Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Makeup Artist Watch & How To : Golden Goddess Look by Illamasqua's Creative Director Alex Box

Makeup brand's Illamasqua's creative mind Alex Box is without a doubt a makeup artist extra-ordinaire. She has collaborated with some of the best of the industry creating a continuous streak of breathtaking images and products.

This month she keyed a team of makeup artists at the Myer Fashion Parade in Sydney, Australia, designing the looks for the show including the beautiful Golden Goddess look for the 10 models opening the show.


Sneak a peak into Alex's box of secrets ... check out the behind the scenes photos from the show as well as the How To Makeup Breakdown authored by the master herself.





Alex Box on the Gold Goddess SKIN

Illamasqua Satin Primer was used all over the face for a dewy, fresh base. As all the girls had had spray tans prior to the show, a Illamasqua Cream Foundation in a shade a couple of shades darker than their natural skin tone was used and blended and buffed to perfection using an Illamasqua Highlighter Brush.

After dusting off any shine using Loose Powder, contour the face using Illamasqua Powder Blusher in 'Rumour', 'Spite' and 'Disobey' depending on the model's skin tone. This was applied using Illamasquas Blusher Brush II, using the tapered edge to smooth color under the cheekbones, down the sides of the nose and from the eye lids up to the temples to create an architectured face.
Next, use a small amount of Bronzing Duo, using the darker shade to enhance the contour and the lighter shade to add a touch of creamy highlight to the top of the cheekbones, down the centre of the nose and across the hairline.
Revert to an old trick and apply soap to the eyebrows to flatten them against the skin until they seem to disappear to keep the focus on the smokiness of the eyes.


Alex Box on the Gold Goddess EYES

To define the eye shape, Powder Eye Shadow in 'Wolf' re-exaggerated the shape initially created using Powder Blusher in 'Disobey'. Alex used an Illamasqua Eye Shadow brush to press on the color and blend it high up beyond the crease using Blending Brush I.

A Medium Pencil in 'Sophie' was used for an inky black smudge along the waterline and under the lashline, and Powder Eye Shadow in 'Gimp' used on top to build color intensity and to allow for a gentle fade out to deep grey.
'Gimp' was also used on top of 'Wolf' on the top eye lid, almost up until the brow and blended out again. The lid and outer third of the eye should be the most intense areas.
Spatter Liquid Metal in 'Solstice' into the inner corner of the eye and roughly blended into the eye color not further than 1/3 of the way onto the eye lid, with the concentration of color being at the inner corner. Alex used her fingers and an Illamasqua Lip Brush for a more defined shape to apply the 'Solstice'.

A sprinkling of Pure Pigment in 'Marvel' adds a shimmering yellow tone to the gold and is also used with Blusher Brush I to dab the color onto the temples and on the upper third of the cheekbones.

After using a coat of Volume Mascara in 'Harness', False Eyelashes No. 13 were used for a kitten look, and fastened to the natural lashes using another coat of Volume Mascara.
For a final shot of glimmer, add a touch of Pure Pigment in 'Android' to the outer corners and along the lash line to blend the line of the lashes and the smoky eye color.


Alex Box on the Gold Goddess LIPS

For a gentle, dewy highlight, a 50/50 mixture of Liquid Metal in 'Solstice' and Satin Primer was applied to the top of the lip.
The lips were blended out, to keep the focus on the super-smoky eyes, using a touch of the Cream Foundation used for the skin and a touch of Sheer Lipgloss in 'Brilliant' to the centre of the lips.


Alex Box on the Gold Goddess FINAL TOUCHES

Gold glitter (for example from Mac) was pressed onto the skin for a bold look, like the modles had been rolling about in gold sand.


It is impossible to keep anything in relation to Alex Box short and sweet ... her creativity is so far reaching and her mind never seems to rest from seeking inspiration, hence a couple more of her legendary works to enjoy.



Photo Credits: http://illamasqua.blogspot.com and www.sassisamblog.com
Video Credit: www.youtube.com