The Makeup Mole

Feast your eyes on the incomparable Natalie Portman as she stars in the new ad campaign for Miss Dior Cherie, shot by English photographer, the wonderful and whimsical Tim Walker. I had the privilege of working with Tim Walker a number of times in London as I assisted his main makeup artist Sam Bryant for shows and big campaigns. The most memorable occasion was shooting in a field of roses with a giant skeleton hanging from a crane for US Harper’s Bazaar! Oh who am I kidding – it’s always memorable shooting with Tim Walker. This ad campaign is gorgeous, and Natalie looks luminous as always. Music by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin – how can you go wrong?

Makeup by Kay Montano

I have another Beauty Breakdown treat for all you little makeup munchkins today! For the first time, one of my favourite actresses, Thandie Newton, has allowed a film crew in to catch her preparing for an event. And not only do I have the fabulous footage (seen here exclusively for Beauty and the Dirt), but I have a breakdown as well, courtesy of her long-time makeup artist, Kay Montano.

Thandie looks phenom, as always – seriously I have never, EVER seen her look anything than unbelievable. Here’s what Kay used:

Foundation

• Olay Touch of Foundation

Powder

• Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Powder in Golden Orange
• Blush – Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pink Truffle

Eyes

• Chanel Eyeshadow duo in Taupe Gris
• Myface Eye pencil in Black
• Bobbi Brown Long Wear Black Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink
• Chanel Inimitable Mascara in Black

Lips

• MyFace Lip Pop Gloss in 136

Kelly Cutrone, star of MTV’s The Hills and The City, and now with her own show, Kell on Earth, will be signing copies of her memoir at the Illamasqua flagship store at 20 Beak St, London, W1, on Monday the 18th October between 5 and 6.30 pm.

Kelly’s pull-no-punches New York bestselling memoir, “If You Have to Cry, Go Outside (And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You)” combines personal and professional anecdotes that share her stories for success whilst remaining true to yourself. All profits from the book sales at the signing will go to the S.O.P.H.I.E charity, to benefit the Sophie Lancaster foundation.

Kelly will also be working on some exciting upcoming projects in the US with Illamasqua and their US retail partner Sephora. Watch this space!

Radiant newlywed supermodel Miranda Kerr speaks exclusively with the Makeup Mole about her gorgeous new line of organic products, KORA, and, well, love, actually. Read it here

It seems like every day Twilight actress Kristen Stewart has been rocking the red carpet somewhere in the world as she promotes her new film in the Twilight Saga, Eclipse.

I thought she looked particularly gorgeous at the New York premiere this week, and apparently that very sexy eye makeup is courtesy of NARS. One of her regular makeup artists, Beau Nelson, used NARS Zardoz cream eyeshadow (a raven black), with NARS Pandora cream eyeshadow (a black and white duo) over it for those elongated, sexy eyes. Combining cream eyeshadow with powder gives beautiful depth and definition to your eye makeup and is a favourite MM technique. Now if NARS could just gift box up R-Patz to go with those eyeshadows, we’d all be set!

Makeup by Kay Montano - Photographer Lorenzo Agius

How incredible does gorgeous actress Thandie Newton look in these pictures? It’s for the Virgin Shorts film competition which Thandie will soon be judging, and the brief was to recreate the drama of 1920’s silent screen actress Theda Bara.

Celebrity photographer Lorenzo Agius was behind the camera, and top hairdresser Neil Moodie was tending to her locks. As usual Kay Montano rocked it on the makeup front, and Thandie was her usual amazing self – how many movie stars will offer you a seat whilst you’re working? I can tell you now, not many – but there’s a reason why Thandie is one of my favourite stars. Here’s what Kay used to transform her into a Cecil B. DeMille era siren.

Base – Myface Mymix foundation in Med/Dark 01

Concealer – Becca concealer in Cappucino

Powder – Jurlique Translucent powder

Blush – No blush

Eyes

• MyFace Soulful Shades Eyeshadow trio in Midnight Hour (the black shadow) as a base, creating the distinctive shape
• Chanel Eye Gloss quad in black over this, with a bit of Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream on top for extra shine (which is key to this look)
• Eye rimmed with black Guyliner eye khol
• Black Chanel Inimitable Mascara

Lips – Chanel Les Rouge Noirs Hysteria lipstick in a 1920’s bee stung shape

Makeup by Kay Montano

Claudia Schiffer was radiant in a gorgeous Temperley dress on the red carpet last night, where she accompanied her husband, Matthew Vaughan, to the premiere of his new film, Kick-Ass.

Kay used mostly Myface cosmetics last night to create Claudia’s red carpet look. Myface is quite a new range to the market, but I like everything I’ve tried from the range – there are more reviews coming up!

Skincare – Jurlique Soothing Herbal Recovery Gel

Base – Myface Mymix foundation in F2

Powder – Myface Mymatch Powder in Fair

Blush – Myface blush in Paradisio Pink

Eyes

• Myface Black eyeliner smudged into lashlines
• Myface Soulful Shades in Midnight Hour (black, silver and grey)
• Max Factor Lash Extension Effect mascara in black

Lips

• Nude lipbalm
• Myface Lip Pencil in Fair
• Myface Vintage Pink lipstick