Makeup trends spring summer 2011: ICE-DREAM pastel trend

We identified two main make-up trends for the Spring summer 2011, the first one was the POP CLASSIC make-up trend, now Oranuch Yoosukdee - Training Manager , M.A.C Thailand will explain the second trend for the summer season. The second trend for the Spring Summer 2011 season (the first one - POP CLASSIC - can be found here) is about pastel colors.

If you think this color, the bright and vivid strong color does not suit you - says Oranuch Yoosukdee - then I do not want to push you to use it. Because make-up should enhance your confidence as well, and not the opposite. You should not feel uncomfortable, or even embarrassed with your make-up. If you feel uncomfortable, my advice is: you should not wear it.

But, here we use color as well, but we chose pastel. Pastel is soft, with a little bit of white, and we call this trend ICE-DREAM, like ice cream… the sorbet, the marshmallow, that type of color.

It can be lilac, soft orange… like this (and she shows me some products and colors). It is blue but different, very nice and cute.

And what can you tell us about the technique? How should these colors and products be applied for the ICE-DREAM trend?
For this trend and colors there is no need for eye blending make-up at all, just pop it and play with it! Do not worry about make-up, if you make a mistake you can remove it. It is not a big deal, so play with that, is just make-up…! And one advice for the beginners, if you want to wear this kind of color, but sometimes this is too much for you… you can apply it with an angled brush, just like you do with eyeliner, that is still the POP classic as well.

You should draw a big line, like the black one most girls usually draw, but using color. It is still POP classic. But for most ladies here in Thailand, normally also just the lipstick is enough. Sometimes they are afraid of wearing a lot of colors.

Are Thai girls afraid of bright colors?
Yes, I would say that… before they were scared, or they were not confident to wear only strong or bright colors, this is also related to the local Thai culture. But these days, now the world changes, things change, so also they start feeling more confident to put more color on their face. Now they put more colors on their lips, but when they put more color also on their eyes it means they are stronger, they are more confident, they have a strong personality.

The new trend setters, the new generation of girls who studied abroad, who have seen the world, and are more open minded… they LOVE this kind of colors. And for the very teenage girl or younger girl as well, you can go for the pastel colors. You can apply on the eyes easily, and on the lips, the color could be pastel as well.

So this was the ICE-DREAM trend, explained very well by Oranuch Yoosukdee - Training Manager , M.A.C Thailand, we suggest you also read our previous interview where Oranuch explains the POP CLASSIC make-up trend.

How to create big eyes with make-up

Big Eyes Tip n.1 - Open up your eyes with the eyeliner

Asian women often complain that their eyes and irises are small, and for this reason they like to wear extra-wide tinted contact lenses. I personally do not recommend the use of cosmetic lenses because it is said that they are not healthy for your eyes. A simple product as the eyeliner instead, can help maximize the size of your eyes. I recommend using a technical eyeliner with a water resistant formulation and very fine and precise top or applicator. Black eyeliner can minimize the white of your eyes and make them look bigger.

Big Eyes Tip n2 - Open up your eyes with eye shadow
Also eye shadow, if applied in the correct way, helps open up your eyes. The most traditional technique is to work from dark to light. You add a darker color on the outer corner of your eyes and a lighter color on the inner corner of your eyes, and then blend them together. Shadow and light are very important to open up the eyes. It is all about contrast.

Big Eyes Tip n3 - Use lots of mascara or - even better - false lashes
After applying eyeliner and eye shadow you will use mascara or - even better - false eyelashes to create the appearance of incredibly big eyes. For the correct use of mascara, read 'How to curl eyelashes and use mascara' . Eyelashes with a natural curve can surely open up your eyes, but let's talk about false eyelashes.

Before applying false lashes, you have to prepare your own eyelashes. I suggest to curve them with an eyelash curler and to put some mascara on the lashes. This is the way to make your false lashes look like real lashes. By curling your own lashes the curves of the real and of the false lashes will stick perfectly together.

