MAC fans, ever wonder what goes on back stage when MAC does makeup for fashion shows? We’ve got the skinny here on makeupandbeautyblog.com!

Last night was the opening night of San Francisco Fashion Week 2007, so makeupandbeautyblog.com tagged along with the MAC makeup team to find out what really goes on backstage. MAC is sponsoring the makeup for all three nights, so I tried to do my best impression of your friendly neighborhood silent (but deadly) beauty blogging ninja! Armed with a big-ass camera and a voice recorder, I did my best to capture all of the backstage happenings just for you!

The show started at 8:00, but prepping takes hours. Key MAC makeup artists Victor Cembellin and Louise Zizzo started working their makeup mojo at 3:00, but yours truly arrived a lil’ late at 6:00 because I had to finish an editorial memo on the beauty book I’m editing and I got stuck in traffic. I still managed to observe lots of the action, and when I got to the hair and makeup tent the MAC team was in full force.

A few clips of the runway show

Plenty o’ Retro-Inspriation
At last night’s dinner Victor hinted that we’d be seeing a lot of retro-inspired looks, and it was evident in the three looks I watched them create for the Emerging Stars, Vian Hunter and Genevieve Primavera shows.

My Favorite Backstage Look – Blacktrack with Green Liquidlast on Top
Here’s my favorite, created by MAC for designer Vian Hunter. Louise first demonstrated the look on a model while the assistant MAC makeup artists watched. Side note: All of the MAC makeup artists had SUPER HOT makeup on! I could’ve spent all evening just taking pictures of them but I had a job to do, yo.

The Vian Hunter look was very 60s-sophisticated-society-lady-that-lunches, and was all about the eyes. The lid was covered in a solid layer of Blacktrack Fluidliner, and to make it really pop Louise layered a line of color on top of the Blacktrack by applying Greenplay Liquidlast Liner! So hot!

Louise on the look: “The look is kind of icy, dusty roses and almost holiday inspired. We wanted to do something that would show that side of [Vian Hunter’s] collection. Rather than just doing a black liner with icy cheeks and lips, we mixed it up a little bit [with the Liquidlast liner on top]. It’s also all about the lashes. With lashes on the bottom and on the top, it has a 60s feel to it. [The model] has on pink cream base on her cheeks and on her lips. Also on her cheeks she has Luna cream base. And there’s a little dusting of Frozen White Pigment on her lips, to give her a holographic, icy, reflective look.”

What It’s Like in the Tent
I then managed to squeeze myself into a group of MAC artists watching Victor demonstrate the look for the Genevieve Primavera show. And when I say squeeze I mean squeeze. The tent is long, narrow and crowded, so everyone – models, makeup, artists, hair stylists, friendly neighborhood beauty bloggers with big ole’ bums (ahem) – was packed in tight like sardines. Despite the fact that it was so hectic and tightly packed there was a real flow to the energy and the efficiency of the makeup artists. The MAC team is focused and intense, yet still very friendly, even when your bum accidentally bumps into an artist or two while they apply liner on a model. Oops.

A Spacy 60s Runway Look – Silver Lids and Black Lined Eyes
The Genevieve Primavera look also did a nod to the 60s. Again, the focus was on the eye, with a silver lid and dark black liner applied around the entire eye and in the crease.

Victor on the look: “Basically [the designer] wanted to do something like Edie Sedgwick and Audrey Hepburn – but in Space! It’s sort of futuristic, taking elements from the 60s and elements from Barbie and futurizing them. We’ll be doing black liquid eyeliner into the contour, and full on Silver Metal Pigment on the eyelid. It’s going to look off-the-hook crazy.”

The lids were the stand out feature. Victor mixed Silver Metal Pigment with Fix+ to create a runny metal liquid that looked like mercury. Kinda scary in a Terminator II-esque way, yet very pretty.

Red Runway Lips
Louise prepped the last look for the “Emerging Stars” show. This look was very classic, with intense red lipstick and neutral eyes.

MAC Touchups Behind the Runway
Louise then let me tag along with her as she left the tent to go backstage to prep the Emerging Stars models right before they hit the runway. The girls all wore black dresses, and with all of the tied back hair and the red lips I felt like I was magically transported into a Robert Palmer video circa 1986. For some bizarre reason I felt the need to be holding an electric guitar.

