We all like to think we are ‘on trend’ and when it comes to beauty, most get inspiration from Instagram – slightly over done makeup as it is designed for an artistic picture – or Hollywood Red Carpets – beautiful and flawless, aspirational – and then Runway – Raw artistic Beauty…
Mix them all together and you’ll have a great idea of what’s hot and what’s not, using elements from each to design your own beauty look, suited to your daily life
Image via mbfashionweek.com (Romance Was Born)
Runway beauty can sometimes be either really paired back, or slightly over the top, like a fantasy version of our daily beauty wardrobe, but even if the look itself is not something you can see yourself wearing for your daily errands, the tones that are on trend can incorporate into your look, as well as new products that sometimes launch at Fashion Weeks around the world.
With Australian Fashion Week done and dusted for another year, I thought I’d visit some key trends that I saw backatage,, bringing a new edge and life to any beauty look for the remainder of 2017.
COMPLEXION
The typical fashion skin, barely there and almost looking like no makeup has been used has been around a few years now and look, we would all like to say we don’t wear concealer or foundation, but lets face it, we are human and may need just a little skin smoothing…
This year skin prep was big on my radar, with Lancôme leading the way, using a skin sound device to help further activate and maximize results of the brands Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Serum for glowing skin.
Models at Sass and Bide, Ginger and Smart, Roopa and Akira all had this device used on their skin by Lara Swarovski, (Lancôme’s National Makeup Artist) prior to makeup application, creating beautiful radiance and hydration, meaning foundation sat seamlessly, like a second skin – Love!
Image via mbfashionweek.com (Lancôme for Sass and Bide)
Just goes to show that skin prep can take an extra minute in the morning, but the glow you receive is worth it, rather than slapping on foundation with no prep, can sometimes really show you are wearing makeup.
Another trend was creating realness to foundation by using illuminator style products on highlight points on the face, but before foundation.
Strobing (highlighting) the face pre foundation adds light and lift, which then when foundation is applied over the top, makes the look more realistic because of the glow factor, rather than a mask type effect when skin can appear dull.
Revlon’s makeup director Heidi Scarlett-King used the Revlon Insta-Fix Highlighting Stick in Gold Light under foundation on highlight points for a realistic skin glow (as you would during the day in reality), then just before models walked the Steven Khalil show, she added a dab or two extra on top of cheekbone for extra pop and light to the Parisian chic inspired look.
Image via mbfashionweek.com (Revlon For Steven Khalil)
EYES
A lot of fashion beauty is paired back when it comes to eyes, mainly using taupe type shades to create a slight contour and crease line, to create a barely there look… For those of us that may have heavy lids, or a not-so-defined socket area, we know that just wont cut it in the real world…
A few shows did actually look like they had eye makeup on – Hooray – and one of my favorite eye looks was from We Are Kindred – A very wearable peachy toned shade that any eye colour could wear.
M.A.C Cosmetics Makeup Director Noni Smith actually used an orange lipstick, (M.A.C Cremesheen Lipstick) pressed across the eyelid and then blended up and into the socket area, which gave great pigment to really pull focus to the eyes.
Image via mbfashionweek.com (We Are Kindred)
Now lipstick on the eyelid may not be for everyone, but so many eye palettes – thanks to the Kylie Jenner peach eye craze – now contain a peachy shade, or try using a peach blush to get you inspired and on trend!
Another stand out eye look was from Maybelline at Zhivago, a detailed eye look, playing homage to the 90’s supermodel era and I loved it!
Nigel Stanislaus Makeup Director for Maybelline used ‘The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette’ to create a gilded eye, topped with lots of Lash Sensation mascara from Maybelline.
All together this was a stand out fun look, the reason why most of us love makeup!
Image via mbfashionweek.com (Maybelline for Zhivago)
Coloured Liner made a splash backstage at Bec and Bridge with their show called Meow Meow, a French inspired theme with lots of blues and reds, which was incorporated into beauty.
Nicole Thomson, Makeup Director for M.A.C Cosmetics used an electric blue blunt/rounded edge liner (M.A.C Chromocake in marine ultra and Zinc Blue) as a statement for one the shows looks and it was a great way to add concentrated colour to the eye.
“Its important when wearing such a bold colour, it is concentrated to one area and the only focus on the face. It’s also a great idea, in this case, to add a slight contour shade in the socket to give the eye extra lift” – Nicole Thomson from M.A.C Cosmetics.
Image via mbfashionweek.com (M.A.C Cosmetics for Bec and Bridge)
LIPS
While most lips were kept nude, or that just ‘bitten’ lip trend, there were a few shades of difussed plum (Steven Khalil) and reds (Michael Losordo) used throughout the week.
The standout lip for me was at Bec and Bridge, proving once again that you can wear a very natural, nude tone look, all day, then apply a red lip and within seconds your look has totally changed and upgraded with just one product.
Image via mbfashionweek.com (M.A.C Cosmetics for Bec and Bridge)
This stunning red, keeping to French inspired theme from the Bec and Bridge collection, is the M.A.C Cosmetics lipstick in So Chaud, with The Red lip liner for a defined edge – SOLD!
HAIR
Textured and un-done looks were definitely present again this year and the ‘cool’ girl vibe was showing through for so many shows.
The days of big, bouncy blow waves and perfect curls seem a distant memory when looking to runway shows for inspiration and one could think these new age hair looks are so simple, as they literally can look un-done… But, in most cases, styling products to add texture, heat tools to create bend in the hair for movement, rather than a curl was the biggest trends I saw backstage.
Image via mbfashionweek.com (Redken for Ginger and Smart)
Ginger and Smart saw 3 different hair looks, created by Paloma Rose Garcia Redken, all to show individuality which for hair, is a big focus in trends – create your own cool.
Pillow Proof Heat Protect, Rootful 06 for texture/shape and Wind Blown hair spray were the Redken product standouts across Fashion Week for 2017.