely model Mia spent a few days 'safe-tanning' outside (love the Indian sun) so came to us with a light base tan. We then covered her in Ben Nye's Bronze tint from top to toe. This gave the effect we wanted a warm tan look ontop of her own skin. No glitter / sheen / shimmer at this point. Next we did something a little different. MU Virginia worked backwards...she loaded on eye definition using Benefit's Bad Gal eye pencil and topped it with MAC's Blacktrack and got an old gunky mascara and coated Mia's lashes top and bottom....this gave the eyes a very worked in / lived in look. Next she took a good ole cotton bud and eye make-up remover and started to breakdown her eye definition fading it away til was invisibly there. Also, creating 'open spaces' on the eye to pop in any colour or texture required. Once faded away, including the mascara...Virginia then added in a pop of Ben Nye's bronzed creme blending it onto the lid. This technique involves thinking unconventionally. Think and work differently with your tools and fingers. It's a dab here and touch there...delicate and fairy like application required...Imagine 'butterfly' kisses :).

Once bronze creme was on....she stood back to watch how the make-up settled...lip balm was applied onto Mia's lips...a little concealer, contouring....then Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream was DABBED onto lids and cheekbones...DAB lightly not a lot when doing this......it involved lots of layering of products. Please note this look was possible as we were shooting in A/C...outside very tricky....:). Eyebrows were brushed up and looked edgy...very sexy looks and model Mia was such a pro all day....:) ... Mulain is a fan...Mia you are now a fat mu MU-se...welcome to our fat mu MU-se hall of fame!

Can't wait to show you all....M x

P.S - special thanks to MUs Xavier and Menaka for all their hard work...it's all team work my friends...never forget that...:)

Back to the art room

We're loving all the news and clippings we're getting to see from the Autumn / Winter 2011-2012 shows from London, New York, Paris and Milan..... From metallics, to the sixties being re- visited again, lip colours from nude to darkest.... most of it seems like its being done over and over again with slight variations.... are we running out of ideas??.....

......the answer to that is not quite.... whilst some designers are showcasing the staples , others like Vivienne Westwood, Lousie Gray and Kinder Aggugini are defying them by taking us back to our childhood and straight to the art room.

Splotches of colours, multi coloured dots and squiggly eyelines are some of the looks we are seeing these designers showcase... We LOVE it!... getting downright creative and having fun doing it.

Vivienne Westwood has teamed up with make-up whiz Alex Box ( what a combo!!!) to create the beautifully mad paint effects on the face , while Louise Gray plays with dots...... colourful dots playfully placed around the face.... and at Kinder Agguggini make-up artist Sharon Dowsett has tried to create the effect of a child doing make-up by drawing in wobbly eyeliner in the socket crease. Look below at images and feel inspired. Bring out those paints, regress to your childhood freedom and start painting!!

International Womens Day

One of Mulain's favourite days of the year.....Yes we are celebrating 100 years of International Womens Day....it's not gimmicky at all my darlings but a real chance to embrace being a woman and think about all the wonderful ones that are in your life....from Grandmas, to sisters, to friends, to female entertainers, politicians, activisits....they all influence our lives in some form....so take stock today and think how special most are...in whatever role they play....Mulain

Make-up genius Pat Mcgrath .....

Singing legend Asha Bhosle

Wangari Maathari 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner

An American female soldier in action....

A Ladakhi mother......

Actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn

Aung San Suu Kyi

Mrs. O....

La Streep

fat mu fave MUse Nomita Morrison...

"Women belong in the house....and the Senate!" - unknown author

"Never let the hand you hold, hold you down" - unknown author

"Remember, Ginger Rogers did what Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in High Heels! - Faith Whittlesey

The thing women have yet to learn is that noone gives you power. You just take it." - Roseanne Barr

Trending- Block Colours

Mu Natasha just finished doing a shoot where the theme was block colours and to the rescue came Ben Nye's Lumiere creme colour palette and their Lumiere grande colour palette.

Beautiful and vibrant block colours in a variety of hues to create any look you want. Use a creme colour all over lid, get the desired shape and top and set with the powder from the grande colour palette. Be-autiful!

For the lips was lovely 'Morange'- a bright orange and 'Girl about Town' - a hot pink from MAC

Rest of the face was kept clean and sculpted so the colours could pop! fun!!

Try your own take on wearable block colours this season... so in and so cool!!!

