BEAU NELSON
Photographer and makeup artist Beau Nelson considers himself more of a “beauty director,” as he’s most interested in the end result. A versatile artist who’ll go from a bold color-lined eye to a monochromatic approach, the native Canadian wants his work to reflect his clients, who include Kristen Stewart, Riley Keough, Nicole Richie, Anne Hathaway, Christina Hendricks, Emma Roberts and Zoe Kravitz. His philosophy: “Instead of painting my vision onto the women, I try to paint something out of them.”
How would you describe your aesthetic?
I think the thing that comes up again and again is that people say I make women look expensive. And I really try to get to know my clients. I see who they are and what they’re comfortable with. … When I’m working with Kristen Stewart, for example, she likes a look, and she can really sell a look too, so no matter what I do to her, she pulls it out and she feels it. That’s why those things look at home on her, whereas I don’t do that to like, Anne Hathaway, or Christina Hendricks. But Christina Hendricks looks very beautiful in a classic red lip or even a ’60s kind of look, that’s where she likes to live.
What are some of your favorite looks you’ve done recently?
Kristen at Chanel Couture was pretty great. I thought that deep teal blue eye and the orange lip was very ’80s, David Bowie-ish …. There’s a look on Elizabeth Debicki that I really liked [for TIFF], it was a pale lavender.
How did you approach Kristen’s looks for Cannes? Every one of those was so creative, like the pearl-lid one, and the amfar one with the aqua eye and pink lip.
I always take my cue from the fashion, so whatever she’s wearing is what ends up inspiring the look. I think there are a lot of makeup artists who are strictly “makeup artists,” and they really focus on the makeup, but I’m more interested in the total look overall. … She’s a great client to have because she’s so open to trying different beauty looks and she wears them so well.
Which awards show looks have you done that you’ve loved?
There was a look on Nicole Richie quite a few years back [for the 2013 Globes], where she’s wearing a powder blue dress with long sleeves and I did this matching eye shadow. In my mind, it was sort of ’60s country music star. That was a really cool, fun look — it was sophisticated but kind of outside the box…. Abbie [Cornish] and I had that whole run together through the [2018] awards season, and so we did a lot of different looks.
And Anne Hathaway recently at the Globes, did you play off the dress with that one?
Yes, but when I think about Anne, she’s like a classic beauty. So she’s not the type that I would give a searing hot-pink lip with a purple eye to. I wanted to just make sure that her skin looked beautiful, and that she had a little bit of an eye going on. She had three different dress options for the awards and we only chose like minutes before. … Also, a lot of my girls have brand contracts as well, so I never try to go anywhere that the designer would be unhappy with.
What tips do you have for the red carpet?
A lot of highlighter is not necessarily the best way to go, because it can come off looking greasy or overly metallic. So, if you’re going to use highlighter, then keep the highlighter to the cheekbones. And make sure you apply powder above the arch of the eyebrow.
What things are you playing with now?
I always love monochromatic everything. I’m very into peach at the moment…. Glitter’s fun. The glitter I just made for charity benefits the LGBT Center on Highland. It’s a pale lavender that reflects rainbow when the light hits it.
Something you have displayed is how you can use the same product on lips and cheeks.
Cream blush is almost lipstick-like in its formula anyway …. If you have a creamy or demi-sheer lipstick, I love those kinds of formulas for cheek because they add moisture and dewiness to the face.
What looks and trends do you think we’ll see at this year’s Oscars?
The Oscars is always the classic beauty moment …. You want to look like the best version of yourself, so I think you’ll see a lot of beautiful nude looks, you’ll see classic red lips of course, this season you might see a deeper, cabernet kind of lip…. Soft smoky eyes always, nude lips. I’m hoping we’ll see a little bit more skin. I want to see people’s skin; I don’t want to see as much makeup anymore.