The garden path
Take your cues from an autumn harvest with these of-the-moment makeup looks, writes
IT’S TIME TO VIEW NATURE with fresh eyes. Juicy, sun-ripened plums hanging from the tree, a clear, cloud-free sky peeks through foliage in bursts of blue, butternut bronze sits scattered along the vine.
With the shift in season comes the craving for reinvention, and what better way to glean makeup inspiration than to look to nature’s bounty to inform the colour palette that will guide us through to spring once more.
Set among a verdant garden, photographer and mixed media artist Anahita Paul’s vision comes to life, with the help of stylist Kajal Mehta, hair and makeup artist Paris Little and model Isla Cutts.
Painterly touches of sky blue, heartshaped contouring and a perfected plum pout enhance Isla’s ethereal beauty, while Anahita’s unique treatment to a few shots in the series adds a textural element and
three-dimensional edge.
An ode to orchards
The key to creating an enduring makeup look starts with the proper prep, Paris says, and despite it being autumn, the sunny weather that beckoned overhead during the shoot meant it was even more important to use base layers for the ultimate staying power.
“I always spend at least 10 minutes prepping the skin by cleaning the model’s face, moisturising and priming,” Paris says.
No matter the season, SPF remains a must and Paris smoothed on a layer of Mecca Cosmetica To Save Face SPF50+ Sunscreen, $51, to keep Isla’s skin protected. “I normally use SPF on my models even when we are inside shooting as you never know when you’re getting UV exposure,” she says.
Next, she applied Embryolisse Lait-cre`me Concentre´ Moisturiser, $54, to hydrate and smooth skin, while the Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base, $45, helped prime, readying skin for makeup to follow.
Pretty pastoral
Paris and Anahita first connected only a couple of weeks before the shoot, but Paris knew immediately there would be plenty of inspiration to glean from Anahita’s moodboards and mixed media shoot treatments.
“She has a very strong vision of the essence of the shoot — yet always encourages my collaboration on the final beauty looks,” Paris says.
To achieve a dewy and minimalist base, Paris worked with M.A.C Studio Face and Body Foundation, $94, which delivers a natural, skin-like satin finish. “I would be a criminal if I covered up Isla’s freckles so I let them steal the show,” she says.
Bucolic bliss
To match the untamed beauty of the garden, Paris emphasises the natural wave in Isla’s hair using a few drops of hair oil and a spritz of dry shampoo to refresh her roots. “For hair, I love embellishing natural hair textures,” Paris says.
Try Chloe Zara Mini Hair And Body Perfume Oil, $58, and Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo, $87.
Lavender haze
For lips, rich plum seasons are perennially popular but feel extra fitting as temperatures drop.
It’s not just plum either, consider the full spectrum of deep purple hues — eggplant, mulberry, and dark violet heap on the depth, dimension and drama.
Here, Paris used a satin-finish lipstick from M.A.C in the shade Cyber, $41, which was gently diffused at the edges to create a more lived-in look.
Sun-ripened
A clear complexion highlight of Paris’ dewy, minimalist base? Heart-shaped blush in a burnished terracotta.
The clever contour technique was carried throughout the shoot, but mellowed out here using some pigmented pressed powder on top to help diffuse the colour and soften the edges. Try Patrick Ta Monochrome Moment Velvet Blush in the shade She’s Adorable, $60.
In place of plum, Paris opted for a natural lip with a layer of Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer in the shade Glass Slipper, $42, on top, a time-honoured makeup artist hack for drawing attention to the curvature and fullness of a pursed pout.
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Cream of the crop
A dreamy blue eyeshadow look pulled eyes into focus, especially when paired with a toned-down, sun-kissed complexion.
In keeping with the relaxed vibe, Paris was mindful not to be too precise with her application, instead using the shade as a wash from her waterline up to her eyebrows and blurred slightly towards the temple.
“I used the blue and white shades within the M.A.C Pro Palette Paintstick, $115, to create my eye base, and sealed it with pressed powder so it wasn’t sliding down her face in the heat,” Paris says.
Here’s to branching out with your beauty look this autumn.