In case you’ve missed (or chosen to ignore) the oodles of pics flooding your Instagram feed, last week was Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia (MBFWA). And while most attend the shows to see the latest Australian fashion, we come strictly for the beauty.
RELATED: MBFWA looks we love
Getting an up-close and personal peek behind the scenes, we watched the pros work their magic to create some seriously gorgeous looks – that we’re planning on copying STAT – with the help of some innovative and inventive tips. From using toothbrushes in the most unlikely way to outer-space glitter ponytails, ahead are four of our top backstage beauty hacks that are totally do-able.
#1 DION LEE
Hair: Redken
Make-up: M.A.C
Keeping the look rather minimal, the make-up artists created this soft smudgy eye using the M.A.C Eye Kohl in Smudgy Charcoal, rather than black, to give it a more lived-in effect. Another tip we picked up: less is more. Only apply foundation where necessary rather than all over, which can tend to look too cakey. Grey liner and minimal coverage. Check.
#2 BEC & BRIDGE
Hair: Redken
Make-up: M.A.C
Hot tip we learnt while perusing the scenes backstage of Bec & Bridge – if humidity is playing with your ‘fro, use a toothbrush to tame those fly aways. And next time you’re looking for a fresh daytime make-up look, add a little glitter to the corner of your eyes and leave your lashes bare for a more youthful look.
#3 SWAROVSKI
Hair: Redken
Make-up: M.A.C
So you might not want to go the full Swarovski sparkle, but glitter strands are definitely trending, which means it’s good to know how to apply it – and remove it. Start with damp hair, apply the glitter and then let that dry before adding more. After that big night out, to remove the glitter, run your fingers through your hair to break away any excess glitter, then use a cleansing cream to remove the product and follow up with conditioner. Easy peasy.
#4 MACGRAW
Hair: evo
Make-up: Bobbi Brown
We’re all about embracing freckles, and we’ve even tried faking our own, but behind the scenes at Macgraw, we were privy to a whole new faux freckle technique. Bobbi Brown make-up artists created a Face Mist and Brow Shaper concoction, then flicked it onto the models’ faces using a toothbrush.
#5 HOUSE OF CANNON
Hair: Redken
Make-up: M.A.C
Want to try a natural look with a bit of edge? Easy. Keep your hair glossy, your lips bold and your skin minimal. House Of Cannon added a little street vibe to this effortless look by going sleek and smart with a twist. The hair look has that touch of street that’s so wearable on a daily basis. To get it, leave your hair dead straight and add a plait on the side. Secure it by spraying hairspray and go over the plait with your straightener – no elastic necessary.