I then found Victor in a tiny closet just off the runway doing some last-minute fixes on the models for the Pink Elf show. Pink Elf is one of my favorite designers from the 2006 SF Fashion Week show, which I watched from the nosebleed seats in the audience. I had to literally pinch myself after I took these shots because it finally hit me that I was getting to see and do something I would have never dreamed of when I was sitting in the audience last year.

We Make it into the Photography Pit!
There are unwritten laws when it comes to fashion shows, and one of them is that apparently they never start on time. Fellow beauty blogger Christine M. from Tempalia.com and I staked out a place at the end of the runway right next to the platform where all of the “official” photographers park. And I waited. And waited. And waited. During that time I got bitched out by a photographer for not having a press pass because I was a blogger, and technically not supposed to be there. I kept lurking next to the platform like a stalker, so when the show began I just started taking pictures like crazy and waited for someone official to kick my ass out. Luck was on my side though, when one of the “official” photographers actually invited me to stand next to him within the designated press area.

When you are right in the middle of the photographers you can hear all of the click-click-clicking of the cameras going off and it’s surprisingly really loud. The energy that flowed once the photographers got to work was similar to the MAC artists backstage – focused, with an undercurrent of intensity. You feel them leaning with you as you take pictures, and the clicking of the cameras turns into this symphony of sound and light. It was really amazing. I actually ended up staying there and taking pics for the entire show!

A Few Runway Pictures

A Vian Hunter model serves it up.

A pretty red Vian Hunter dress.


Remember Becky, the model Victor worked on for the Genevieve Primavera look?

A closeup of the Genevieve Primavera look on the runway.

A closeup of a Vian Hunter model. If you look closely you can see a hint of the Liquidlast on her upper lash line.

Another runway look from Genevieve Primavera.

One of my favorite pics from the runway. I got really lucky with this one.

When the models made it to the end of the runway, I tried hard to look for specific elements that the MAC artists used for each of the designers. Even though I was so close, I couldn’t always see the detailing that I know the makeup artists put so much hard work into just hours before. But that could’ve also been because I was stressed about being kicked out at any moment. The bolder elements really popped on the runway though, like the silver eyes for Genevieve Primavera, the heavy Blacktrack lid for Vian Hunter, and the red lips for Emerging Stars.

It was a fantastic experience. I’m exhausted, but so happy. What makes it even better is that I get to share it with ya’ll.

I’ll be there again tonight, so when you’re not busy getting your drank on at the open bar please come by and say hello!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Extra special thanks to Heather Park of MAC, who hooked this up all for makeupandbeautyblog.com. She worked it out the entire night in high heels and still managed to have a smile on her face. Thanks girl!

Last night Victor Cembellin and Louise Zizzo, MAC Senior Artists and key makeup artists for San Francisco Fashion Week 2007, hosted dinner at Perbacco restaurant in San Francisco, California. Writers, editors, beauty bloggers and key members of the MAC team met and mingled over drinks and dinner to discuss the upcoming fashion shows.

The outside of Perbacco Restaurant in San Francisco, California

I had the pleasure of meeting many people involved in the San Francisco Bay Area fashion and beauty world, including Donna Kato, Style Editor at The San Jose Mercury News, Annie from the beauty Web site bellasugar.com and Christine M. from the blog Temptalia.com. And of course there were all the lovely folks at MAC, like Allison Greenberg and Heather Park, a Manager in MAC’s Global Communications and beauty blog connoisseur!

So what happens during a four-course meal when you get a bunch of beauty-obsessed writers, bloggers, and MAC Artists together? The conversation inevitably goes to the products. In between bites of heirloom tomato salad, filet mignon and truffle mashed potatoes, there were declarations of brush devotion (Victor loves the 266, Christine loves the 187), exclamations of life-changing MAC products (Heather swears by Mineralize Skinfinish and Liquidlast Liner), and the skinny on MAC makeup on the runway.

So what’s your favorite brush?

