All plans for a pampering facial, layering on the nail lacquer and a four hour long bath are pushed aside when London Fashion Week rolls into town, so this ‘Weekend Post’ is a little different from the norm as yesterday I packed up my blogging kit, trekked up to London and took a visit backstage with Maybelline as they glammed up the models for the LFW SS13 Todd Lynn show. Were there leggy models galore? Oh yes. A storm of nail, makeup and hair artists all swarmed round one model? I counted a 5:1 ratio. Naomi Campbell strops? I’m pleased to report none that I saw…
The Todd Lynn SS13 ‘Charlie Don’t Surf’ collection was based on colonisation, safari and Apocalypse now, with tones of khaki, nude and hell of a loada’ black throughout, so Sharon Dowsett (she’s the lady in the final image), UK Makeup Director of Maybelline explained the makeup look was focused on a savannah in Africa theme – ‘no makeup, makeup’ in one of the hottest climates in the world. The vision was a rich sheen to the skin and eyes, a light bronze across the cheeks, brushed up brows and skintoned lips.
The team began by prepping the models skin with the Dream Fresh BB Cream to give a balmy appearance to the complexion and the new Fit Me Concealer was used under the eyes. Then a dusting of the Dream Terra Sun Bronzer was applied across the centre part of the face on the cheeks and nose for a sun-burnished finish. Brows were brushed up – big and bushy was the order of the day and damn some of those models had the best brows in the business. Eyes were kept super simple with just one colour and a light coating of mascara. The standout product was a new shade of of the Colour Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Eye Shadow that does exactly what it says on the tin – Pink Gold. A gorgeous rose metallic sheen cream that was used across the eyelids, over the cheekbones, cupids bow and even mixed in with moisturiser to give a glisten to the models limbs. I saw a shedload of different mascaras spread out across the worktops but Great Lash in Brown was being used the most and to get a natural look the models were applying the product themselves. To finish the Fit Me Concealer was also being very lightly pressed into the lips to give the most natural nude shade.
Continuing on with the nude theme, Nail Technician David Barton custom mixed a warmed through taupe to be painted onto the models nails mixing a whooping four shades of the Forever Strong PRO polishes. Rosy Sand was used a base, and then Taupe Couture and Grey Couture were added to darken the mix and add a muddy tone. To finish off a small amount of the golden flecked Winner Takes It All was thrown in to add a slight glow to the polish. The finished result was a creamy cappuccino colour which was right up my street.
Nudey nails, stunningly simple eye makeup and dewy skin? Yes it’s fair to say that this look gets a major thumbs up from me. And as Sharon chipped in, “Safari, so good”. I think I love that woman….