You only apply false lashes after you have completed the rest of your eye make-up. Applying false lashes isn't that difficult. Take your time to learn it and you will find it very easy. I can do it in five minutes myself. It is, however, very important to use a good quality of eyelashes like the Mac ones which are made of real fiber and which edge is very soft, so they bend easily and follow the shape of your eyes.

The trick is to stick the eyelashes very close to your lash line. Take the lashes out of the packaging, shape the lashes on the base of your own eyes and then put the glue on the false lashes. The secret is to put a bit more glue at the end of the lashes. Then look down in a mirror so that your eyes are nearly closed and put the lashes really very close to your own lash line for a natural result. Believe me, it is very easy.

Big Eyes tip n4 - Contouring
A very sophisticated technique for further opening up your eyes is contouring: working with light and shadow and contrast. To emphasize your eyes you highlight the zone around the temples and the top of your cheekbones. Make your eyes stand out even more by shading the zone under your cheekbones and beside the bridge of your nose. Again, it is all about contrast.

Makeup trends spring summer 2011: The POP CLASSIC trend

We met Oranuch Yoosukdee - Training Manager , M.A.C Thailand and talked extensively about the main make-up trends for the Spring Summer 2011 season, with an eye on the Asian market, of course. The summer season means colors, bright colors, in fashion. But why not also bright (very bright) colors for Make-up? Here what she told Adversus

Let's talk about the main make-up trend for Spring Summer 2011. What are we going to see? Which trend are most women going to follow?
Of course if we talk about spring summer 2011 and makeup trends, no wonder it is about colors. But what kind of colors? I would focus on two colors: POP and Pastel.

I will first of all focus on the POP COLOR TREND, you know… during the warm season it is good to have colors on your face, it spices up your life and makes it larger than life: just a simple color… we could go for bright yellow, bright pink or bright green like this, you know, it is not the normal eye shadow that normally people use to wear, but this is to make your own statement, and for me this is one main trend for spring summer.

Bright colors...
Yes, bright colors. You can wear both for the eyes, eye makeup, and for the lips. Maybe you can choose just one feature that you are confident with. Maybe just red orange on your lips. This is perfect for white or tanned skin, it works well for both skin tones.

And this one is our legendary lipstick color - it is called RUSSIAN RED, produced since 1991 and it was used by Madonna for her Blonde Ambition Tour back then. And this is the MORANGE, very intense and strong red orange color.

It is good for every skin tone. And also you can see this is very strong red, this is mixed with bright orange, called MORANGE - M.A.C and orange… MORANGE, and this - I love this, is called LADY DANGER ;)

Mac has always very nice and interesting names for their products…
Every M.A.C product has a story behind…

Let me ask you something, you have… one, two, three… three different colors, bright colors, on your face. Is this allowed for the coming spring summer season?
Yes! Exactly, because you see it is for the summer time and spring time, I want to play with colors. Do not worry, no boundaries, no rules. The rule is: no rules. The technique is: no technique. If you like a color chose your favorite color and put it on. If you cannot choose only one just mix, green and blue, and they go well with purple, or pink… so… you can mix. Summer is about fresh, fun, freedom. Let's play!!!

Very nice message...!
Yes, I think, let's play! This is the only season of the year when people think about holiday, vacation, people can wear colored dress and outfits, you know sometimes people may feel awkward to wear colored dresses during the wintertime. And then you see all the products, if you want to achieve this kind of trend that I will call POP CLASSIC, POP is the color, but the CLASSIC is the technique that you apply.

We talked about the colors, let's talk about the technique now. How to achieve this look we called POP CLASSIC?
I will explain, let's talk about the technique. For example, to achieve - because the technique is… if you want to apply this, we use a strong bold color it means definition, the brush is the key, the product and the color is the key, but the brush is the tool for you to achieve this. You need to choose the brush. Flat brush, not puffy. And how to make the colors stay and last long? You need to apply this product we call the PAINT POT. It is gel like, we apply this first, and then we apply the eye shadow on top, and it stays all day, and it helps the color to pop up more.

