If you are like me and love a great runway show, the David Jones Autumn Winter Fashion Launch was no disappointment…
I loved the dark, yet chic mood of the event, especially when it comes to backstage beauty.
Beauty trends are becoming more simple and natural it seems, great for the gals that may struggle with creating bold looks on themselves, but is it actually easy to create a natural makeup? Sometimes it is just as much product and time as bold looks, don’t be fooled!
With Laura Mercier as Makeup Partner, famous for their complexion amazingness and Aveda as Hair Partner, giving elegant style, we were bound for a great teamed Autumn/Winter approach.
Laura Mercier held a Beauty Breakfast at David Jones, hosted by Celebrity Makeup Artist Max May, showcasing the seasons trends and giving a sneak peek of the two key looks of the evening.
There is a big focus on clean, real skin this season, similar to summer except adding a little more sheen… Yes, sheen, not shine ladies!!
In cooler months our skin can get a little dry, so adding the Laura Mercier Radiance Primer, not only under foundation, but also on top of cheekbones to highlight works a dream, creating the perfect skin glow!
MB Pro Tip – It’s all about the ‘No Makeup, Makeup’
Only cover what needs to be covered on the face…
It is best to leave some areas raw to not appear to be wearing a mask.
My suggestion is try a tinted moisturizer or BB style product first, then conceal if problem areas are still visible – Think real skin, not visible makeup
We saw two makeup looks from David Jones this season, both with pure, stunning skin – so real and fresh it made me take extra care with my skincare when I got home to make sure mine was up to scratch!
Contouring was light, but still present to open, lift and define, while Look 1 had warm, copper tones present, Look 2 had cool, blue base tones – I loved this mix, a little summer into winter!
A great tip from Max May was, “When using any powder product on the face, where it be blush, pressed powder or even eye shadow, try and use your fingers to press it in further to the skin once applied…”
This will help with the bond from skin to makeup and create a longer lasting hold, rather than just sitting on top.
Look 1 for Laura Mercier and also the chosen look for David Jones Ambassadors Jessica Gomes and Montana Cox, was all about a dense brow and bold, deep lip!
Time is precious these days, so this look is great when wearing general complexion products, a little lash and of course the brow and then bam, add a lip and you are ready to rick it!
MB Pro Tip – When only wearing a bold lip and little to no eye makeup, always balance the look with a defined brow.
This doesn’t mean coloured in to the max, it means just adding a little height and thickness to the brow by applying a brow product on the top line of your brow, creating the arch and only adding density to thinner areas rather than a lot of colour.
The 3 main products from Laura Mercier backstage for Look 1 are;
1 – Baked Bronzer – (Used on both looks as a contour product)
2 – Eye Brow Definer & Angled Brow Brush
3 – Merlot Crème smooth lipstick
Look 2 for Laura Mercier was all about the copper, bold eye and nude lip!
It was built up with a cream base to give a strong hold and a ‘wet’ finish, layered with eye shadow and then a gel liner, all in brown to copper tones!
I loved the smokiness of the eye, extended and blended beautifully beyond the socket line to open up the eye area…
MB PRO TIP – Don’t always think a smokey eye means you have to only wear grey/black, smokey shades.
‘Smokey’ is the technique of blending, deeper at lash line and fading out throughout the socket area.
Also, summery shades like copper are still on trend for winter, its adding contrast and warmth to a somewhat dark and blue-based colour palette with fashion.
Here are the 3 main eye products from Laura Mercier backstage for Look 2;
1 – Metallic Crème Eye Colour
2 – Terracotta Baked Eye Colour
3 – Espresso Crème Liner
Oralie Maylin, Artistic Director for Laura Mercier Australia and who designed these looks said “These 3 products were key to create a creamy, glossy, copper texture which was the perfect opposite to Look 1, we wanted a little summer in winter to mix it up, plus it’s a shade tone that suits all eye colours.”
She also added that Baked products are great for a smoother pigment, therefore fewer mistakes on initial application – sounds like a win!
Aveda – The Art and Science of Pure Flower and Plant Essences – have been a long time Hair Partner with David Jones, focusing on kind to the environment, yet luxe hair looks, completing beauty for the season.
Aveda also had 2 very wearable looks, a futuristic ponytail and a contrast top panel style to give a chic, AW feel, keeping everything looking sleek yet modern, natural yet done. Both looks had a great shine through the hair…
The new Aveda Dry Remedy Oil was used as a base, the foundation for both looks, before blow drying to add moisture and a great shine coming through from the base of the look – personally use this product and boy does it make a difference for more healthy looking hair!
Here is a backstage group shot of Look 1 & 2’s products, with the Dry Remedy oil in the middle as was used on both Looks.
Look 1 – Contrast Panel (Right Hand Side Products)
**I loved the super cool styled top section of the hair, slicked back into a panel..
Sectioning is best when narrow, but not skinny and a general rule of 1cm in from the arch of your brow.
Dampen roots of panel section; to ensure a strong control through panel section is developed.
1. Phomollient – Blow-dry in remaining hair to smooth and straighten
2. Confixor Liquid Gel – Stronghold for the contrast top panel…. Start at the crown in 1cm sections, dry back strongly, repeated until at hairline – smear this product on to hair, so you don’t get a stop point or product build up.
3. Control Force – Used when sectioning contrast panel in each section for strong hold
Aveda Hair Director Terri Robertson, hard at work, fine-tuning each model for uniformity.
Look 2 – Futuristic Ponytail (Left Hand Side Products)
**This look gave the eyes a chance to shine with a strong, tight hairline…
I personally loved the biodegradable sticky tape, carefully placed down the centre part of the hair to add movement and shine – very unique!
1 .Phomollient – Gives the ponytail more control when blow-dried downwards, giving grip, but not being sticky.
2. Pure Abundance – Especially for fine hair, this gives added grip and texture to the ponytail
3. Air Control – Spray onto hands and smooth on to hair to control strays, rather than spraying direct to head area
Here is a backstage pic of the two looks having a makeup touch up;
The overall key message I got from these trends and styles was balance.
Have a bold lip and lighter eye makeup with textured, or un-severe hair…
Focus all about the eyes with a nude lip; so pull the back to show the eyes off.
Love your work Aveda and Laura Mercier, wearable, easy and almost undone in some ways to achieve the AW14 Beauty trends for David Jones.
Runway Image Credit: Herald Sun
