LISA ARMSTRONG
LISA ARMSTRONG OPENS UP ABOUT HER JOURNEY FROM BUDDING POP STAR TO STRICTLY COME DANCING’S CHIEF MAKE-UP ARTIST – AND REVEALS SOME SHOW SECRETS
You may not see her face on TV much, but you’ll definitely be familiar with Lisa Armstrong’s work on other people’s. As head of hair and make-up on Strictly Come Dancing, she’s responsible for some of Saturday night TV’S most memorable looks – who could forget Dev Griffin’s Genie, painted blue from head to toe?
The Strictly job couldn’t be more ideal for Lisa, whose love for the glamour of the dance floor began as a youngster, when she did her own make-up for disco competitions.
Lisa went on to attend the prestigious BRIT School, which led to her joining the pop band Deuce, where yet again she was doing her own make-up before performances.
When the band split up, Lisa trained as a professional make-up artist. Soon, she was getting booked for jobs with big beauty brands, top celebrities and TV shows such as This Morning and
The X Factor, before heading up
Strictly’s team of make-up artists.
She’s also bringing her experience to the masses having launched her own make-up range with Avon, starting with a capsule collection of products inspired by the essentials she keeps in her own kit.
Here, Lisa, 44, shares her make-up tricks and the secrets behind the Strictly sparkles…
Congratulations on your beautiful make-up collection, Lisa. What was the inspiration behind it?
I always want to know what’s new in the make-up world but I have certain staple products that I always go back to. I wanted to bring these 12 products from my kit and make them affordable, beautiful and wearable for everyone. They’re for making everybody feel like the best version of themselves.
Did you know what you did and didn’t want from the range?
I wanted products that said what they did, rather than gimmicks. For example, the colour of the Dazzle Stick in your hand is the exact same colour it’ll be on the skin. I never wanted somebody else to create a line and me to just put my name to it. Fortunately, Avon gave me complete creative control, from picking the shades and going to meetings in Paris to designing the packaging and perfecting the formulas. I’d pick up on things like a concealer pen that dries too fast, or an eyeliner nib that’s too long and would be a struggle to use.
What’s coming next from the brand?
When we launched we had loads of plans but they were put on hold because of the pandemic. I always wanted to expand on the shades of foundation, concealer and powder and then work on new pieces.
Have you always loved make-up?
Yes, right from an early age. I went to disco dancing school from six to 16 and did competitions every Sunday – that involved all the sparkly outfits, hairstyles and matching make-up, and I’d always do that myself. Then when I joined Deuce, I was always very experimental – the one who never minded having my hair cut or wearing green eyeshadow. I’ve always thrown out the rule book. You should see some of the pictures of me – they’re hilarious!
How did you make the move from being a pop star to being a make-up artist?
Dancing and performing was my first true love and then when the band came to an end, it felt like the end of my career at 20. So I thought, what else am I passionate about? That was when I thought about doing make-up professionally and went back to college.
What was the first make-up item you bought?
It probably would have been a bright eyeshadow palette, a brightly coloured lipstick or glitter. My first make-up box was an old fishing tackle box that my dad bought me, which had compartments and tiers. I stuck Care Bear stickers over it and wrote my name in glitter on it. It was my pride and joy.
What is life like during season?
Strictly
Crazy with a capital C! Especially last season, with the coronavirus situation – it was challenging. But it’s also the most thrilling, exciting, rewarding job ever. I know it’s a cliché but Strictly is like a family, and everybody does it for the love of the show.
Where do the ideas for the dancers’ make-up looks come from?
We get a concept brief at the beginning of each week that outlines what dance each pair is doing, the music, staging notes and costumes, and then the make-up is up to our own interpretation. We create a look and then we dress-run it to make sure it works. Character make-up is obviously based on that character and then you put a Strictly spin on it. I always say to my team, “If in doubt, blow glitter on it!”
Do you have an all-time favourite Strictly make-up look?
I couldn’t pick – there have been so many! My absolute favourite shows though – although they do give me a heart attack – are the Halloween ones. I just love the transformations, celebrities coming into the room as themselves and leaving as something else. Sometimes people are only recognisable by their voices!
What are your make-up daily essentials?
I never leave the house without a good primer on and a lippy and mascara.
What is your skincare routine like?
I use a face wash by the brand Fresh and I’m a sucker for a micellar water. I’ll follow that with a good face cream – I use By Terry’s rose one – and a Kiehl’s eye cream. I also have what I call a “hydration corner” on the coffee table next to my sofa, where I keep a Clarins face mist, a Rituals hand cream and an & Other Stories lip balm. I’ll apply it all when I’m watching TV.
What make-up trends are in right now?
I see trends come and go all the time – cut creases, a spotlight in the eye, contouring – and I think it’s brilliant, but I think people should wear whatever fills them with confidence. There are no rules.
What make-up questions are you asked?
The number one question I get asked is how to pick the right foundation. Obviously, it’s tricky when you can’t test samples but when we can do that again, I always say you’ve got to try it on your jawline, not on your hand. It’s like going into M&S and trying a pair of knickers on your head. And pay attention to your skin tone, whether it’s cool or warm. I also get asked how to stop mascara from transferring under the eye, or on to lids – the answer is to powder under the eye, curl the lashes and wear a waterproof mascara.
What common make-up mistakes do you often see people make?
Wearing the wrong foundation shade. Another bugbear is overlining the lip with the wrong shade. And I love a thick, brushed brow, but they’re not there to distract from the rest of your features. I don’t want to see two big hairy slugs on the face!
If people haven’t worn much make-up and their skills are rusty, where should they start?
Start off lightly – you can always add more. Begin with a tinted moisturiser, then add a bit of bronzer, then maybe contouring and highlighter.
What’s a go-to make-up look for an event?
Everyone loves a cracking smoky eye. You can do it as light or as heavy as you want and in an array of colours. When I have dark hair, I go for orangey-brick tones. But when my hair’s blonde, I go for more of a midbrown colour. And green eyes with purple smoky eyeshadow look incredible.
Which one make-up item do you think instantly transforms a person’s look?
A good mascara will always make the eyes pop. At the moment, I’m into products with a dual purpose. I use my lipsticks as cream blush, one of my Dazzle Sticks on the cheek as a highlighter, and I can use my mascara on the lashes then clean the wand and brush my eyebrows.
Do you have any tips for mask wearers?
Use a really good priming moisturiser as a base, to keep your face hydrated underneath your mask and a nice lightweight foundation that’s going to give you coverage but not block pores.
What advice would you give to any budding make-up artists?
Learn as much as you can, because you never know when that skill might come in handy. When I took the Strictly job, I didn’t think I would need to know how to paint somebody gold – but I did for a Goldfinger group number, so my previous knowledge of body painting came in handy.