Naturals Salon and Spa has signed on award-winning make-up artist Marvie Beck to be their official trainer. Marvie, who has worked with a wide range of filmstars, including Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor, Michelle Pfeiffer and Pierce Brosnan — to name just a few — talks about make-up trends and tips.
What would you say are the current trends in make-up?
Personally, I love the natural look. But natural is no longer natural. What's fashionable right now is natural with a bit of glamour. That's a combination of natural skin with glamorous eyes, or glamorous cheeks or glamorous lips. Everybody wants to look like a star; so that look is very popular.
How do you keep make-up looking fresh in a hot country?
There are lots of options such as waterproof make-up, but I don't recommend this on a daily basis. It more or less depends on your skin type. I generally do a scientific analysis of the skin first and will then tell you what you require. For example, if you have skin that perspires profusely, I would have a different recommendation than I would for someone with minimal perspiration. There's nothing general in make-up, and it requires an artist at every stage.
But what about those who don't have a daily make-up artist to guide them?
Well, the sort of look that ‘works' does differ from person to person, but what I would recommend for day-to-day wear is investing in a good kohl pencil, a good mascara, a skin-enhancing blush that is the right shade and texture for your face and a colour-tinted lip gloss. These are the essentials of daily make-up.
What is your personal philosophy on make-up?
It's the best way a woman can express herself without words. Your hair and make-up always tells a part of you, and it's a lovely way of expressing yourself. If you're sad, and you put on a little bit of kajal and lip gloss it really brightens up your day. Looking better and feeling better go hand in hand.
And your goals for your work in Chennai?
My ultimate vision is to make Indians into fantastic make-up artists — and not just for others, but for themselves. I feel that we're very talented, but a little shy. Good make-up and hair really bring out more confidence — the kind of confidence a person gets after being able to carry off a lipstick or eyeliner well. It's quite a virgin market. The best way to change the world is to educate it, and that's what I love to do.