To create the looks for the 2007 runway, Victor and Louise first met with the designers at the San Francisco MAC Pro Store to discuss collections and the designers’ makeup vision. Victor says that this year we’ll be seeing a lot more 40s inspired looks, and lots of sophisticated smokey eyes.

I was also not surprised to discover there’s an element of improv backstage when it comes to achieving a look. Last year, for the designer Genevieve Primavera’s show, the MAC makeup team at first had trouble creating a deep, dark goth lip with traditional pencils. Victor decided to improv by using Fluidline Liner in Macroviolet and applying the liner on the lips with the 266 brush. The result? Deep, dark-colored lips that would make any vampire jealous.

Heather and I talked at length about how beauty bloggers are changing the face of the beauty industry. She mentioned many interesting facts and statistics she’s learned since becoming MAC’s “blog expert.” Would you believe that 63% of women who read a positive review of a product in a beauty blog go out and purchase that product? Beauty bloggers are beginning to hold serious sway in the beauty product court, yet many traditional retailers and fashion show organizers don’t recognize blogging as a legitimate form of journalism. MAC is doing cutting edge work by cultivating relationships with bloggers; in due time I think we’ll see more and more cosmetics companies and retailers actively courting the blogosphere.

Another shot of the MAC dinner held in the Barolo room in Perbacco restaurant

After dessert, a chocolate molten cake that sent me to chocoholic ecstasy, the dinner attendees received a lovely goody bag with MAC products from the new Smoke Signals Limited Edition Collection. I’m looking forward to reviewing all of it for you soon!

Who knew there were others out there who could wax philosophic for hours about the merits of concealer? It was a great evening with lively and interesting people, and I had a fantastic time.

I’m so glad that I get to share this with you! Have a stunning, yes stunning, Thursday.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

After much anticipation here at makeupandbeautyblog.com today is the start of San Francisco Fashion Week!

Tonight I’m hauling my cookies over the bridge to San Francisco to break bread with the Senior MAC artists for the shows, Victor C. and Louise Z. If you are going please stop by and say HI – you’ll know it’s me because I’ll be lugging around my huge-ass camera. And if you’re nice I may even take a picture of your hot self and post you up on makeupandbeautyblog.com.

Although I’ve interviewed plenty of people in hectic situations this will be my first time covering a fashion event so it’ll definitely be a learning experience. Please send your good thoughts along!

Have a WONDERFUL Wednesday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I got this amazing SLR camera and I’m on a picture kick so here’s another Face of the Day with a little splash of green color on the eyes!

I was feeling the gold vibe after looking at the Photoshaped pics today so I decided to play with MAC Woodwinked and see what would happen. I did this easy, subtle look (this seems to be my dominant makeup theme, LOL) that pairs Woodwinked with a splash of green liner and powder on the top lid. You can’t really tell straight off that I’m wearing color, but when I blink my eyes I can see a flash of green! If you are color-shy like me then try this – it’s totally not scary!

Here are the eyes.

Looking down

I’m watching you!

I used (working from brow downward)
1. MAC Concrete shadow on brow, with 266 brush
2. MAC Bare Canvas Paint on entire lid, with 217 brush
3. MAC Ricepaper shadow over entire lid, with 252 brush
4. MAC Woodwinked shadow over outer half of lid and crease (concentrating the most color on the outer part of eye), with 217 brush
5. MAC Mulch shadow in outer v, with NYC cosmetics eye shadow applicator
6. MAC Sweet Sage Fluidline on upper lash line, with 209 brush
7. Maybelline Antique Jade shadow layered over MAC Sweet Sage upper liner, with NYC cosmetics eye shadow applicator
8. MAC Sweet Sage Fluidline on lower lash line, with 209 brush
9. MAC Woodwinked shadow layered over MAC Sweet Sage lower liner, with NYC cosmetics eye shadow applicator
10. MAC Select Moisturecover concealer, with LORAC 103 brush
11. Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder #2, with 217 brush
12. Max Factor 2000 Calorie Waterproof mascara in black

After the eyes were done, I did the usual round of Laura Mericer Oil-Free Foundation Primer, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Almond mixed with Laura Mercier Oil-Free Moisturizer in Sunset Beige and topped with Laura Mercier Translucent Powder.

