The Makeup Mole

There is a bonafide revolution going on in makeup halls not just around the country, but around the world – Lipstick is Back.

Relegated to the status of a makeup also ran since, ooh, about 1999, when gloss usurped its position as women’s choice of lip enhancer, lipstick has quietly been easing its way back into our lives.

For me the tide turned on a shoot with David Bailey over a year ago – Kay Montano had these beautiful, creamy lipsticks from Bobbi Brown that she had been using on Nicole Kidman (aptly named ‘Creamy Lipsticks’), and I fell in love all over again with their delicious texture and the fact that they were moisturizing and had a sheen on them, but no stickiness. Gloss had been feeling a little passé for awhile, but this was the first time I had tossed an actual lipstick in my handbag in years.

My gloss bag at work started to shrink, and my lipstick palettes increase. I was using bolder colors at work – bright oranges, corals, fuchsia, red in all its permutations from deep wine to eye-popping cherries and strawberries.

Then came the launch of Chanel’s Rouge Coco lipstick in March this year with its ethereal image of Vanessa Paradis. Chanel’s Global Makeup artist, Peter Phillips, was so vocal in his championing of the forgotten makeup product, that it heralded something of a return. In the last couple of months it feels like every line is bringing lipstick back, and when the master of the fashion zeitgeist, Tom Ford, decides to launch a line of lippies, you know it’s a done deal.

My new-found love of lipstick has led me to try out quite a few lately, and my top winners at the moment are:

YSL Rouge Volupte – love the colours and they are super-creamy

Bobbi Brown – perfect for your natural lip shade but better

Chanel Rouge Coco – they really are as good as the buzz

Estee Lauder – if you’re re-investigating the classics, why not go to the source?

Illamasqua – For mouth-watering statement lip shades

NARS – from nudes to reds, his colour selection is unparalleled

MAC – like a lipstick candy store for grown ups

Lipstick is not just about applying lip colour – it’s an attitude, a feeling, a gift to yourself. It’s time (if you haven’t done so already), to make like a lady, and get yourself a lipstick.

Only Thandie Newton could wear yellow this well! Her mustard coloured Louis Vuitton dress was a perfect foil to her beautiful tawny skin, and her long-time makeup artist, Kay Montano, was on hand to embellish her look. Here’s what she used:

Base – Myface Mymix foundation in Med/Dark 2

Powder – Temptu loose powder

Blush – Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pink Truffle

Eyes

• Chanel Bronze eyeshadow
• Lord & Berry black eyeliner smudged in around lash lines
• Chanel Inimitable Obscure mascara in black

Lips – Nude Lip balm

Makeup by Kay Montano

Nicole Kidman looked radiant in Hong Kong yesterday, appearing at the opening of the new Omega watch store, and later at the charity gala event, “A Night with the Stars”. The gala was in conjunction with Omega in support of UNIFEM, for which she is an ambassador, and her husband, singer Keith Urban was also performing.

Wearing a gorgeous string strap dress by Nina Ricci she looked every inch the movie star. Her makeup artist, Kay Montano, was channeling 1940’s Hollywood film-noir glamour for makeup with a sheer, modern twist. Here’s what Kay used:

Base – a mixture of Chanel Base Lumiere and Myface Mymix foundation in Fair 01
Powder – Jurlique loose powder in t-zone only
Blush – Myface Paradisio Pink blush
Eyes

• Myface Midnight Hour Soulful Shades eyeshadow trio, a mixture of smoky greys and black
• Bobbi Brown Black Ink gel eyeliner
• Chanel Inimitable Obscure mascara in black

Lips – Chanel Rouge Coco in Cambon mixed with Nude lip balm for a modern, soft red lip.

When it comes to nails, no-one knows nails like manicurist Miss Sophy Robson. Makeup Mole is all about the maquillage, so we thought we’d go straight to the source and ask Sophy what the hot nail colour of the month is in London, the polish on everyone’s tips and the name on everyone’s lips – it’s gotta be

Chanel Nouvelle Vague from their Les Pop-up Collection (on counter

in the UK in May.)

Sophy was telling me that whilst hanging out in Paris with Peter Phillips, Global Makeup Director for Chanel, he was giving her the inside scoop on the newest products from the Chanel beauty atelier. The latest? Chanel eyelash curlers have just gone on sale in Shanghai. How chic is that?

I. Want. Some. Of. Those.

PS. Sophy is writing about Nouvelle Vague this week on her blog – she’s got a still of Beyonce in her new video wearing a colour that looks suspiciously like… you guessed it!

Makeup by Kay Montano

Keira Knightley looked ravishing as always at the Olivier awards in London. Kay Montano was her makeup maestro, and this is the Beauty Breakdown for her look.

Skincare

• Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base
• Nude Lipbalm

Base – Chanel Pro Lumiere foundation in 10

Powder – Chanel Poudre Universal Libre in 20 Clair

Blush – Chanel Tea Rose Joues Contrast blush, with extra Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face base on the cheeks

Eyes – Chanel Teak eye pencil smudged into upper lashes, Chanel Ecriture de Chanel black eyeliner on lashline and Chanel Inimtable Obscure mascara in Black.

Lips – Chanel Rouge Coco lipstick in Ballet Russes

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

Alexa Davalos by Kay Montano

Makeup by Kay Montano

There’s a new starlet in town and her name is Alexa Davalos. She is Andromeda in the new film Clash of the Titans, and this week in London she’s been lighting up the red carpet in a dress by Ralph Lauren and diamonds by Van Cleef & Arpels.

Makeup artist Kay Montano was inspired by the makeup at the recent YSL show, which was very matte skin with a bright, glossy lip, and a hint of shine on the eyes and the cheeks.  Juxtaposing textures creates a look that’s beautiful, polished and fresh – perfect for the red carpet.

Base – Chanel Pro Lumiere in 20

Concealer – Laura Mercier in Secret Camouflage 3

Powder – Chanel Poudre Libre in Translucent 20

Cheeks – Becca Blossom Crème Cheek and Lip Color

Eyes

• Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream on lids for shine
• Clinique Naturally Glossy Black mascara

Lips

• Chanel lipstick in Enthusiast
• MyFace Lip Pop Gloss in 136

Just because:

a) it’s the yummiest collection I’ve seen for awhile,

b) it reminds me of summer

c) it’s makeup artist Peter Philips’ little ‘holding collection’ to tide us all over in those gasp! makeup-collection free days in between the Spring and Summer makeup releases

d) it’s Chanel.

‘Nuff said.

On counter in the UK May 10, 2010

Photo courtesy of Kay Montano