This is good for you if you want it to stay longer, all day and all night, you have a night party, then you should choose this kind of primer, but during the day you can choose this, it is more creamy., This is suitable if you wear it for the day, but for long day and night I recommend this one, we call it CREAM COLOR BASE - it is creamy but more intense than this one.

And this comes in different colors
Yes different colors, but what I show you the bright colors. It is amazing, so POP! If you try this only this color on your eyelid you cannot get that look. The way to create this look, the way I told you about is so simple, blending only on your eyelids. Simple. It does not mean if you cannot do the eye blending makeup… it does not matter. Definition is not on the eye blending makeup, you so not need the second line to blend, because it is strong enough, it is effortless. You just choose the color you like, natural eye colors, it is good.

You can play a lot with these colors…
Yes. I change every day. I want to see our customers play more. Every time they put color on their face, they are happy. They do not look dull, or you know… it is fresh, they smile, they play with colors on their face. Because makeup and fashion, they work together, they enhance each other, so for the summer you wear brighter colors, so if you wear only dark makeup up it does not go together. Let's call it a sort of ' color coordination'.

And one thing for women who are afraid of colors… I would recommend, maybe you choose just lipstick. It can be POP CLASSIC as well. Maybe you use only the eye liner. I show you gel liner with color… actually for my look today I used only this color. Quick, precise, and stays all night - not all day - all night. It stays until you wash it up. It does not go away. It is easy to achieve, because nowadays all women are used to gel liner, it is not only a liner, it can go all over the eyelid, because the texture is light clean gel…

And this is the color I used under the eye. Sometimes I think the color is to strong and how am I going to apply it? It is easy, it is like drawing a picture. Whatever you want, you can achieve. You just want to do the wing, you can do the wing. But because my face is long and more triangle-shaped, you do not want any pointy thing, because my face is already pointy. But if you have round or square face you need some to balance its shape and enhance your feature.

And then color mascara is coming, the purple one, the green one, the yellow one… if you use it, and you apply for example the yellow mascara… it looks like a flower… it is very nice. It is coming together with our upcoming collection, the WONDER WOMAN. Sometimes people see the trend on the magazines, they ask how can we find the product. This is a problem sometimes. As we say that this is the main trend for the Spring Summer 2011 season and M.A.C is a trend setter in makeup, we provide all in order to achieve the trendy look of the moment, all is on the counter.

Hot to create sexy smokey eyes

Smokey eyes are sultry and sexy and will never go out of style. They have become a classic make-up look for parties and other very special occasions. Mastering the smokey eye technique takes time and a lot of practice, but with Genus Ng's step-by-step instructions it becomes very easy. Just follow her tips to give yourself fabulous, and sexy, smokey eyes.

Step 1: Understand it's all about technique
Before you start creating those great smokey eyes, you should realize that smokey eyes are all about technique. It is not about color, but about application and even more about blending (the look we are after is smokey, after all!).

Step 2: Choose a color scheme
The classic smokey eye look uses a monochromatic color scheme. Choose a color you like (classic gray or brown, or even green or blue) and pick out three shades in that color (light, medium and dark).

Step 3: Start with the light color
First of all you sweep the light color over your entire eye lid, from lash to brow bone. Use a blending brush to blend the product all over the eyelid.

Step 4: Add the medium color
Change your blending brush for a defining brush and apply the medium color on the middle of your eyelid.

Step 5: Tip the dark color near your lashes
Then tip the dark color near your lashes. The more layers you add the more dramatic your look will be. Also add some color under your eyes.

Step 6: Blending!
The key to perfect smokey eyes is to blend the colors properly. So blend the three colors together to soften color differences and to create an eye make-up that gradually goes from light (brow bone) to dark (near the lashes).

Step 7: Use eyeliner
Use an eyeliner that matches with the eye shadow color scheme. Don't forget to color also you bottom lids.

Step 8: Coat your lashes with mascara
Coat your lashes with dramatically black mascara to open up your eyes and to complete the smokey look.