The cheeks: one layer of Neutrogena Soft Suede Soft Clolr blush, then a layer of Nars Torrid blush, with MAC 129 brush

And last, but not least, lips were lined with Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lip Liner in Daring Nude, then MAC Viva Glam II lipstick, topped with a layer of MAC Gemshine Lipgelee.

And here’s the final look in two different light levels.

I think that I will keep playing with this look – there are so many potential ways to change the eyes by layering different shadows and pencils.

One more day ‘till San Francisco Fashion Week starts!

Here’s the last of the MAC backstage looks on the MAC website, Taylored.

.

This is by far my favorite group of look Maybe I’ll use this as inspiration on my current quest to be no longer SOS (Scurred of Scarlet.)

Yay, it’s Tuesday. I raise my cup of coffee to you and to your fabulousness. Cheers!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Last week I did a post on how I found some scarlet colored goodies in my makeup case. They are both really beautiful, but slightly terrifying to me because I usually don’t wear brights. I’m trying to not be so fearful of color, so this week I’ll be doing makeup experiments with MAC Frankly Scarlet Blush and MAC Russian Red Lipglass so that I will no longer be SOS … aka, Scurred of Scarlet!

Bloggers Kia over at Yummy411 and Apple Diva at Pumps and Gloss suggested trying layering over the Frankly Scarlet Blush. I couldn’t get a hold of MAC Other Worldly (a warm yellow-gold blush from MAC’s Moonbathe LE Collection) at my local counter so I fished out the Woodwinked and decided to do some improv.

Here are a few pics of what I worked with:

Frankly Scarlet, in all of her glory

Woodwinked, a veluxe pearl shadow described on the MAC website as “warm antique gold”

And here are swatches of both:

I tried to keep the eyes and lips neutral to keep the focus on the blush.

First I prepped with MAC Bare Canvas Paint. You really can’t see it here because I shrank the picture down so much, but this is a really beautiful, natural-toned primer with soft flecks that helps “grab” your shadow. I like it as a primer for matte browns.

I then used the following to create a soft, matte brown eye. Going from the top eye brown and working downward:
1. MAC Concrete shadow, with MAC 266 brush to fill in brows
2. JANE Dream Cream Eyezing shadow on brow bone, with MAC 252
3. MAC Soba shadow, with MAC 244 in crease
4. MAC Soft Brown Matte shadow on lid, with MAC 217
5. MAC Saddle shadow in outer v, with NYC Cosmetics shadow applicator
6. MAC Fluidline in Graphic Brown on upper lash line, with MAC 316 lip brush
7. Rimmel Volume Flash Mascara in Brown
8. MAC Saddle shadow on lower lash line, with MAC 213
9. MAC Select Moisturcover concealer in NW 25
10. Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder in #2

After doing a quick eye cleanup and then applying foundation and powder, I used MAC 129 to apply Frankly Scarlet, a bright rose-red matte, to the cheeks. The blush is highly pigmented, so I had to dilute the color by swiping the brush on the back of my hand, then tapping it on the side of the sink. I barely had to use any to get a nice, bright flush.

I then used the same 129 brush and applied MAC Woodwinked shadow on top of the Frankly Scarlet. I was very pleased with the soft, glowy flush.

I don’t have anything on my lips in this pic and I probably could’ve stopped here, but on a whim I decided to line the lips with MAC Spice liner and MAC Clear Lipglass.

What do you think? Scarlet’s not so scary, yah?

I returned from Tahoe and I am sad to report that I did not win the jackpot, boo hoo. However, I am happy to report that me and The Hub had so much fun. The good folks at Harrah’s hotel upgraded our room to a suite, which included this massive spa tub.

This tub was the shizz, ya’ll.


It was deep and had six jets that heated the water. I must’ve taken three or four baths, and it was the cleanest I’ve ever been in a 48-hour time span.

Tahoe itself was so beautiful. The lake water was so clear – it actually looked like a tropical ocean! Too bad it was too damn cold to go swimming in.

View of the lake from Camp Richardson. Yes, I’m in pajamas.

The view of the mountains from our room

My favorite part of the lake is Emerald Bay, where you can see the only island in the lake.

I hope your weekend was fun and that your Monday hasn’t been too hectic. Have a great week!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen