Moss’s make-up guru goes on the warpath with Helen
DAME HELEN Mirren sparked controversy last month when she claimed it would be ‘wonderful’ if women stopped wearing make-up and embraced the natural look.
now the Oscar-winning actress has been given an extraordinary dressingdown by one of the most influential women in the beauty industry.
Celebrity make-up artist Charlotte tilbury, whose clients include Kate Moss, amal Clooney and J. K. rowling, has not only disputed Mirren’s claims, but insists women need cosmetic products to achieve success and happiness.
‘i totally disagree with Helen. She’s absolutely wrong — completely wrong,’ tilbury, 42, tells me. ‘ Why would anyone, in a world where everyone is judged by their looks, not wear make-up?
‘i’m not saying do a full-on glamour look all the time: it can be very sophisticated and chic at the same time as being natural, like the Jennifer aniston look.’
While promoting the new Pirelli calendar last month, in which she features wearing hardly any make-up, Mirren, 71, said: ‘it would be wonderful if it became more fashionable not to wear make-up.
‘i suspect that we might have reached saturation with the whole selfie thing and maybe we’re moving in another direction.’
it triggered a wave of make-up free selfies on social media by celebrities including ITV breakfast presenter
Susanna Reid. But Tilbury, who was speaking at the Debrett’s 500 Gala at Bafta in Piccadilly, insists women need warpaint more than ever.
‘Make-up is very empowering and women should celebrate this weapon in their arsenal. Women need to wear make-up to get ahead in life — in their careers, in the personal lives, whatever it is,’ she adds.
‘ There have been studies that Harvard, Procter & Gamble and Stanford University have done that prove women earn up to 50 per cent more money by the way that they do their make-up and hair.
‘I have met Helen, and I like her; she’s a wonderful woman. But I’m afraid she is absolutely wrong.
‘I haven’t worked with her before but I would because she’s totally incredible. But, hello, she does understand the power of make-up.
‘I’ve seen her: she loves dressing up, she loves make-up, she knows the power of looking good.’