Backstage With Maybelline AW13

Backstage at Maybelline varied from being calm and collected to focused and collated. Three looks, each of which consisted of a flawless base with some large lashes and smokey eyes thrown in the mix too. Nothing unnatural here, Maybelline's UK Make-up Director Sharon Dowsett was all about the 'no makeup makeup' look this season, which did take a few more products than you'd expect...

 My favourite out of the three was Todd Lynn, not because it consisted of large dramatic lashes or the fact that I discovered how great Maybelline Rocket Volum' Express Mascara  is, (post here),  but the fantastic story and inspiration behind the models' looks. Sharon was inspired by the gangs of New York, who would steal mens clothes and cut them to make them their own and wanted to create a look that would compliment this character - something low-maintenance but still with a harder element. 

The look started with a natural looking base,  Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream, which Sharon applied over Garnier Moisture Match  to achieve a fresh, dewy - almost slightly sweaty finish. The star of the show here was the eight (yes, eight) coats of Maybelline mascara, Rocket Volum’ Express that Sharon piled onto models, working quickly while the layers were still wet. Nails needed to look slightly less polished yet well groomed so one layer of Maybelline Colour Show Nail Polish in Latte was the perfect amount to achieve a sheer wash of colour. For an extra touch a brass nose ring was added and lastly brows were groomed upwards and lips were kept bare all-in-all to achieve a low-maintenance effortless look. 

Sharon claimed the kind of girl that would sport this look would be ‘street tough’ someone that if anything, would only wear mascara and lots of it. At the end of the day they would hardly remove it, just reapply more. (Something that I would not recommend, for obvious reasons...)

The show where I jotted down the handiest tips was backstage at Richard Nicoll where a day-time appropriate smokey eye was created. 

Three key products were involved in this low-maintenance smokey eye... Maybelline Master Smoky Shadow-Pencil in Smoky Grey, Maybelline Master Drama Khol in Graphite and Shade 4 from the Silk Glam Quad in Blue Drama. Eyes were defined with the Khol, smoked out a little with the Shadow-Pencil and shadow was placed in the outer corner to add definition. Sharon opted out of using a base eyeshadow as she wanted to make the smokey eye appear much more natural. One of her top tips was to blend any harsh lines using a cotton bud or by patting them down with her thumb, where the warmth from her finger blended the colours and made them appear slightly less bold. 

Lastly was the 'gritty but pretty' look at Ashish. Opting out of foundation and solely using Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in areas that it was needed like around the nose but with a slight dusting of Maybelline Fit Me Powder for a matte effect. 

To achieve a subtly tired look on the eyes Sharon used a shade darker than the model’s skin tone all over the eyelid to define the eye. Two Maybelline Colour Tatoo Eyeshadows in Permanent Taupe  was swept under the lower lash line to define the eye and make the lashes appear thicker, while Eternal Silver was placed subtly in the inner corner to highlight and open up the eyes. Silver for highlighting? Who knew! But it does makes sense... 

Something I'll be trying at home was highlighting cheekbones with the Maybelline Master Drama Kohl in White. After applying most of the Kohl onto the back of her hand, rubbing her fingers in the colour and pressing it onto the high points of the cheekbones with her fingertips, Sharon created the most subtle highlight around, that picked up beautifully on camera. 

Lastly for an unfinished sporadic nail look, nails were coated in Colour Show Nail Polish in Peach Pie with holograph applied over the top to aid the undone party girl look.

Nude nails, big lashes and a subtle smokey eye? I like. The products to watch would be the nudes in Maybelline Colour Show range and their latest mascara - Rocket Volum' Express. Eight layers and not a clump insight... sold!