...and there you go! The most beautiful smokey eyes you have ever had ;)

Thanks to Genus Ng, M.A.C Resident Trainer in Hong Kong

warm orange and yellow eye make-up for summer 2012

Make-up trend: warm orange and yellow eye make-up for summer 2012

After all the bright and neon colors that dominated the last couple of seasons we start now to see warm and soft colors again. Backstage at the Hisui fashion show SS 2012 in Tokyo we saw an inspiring orange and yellow eye make-up in warm tones. The make-up look was created by Mariko Tagayashi. Get new and fresh make-up ideas from this interview and from the gallery of pictures below.

What was the inspiration for the Hisui make-up look?

All the inspiration for this look came from the feeling of melting inspired by the clothes in this Hisui collection.

The collection clothes are all like 'waving', the lines are very fluid. This collection, and my make-up, try to give hope and inspire a way to start again, after the big problems our country had during this very difficult year. The sunflower is a sign of hope, and the designer and the make-up colors are inspired by it.

How did you create this look?

Yellow and orange are key colors for the make-up. They are definitely some of the most trendy colors for next year. So I chose these colors for the eyes, used a lot of mascara, a little bit of concealer, a little bit of peachy nude gloss for the lips, and orange for the cheeks.

Mouth and lips like red rose buds

What was your inspiration for the make-up look for the Fur Fur SS 2012 fashion show?

'Doing the make-up for this show was a very special experience for me. Usually the make-up for a fashion show is created after a meeting and a make-up test with the designer. This time however we skipped the pre-meeting and the make-up test on purpose, so that I had to decide at the very last moment what make-up look to choose for this show. The idea was that we wanted to capture the last-minute inspiration of everyone backstage. To get a typically female inspiration our make-up team consisted of only women.' (Also the stylists, hair stylists and body painter for this show were all women)

'Of course I did get some information about the collection before. I knew flowers were going to be a key item for the show. And I knew the hair was going to be quite big so - to balance hair and make-up - I decided for a high impact make-up look with a strong focus on the mouth.'

'The inspiration for the make-up of the models' mouths were red roses, very red roses. I wanted girls' lips to look like red rose buds. So I used very red lipstick and after that a lot of powder to give the lips the powdery effect of real roses.'

'Also the eyelashes were inspired by flowers. So I customized M.A.C eyelashes by myself using, again, a lot of powder to make them look like the pestles of a flower.'

What elements of this make-up look can we use for our every day make up? What is the trend we can get inspiration from, in this specific make-up you created for the FurFur show?

'The actual make-up trends still show a strong focus on the lips, also in Japan. So I think at home you can try to use a bold color for your lips. Remember always to combine strong lips with a very clean skin. Don't use too much foundation and powder. For this show I wanted very perfect lips with a sharply designed lip line but at home you can just dap some lipstick with your finger on your lips for a more natural effect.'

Let's talk about eyelashes

Let's talk about eyelashes, and how to create 'very curly' eyelashes through the correct use of mascara. One of the most difficult parts of make-up is for sure to learn how to correctly apply mascara.

How can we prevent the lashes from sticking together, and what is your golden advice when it comes to applying mascara? How to effectively curl eyelashes? We asked Genus Ng, resident trainer M.A.C Hong Kong, and here is her make-up lesson on eyelashes.

Learn how to use the curler
"Curly eyelashes make eyes look bigger and brighter. This is why it is important to use an eyelash curler before you apply mascara." explains Genus. "M.A.C's eyelash curlers are made in Japan and very suitable for Asian eyelashes. To obtain a good result you have to use the curler in a proper way. I will explain you how to curve the lashes."

Genus Ng takes a cotton swap and indicates the middle of the swap where she had made a little sign. "Let's say this sign indicates the roots of the lashes, and the swap itself is your lash line. You start by curving your lashes near the roots (Genus curves the swap near the sign). Then you curve the middle of the lashes, and finally the tips of the lashes. So you will curve the lashes three times."

What if the curl does not hold?
Some Asian women have lashes which are so heavy that the curve does not hold because they are to heavy. "You can fix the eyelash curl with a primer, such as Prep + Prime Lash by M.A.C. It can thicken, lengthen and curve your lashes and prepare them for the mascara. You use this after curling your lashes with the eyelash curler. The primer fixes the curve and protects your lashes."

