The definition of beauty is not a fixed thing. What one generation praises as aesthetically pleasing, another may consider outdated or even offensive. But the art of style evolution is a specialty of North American runway makeup artists, who use their creative and technical skills to keep up with every trend that emerges and capture the latest looks for each season. From subtle neutral palettes to bold statement colors, these masters of beauty are able to lend the runway models a stunning transformation.
1. Shine Bright: North American Runway Makeup Artists
It is no surprise that the highly sought-after world of fashion is peppered with brilliant and creative minds that craft dynamic and innovative looks. As part of that field, North American runway makeup artists are the seasoned professionals that keep the entertainment industry inspired, energized, and ensure lasting visual impact.
- Kristen Arnett: An artist and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, California, Kristen Arnett is an industry leader, sought-after by celebrities and fashion designers alike. Her signature style combines creativity, vision, and modern techniques to customize her looks to fit each individual client.
- Marcus Francis: Marcus Francis is a highly sought-out beauty and special effects makeup artist. Throngs of celebrities have sought out his expertise, and he has been credited with many red-carpet looks that have graced fashion magazines and events worldwide. His skill in camouflaging acne, tattoos, and even harnessing sweat has made him a studio favorite.
- Emily Cheng: Emily Cheng is a Canadian-Chinese beauty expert and renowned makeup artist. Her stunning fashion editorials have been featured in magazines from the United States and beyond, and she has graced the runways of several fashion weeks worldwide. Her innovative approach to beauty is sought-after by a variety of A-list celebrities.
- Frankie Boyd: This internationally renowned makeup artist hails from the states and brings creativity and whimsy to his designs. Centered around clean lines, expert contouring, and natural colors, Frankie has created some of the most memorable looks in fashion history for both print and digital media.
Whether for editorial purposes or red-carpet events, the above makeup artists have worked with top fashion houses and clients to deliver stunning looks. Their unwavering passion for make-up artistry and commitment to flawless results have enabled them to continuously shine brightly on the North American runway.
Fundamental to their success is their continuous experimentation. With each collaboration, these accomplished professionals seek to create something clean, unique, and magnificent. And in the end, they remain today’s gold standard of exceptional makeup artistry.
2. The Finest Artistic Touch: Mastering Runway Beauty
Achieving runway beauty perfection is not limited to one-dimensional makeup. Cinematographers too play a significant role to accentuate the final look. Mastering makeup on a model isn’t easy, and the line of demarcation between a good look and a great one can be razor-thin. It is a major challenge to make it perfect and subtle without striving too hard. However, the difference between professional makeup technicians and a novice is the experience to create stunningly couture looks with rigorous attention to details.
The Advantages of Runway Makeup
- Achieve layer-upon-layer look with touch-ups of mascara and lip color
- Bring out the face structure by brushing on a thin layer of brightening highlighter
- Add facial contours with a sleek palette of eyeshadow colors
- Cultivate a graceful and elegant look with soft blush
- Creation of illusions with the sharp lines of eyeliner
- Great way to experiment with dramatic makeup artistry
Runway makeup does not mean heavy-handed application and layering of makeup. It is all about creating a naturally-enhanced look. At the same time, it must retain the originality of the art-form. No makeup technique can be compared to the skilful blending of eye makeup, shades and contours that dock the beauty of the face.
Careful application of powder helps to give an air-brushed effect to the skin, and a combination of foundation, concealer and pressed powder also helps to create a canvas of unique colour combinations that reflect the mood of the season.
Skin tone tends to be darker backstage due to the intense lighting, depression of the face, and excellent machinery used. This is why the experienced technicians make use of brighter products to pump up the aesthetic. Subtle tones are used to make the features stand out, so that the makeup blends into the model’s skin has if it is their own.
The right foundation is essential for creating the perfect look. Foundation should never mask the model’s true potential, but rather emphasize their assets in a subtle manner. This requires thorough knowledge about beauty and skills of a makeup artist. Aerating the face with bronzer, and setting it with several sprays of setting powder, helps to develop the right runway makeup look and style.
3. Behind the Curtain: Unveiling Runway Makeup Secrets
Ever wondered which products are used to make models look flawless at a photoshoot or fashion show? Professional makeup artists for runway shows have special tricks that help them create the perfect look for each model. But, first, let’s discuss what make up needs to do for models on the runway.
- Makeup for models needs to create a structured, long-lasting look
- Makeup has to be bold and stand out from the distance
- It often needs to be used in unique ways for specific fashion trends
Now we come to the products makeup artists use for the models on the runway. Here are some of the professionals’ top-secret secrets.
Primer: The foundation of any good makeup look is primer. Primers help makeup adhere to the skin all night. But, they are particularly essential for runway models, who have to stay on stage long and sometimes dance or perform stunts. For runway shows, makeup artists look for water-based primers with a matte finish.
Highlighters: For runway makeup, the goal is often to create a look that catches the eye. Highlighters are one of the go-to products for this look. They create light and dimension on the face, so makeup looks structured and has dimension. Look for cream-based highlighters for runway makeup.
Eyeliner: Eyeliner is a runway staple. It needs to look bold from the distance, so you need to find an eyeliner that will stay put all day and night without smudging or fading. Gel and liquid liners are the best choice for runway makeup.
Runway makeup quite literally looks good from every angle—no matter how far away the onlookers are—and to achieve this, the pros need the right products in their arsenal. Now you know some of the hottest runway makeup secrets!
4. Unleashing Creativity: Crafting Beauty for the Catwalk
A fashion show is an assembled catwalk of immaculate, breathtaking, and eye-catching designs that have the ability to capture the audience’s attention and draw them into a world of fantasy and creativity. Crafting beauty for the catwalk requires a stunning and intricate combination of fashion, innovation and art, representing the spirit and soul of the fashion show.
Finding the Inspiration: Before designers can create those showstopping pieces, their first step is to draw upon their imagination and villages of inspirations for their creativity. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to inspiration — it could range from anything such as the lush greens of nature, a piece of beautiful architecture or an old family photograph.
Bringing the Vision to Life: After the vision and its components have been distilled, it is time to bring it to life. This may include source materials such as fabrics, colours, textures and tailoring techniques. These components play a crucial part in transforming the vision into a tangible item that can be paraded on the runway.
Controlling the Chaos: Going from the design on paper to producing the garments for the catwalk also requires a high degree of coordination and organisation between the various teams involved, from designers to production crew. It takes much planning and meticulous communication to ensure the process goes smoothly and pieces come together harmoniously.
Creating the Wow Factor: With all the pieces finally assembled, it is time to make the pieces work together in line with the design on paper. The most critical part of the fashion show process has begun: putting together the show that not only brings the vision to life, but also creates a sense of anticipation and the all-important wow factor.
- Fine-tune details — From the styling of the hair and makeup to the painstakingly crafted details in the garment and the creative way it is accessorised, no detail is too small.
- Bringing in the expected — Don’t forget to add those show-stopping pieces, such as statement jewellery or unique headpieces, to create a show that will be the talk of the town.
- Energise the audience — The ultimate goal is to energise the audience with the garments paraded down the catwalk, crafting beauty and an unforgettable, visual experience.
It is clear that North American makeup artists have taken the global fashion world by storm. As they showcase their artistry on the runway, we can not only witness the impeccable artistry they possess – but we can also admire the confidence and individualism they bring to the crafting of each amazing look. With each new season, North American runway makeup artists bring a wealth of unique perspectives and styles that never fail to inspire.