Mx

Ben Nye's Bronzing Body Tint

What a product this truly is, Mulain never ceases to be amazed by this one. In pro class today we worked on tanning / bronzing make-up looks...great class, lots of product mixing and looks created from natural tan to full on glamour bronzing....tried lots of textures and products but all the MU-ettes loved the Body Tint for it's ease of use and it's finish...lovely and light and such a natural finish...great for film work as well as fashion. Pour some into a little bowl and with a small sponge (we like a small round bath one) apply it on the areas you need...work quickly as it dries fast so watch out for tide marks...may take a bit of practice but it's worth it. Also don't forget ears too my friends...can't have a lovely tanned look with pale ears protruding....if in Bombay head to New Beauty Centre to pick some up...for others in our global village try any professional make-up centre. Ben Nye rocks!

Have a great weekend my dears...relax, rejuvenate, recreate, reinvent...you know what to do...M x

Solid blocks of colour!

Solid colours are all the latest fashion. So why not team up your clothes with block coloured make-up! Contrast colours for a stunning look...... go for a bold orange/ red/ coral/ fushia /black statement mouth.... with clean sculpted skin and nude eyes... or if a strong mouth isn't your thing.... opt for block bold matte colours on the eyes.... either over the entire lid or even just in the socket line...... feeling bold and want drama? play up both with colour, keeping one feature a tad bit more subdued than the other for a more glamourous take on it...( it is real life after all.....)

For all of you in India... Holi is around the corner too... what better time to have this be in fashion! .... get out your make-up kit and start colouring in!

Have fun mes cheries and look at the images for inspiration should you need it....

Mx

5 MAC eye shadows to have in your kit!

After bridal class today MU Virginia and I sat down and wrote down a few shadows we think add huge creative value to your kits....buy them individually or as refills for your MAC palette and you won't regret it....fat mu's ultimate favourite WOODWINKED and now adding........ROMP, PHLOOF, DAZZLELIGHT, SAMOA SILK.

Woodwinked always in our kits....

Dazzlelight by MAC, like MU Virginia's Kubrik inspired photo...:)?

Samoa Silk..such a lovely soft matt finish...lovely as a base shadow or to blend away..

Phloof is frosty but 'classy' at the same time, great to pop your eye make-ups....

Romp...little bit like woodwinked, slightly earthier, more depth.....

Always remember to have fun with your make-ups!!!

These lovely 5 shadows will work with your neutral make-ups, your bridals, your fashion events...subtle but dazzling at the same time...really help you sculpt the eyes.

Have fun my friends....Mulain x

Oscars 2011

So I think we all agree this years Oscars were a bit blah..... not only the mood, the show but also the general look.

The Oscars are about the best films, actors, technicians but also about fashion... and everyone tunes in not only to see the show, the stars but also what they're wearing and who's style stands out more than others.

This year... the only word that comes to mind is Generic glamour... sure there were a few lovelies... there always are.. but did anyone really put themselves out there to create a statement?Nah!... but even so we've picked a few faves from the lot who we think made an effort... however subtle.

Halle Berry- How beautiful is she?? and dont think she ever ages!! Lovely neutral sophisticated make-up topped with that fabulous rocker hair style .... brown eyeshadow and nude lips - classy chic to complement her cream coloured gown.

Scarlett Johanssen - We love the gal for all the different looks she always manages to carry off so beautifully..... lovely deep fuschia/ pruple lace gown ... topped with gorgeous brown/orange eyeshadow (love the contrast of colours used), beautifully applied to complement the look perfectly...

Mila Kunis- Stunning lavender dress.. that was thankfully not matched with lavender eyeshadow, instead complemented with a beautiful brown eye make-up and a hint of pink on the lips and cheeks... very sexy and pretty at the same time.

Mandy Moore- nude gown, nude make-up, lots of mascara and a popping orangey coral mouth that we loved. Great combo.

Michelle Williams - Love the hair do... the white dress... the almost nude make-up... but love the hint of blue eyeshadow under her lower lashline... subtle but works... keeping in with the theme of 'Blue Valentine' you think??

Anne Hathaway - Last but not least..... not sure about the hosting or all the dresses but she looked especially lovely in her red carpet gown, which was red, with striking red lipstick to match ( good 'ol classic- always a winner!) and red nail colour!

Who were your red carpet faves? Mulain would love to know... so do drop me a line...

Muah

M x