How to apply the mascara, what is the correct procedure?
"We have so many mascara types" says Genus. "First of all, you have to know your own lashes, the type of your lashes and the effect you want to obtain. We have mascara for definition, mascara for lengthening, mascara for volume."

"And then the application is very important" continues Genus. "To separate the lashes I suggest you use a lash comb. Only after that you apply mascara."

'If you want to thicken up your lashes you zig-zag the mascara wand back and forth in horizontal movements. But if you want to extend your lashes, and to give definition, you follow your lashes from the lash line to the tips. Just follow the hair. And choose the mascara according to the result you want to obtain."

How to get perfect eyebrows

Eyebrows are important to your overall appearance and beauty. Great eyebrows can enhance your look, add more expression to your eyes and even make you look younger. Are you not confident about your skills? Do you think you have no clue when it comes to taking care of your eyebrows yourself? Try Genus Ng's eyebrow tips, they are simple, effective, and… they work!Eyebrows tip n.1 - Choose the eyebrow make-up product according to your eyebrow type
'Before choosing or using any make-up product, it is important to understand which type of eyebrow you have', explains Genus. 'We have got arched brows, partial or full eyebrows. Once you have classified your eyebrow, you can choose the make-up product according to the type of eyebrow.'

'For the arched shape I would recommend to use a fine pointed brow liner which allows you to design small, little hairs. This way you can obtain a very real finishing.'

'For the partial eyebrow I would use a M.A.C. Brow Shader (a kind of eye shadow with a mat finish made to design the eyebrows). If you use a brush to apply it, it gives your eyebrows a very soft looking finishing.'

'For the full brow I would recommend the M.A.C. Impeccable Brow Pencil for a very soft sheer finish. It is very suitable to even up the brow a little bit.'

'The important thing is that you shape your eyebrows regularly', recommends Genus Ng. 'I would say at least one time a month.'

Eyebrows tip n.2 - How to find your shape?
Whatever shape of eyebrows you have, or want to create, (this depends of your mood) it is important to determine where precisely your brow should begin, arch and end. Genus Ng shows us how to find these three key points. Just apply these three golden rules:

1. To find the beginning of your eyebrows
To find the beginning of your eyebrows take a brush or pencil, place it on top of your nose and then extend it over the inner corner of your eye. Where the brush or pencil hits the eyebrow, that is the point where the eyebrow should begin.

2. To find the arch of your eyebrows
Starting point is always the tip of your nose. Place the brush or pencil on top of it, now extend it over the pupil of your eye towards your brow. Where the tool meets the brow, there is where the arch should be.

3. To find the end of your eyebrows
Place the brush or pencil on your nose and extend it over the outer corner of your eye. Where the tool meets the brow is where the end of your brow should be.

Eyebrows tip n.3 - Eyebrow shapes and moods
Once you have found the three key points, you can decide to make the brows bigger or smaller, and more or less angled. The three key points are your starting point. The final form you choose to create with make-up, also depends on your mood.

'Remember that a very round shaped brow is feminine and lovely looking', says Genus Ng, 'while a soft angle is very natural and good for every day. A very angled brow which is quite edgy shows a strong woman and can be quite aggressive.'

Eyebrows tip n.4 - Which color?
'In general the best thing is to match the color of the eyebrows with your hair color. It should be the same color or - if your hair is dark - slightly lighter. Asian women usually have very black hair and that should mean a very black eyebrow but the look will not be so natural. So in that case I prefer a brunette color. That is more natural', says Genus Ng.

We have to classify the different types of eyebrows. We got the arched, partial, full brow (arched, angled, curved, flat) so you have to understand first which type of eyebrow you have and then you can choose the product to use. If it is the arched one, it will be a fine point brow liner, you can design real hair, real finishing. The partial one… I would like the brow shader and you can also use a brush (Brow Shader). Very soft. The important thing is that you shape your eyebrows regularly.

Thanks to Genus Ng, M.A.C Resident Trainer in Hong Kong