I absolutely love makeup so much so that, once upon a random New York city night, a jet lagged wide-eyed girl wandered off into Times Square in the dark of night and into MAC to buy a few of her favourite items.
MAC is the lead brand in all of my makeup collection and so when the invite came for the Art of The Lip at the newly opened MAC store at Manda Hill Mall in Lusaka, I was excited to update my Google calendar for what looked to be a fun night.
I thought out carefully what I was going to wear, being sure to avoid wearing black as it is the industry standard for makeup artists, I thought to go dressed a bit more brightly taking a lead from the very vibrant invitation.
I took extra time with my face, keeping my eye the main focus and going for a soft lip. Bam, and I was good to go!
I arrived to a great crowd who were all upbeat; a mood set by Dj Hussein whose music at some point moved me to jive a little. The drinks flowed in abundance and there were snacks to nibble on…all served by extremely dashing models!
The place was full of new and familiar faces from all industries because makeup is that thing. Regardless of what you do and how much of it you wear, we all have that makeup item we love. Personally, I am a lover of mascara and lipstick.
There was a fun picture corner where all the guests had their picture taken after puckering up or the makeup artists and getting a fresh and fun lip. It wouldn’t be the art of the lip if it didn’t by the end of the night have all the fabulous guests in a shade of lipstick other than that which they showed up in. I saw a fantastic ombre lip, a very captivating shimmery mermaid-like green oh and there was a stunning gold lip too. I was enticed into switching up my soft pink lip for a brighter one. Reluctantly, but I did love the end result.
The highlight of the evening was getting to meet the wonderful people from MAC. Marco Louis Ackers, the Resident Senior Artist for MAC Sub Saharan Africa, with his perfect hair and warm smile was kind enough to share a few tips and trends with Ink On My Cashmere. So, from the pro himself, here is what he had to say.
Ink On My Cashmere: What trends are big right now with makeup for 2016?
Marco Louis: As with every season, so much variety can be found in the makeup realm this year. With MAC there is a big focus on all or nothing makeup. What this basically means is that makeup is super personalised. Whether you choose to do full contouring and highlighting or focus on skin care for a natural flawless look, your makeup serves as a tool to bring out the most beautiful version of you.
One key feature would definitely be loads of mascara in every look: the more lash the better. I am madly in love with MAC Upward lash. It doesn’t matter what kind of lash you have, this mascara will transform them into an ultra feminine detail.
-IOMC: Name a makeup trend you’ve been happy to see go.
ML: Ha ha. I have to say that I truly love every trend and that consumers are using makeup to transform themselves into anything they want. I think this makes makeup a very powerful tool to define yourself.
One trend I am happy is changing for the better would have to be the stamped on eyebrow. Eyebrows are sisters and not twins, so focusing on technique to create a natural looking brow is key. Spending some time with the artists in store will assist in developing your personal makeup ability.
IOMC: For the woman on a budget, what three makeup bag essentials must she never compromise on?
ML: Preparation for great makeup is definitely the best way to achieve expert results with a long lasting finish. So a good primer like MAC Face Protect SPF50 will not only prolong the wear of your makeup but give added protection for the skin. Again, a great lash and a killer lipstick will seal the deal.
IONM: What is your fail proof night makeup look?
ML: The red lip would have to be my pick for iconic fail proof night makeup. Pair this with a natural eye and a MAC #33 false lash and you’re all set.
IOMC: Zambia in the last four years has seen the rise of makeup artists. With a seasoned career like yours, what advice do you have to artists looking to grow in the industry?
ML: Know your consumer. If you help them understand the trends but personalise it to their needs you will surely gain a great reputation with your clients. I also believe that your makeup should be as versatile as possible to include every kind of man or woman.
Cheers to that and to a wonderful brand!