FASHION Magazine

See the complete M.A.C Maleficent collection »

M.A.C fanatics, your new obsession is here! The cosmetics giant is always good for going all out when it comes to collaborations, and the soon-to-launch limited edition M.A.C Maleficent collection lives up to our expectations. Designed to “delight the most demanding of dark sorceresses,” this colour cosmetics collection is definitely wicked: we’re talking blood-red shades of polish and lip colour, moody shadows and false lashes for dramatic flair.

Of the 14 products in the M.A.C Maleficent collection, we’re most intrigued by the Prep + Prime highlighter twist-up brush—sure to make anyone feel Sleeping Beauty-gorgeous after a long night out and about. Second to that is Penultimate Eyeliner, because when you’re designing an eyeliner inspired by someone clad in all black, the colour payoff is sure to be excellent. And finally, we’ll give you five seconds to guess the name of the aforementioned blood-red M.A.C Maleficent lipstick: it’s titled a very Disney-approved “True Love’s Kiss.”

See all our eyebrow tips and tricks »

Eyebrows have long been an over-groomed feature, having been waxed, plucked or threaded into oblivion over the last few decades. Recently, inspired by the natural features of celebrities such as model Cara Delevingne and starlet Lily Collins, full brows have made a full resurgence in the beauty zeitgeist.

See the entire Proenza Schouler for M.A.C collection »

They say that youth is wasted on the young, but Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez haven’t frittered theirs away. In 2002, at only 23, they launched Proenza Schouler, which has gone global. But in spite of running one of the most coveted labels in the world, they retain an air of boyish charm.

Seated in a suite in London’s Claridge’s hotel, both are in rumpled clothes and sneakers: Hernandez’s are New Balance, McCollough’s are Adidas. They’re here to discuss their partnership with M.A.C, a brand that has paved the way for designer makeup collaborations—Alexander McQueen, Rodarte and Gareth Pugh are a few it’s teamed with. “We don’t even think of them as collaborations,” says James Gager, senior vice-president and group creative director. “My attitude is these are just people who are part of our brand.” Given that M.A.C has been the beauty sponsor for Proenza’s shows since 2008, it’s a wonder it didn’t happen sooner.

See 5 quick makeup fixes to try now »

When life gets busy, it’s easy for a makeup routine to become, well, routine. We fall back on our tried and true methods and take the easy route just make it out the door on time! Luckily, we’re here to help you out of even the deepest beauty rut with a few tiny tweaks that make a big impact.

From brightening up a bold lip to switching up your bronzer application, these quick makeup fixes will breathe some new life into your daily beauty regimen without stealing valuable time.

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

Nail polish often looks uneven because the natural texture of my nails shows through. Can I fix this?
The visual appearance of our naked nails is actually a significant indicator of our internal health, so it’s important to pay attention to what’s up when they’re bare. It’s normal to have ridges on your nails that run up and down lengthwise, and these are not a huge cause for concern. Buffing nails prior to applying polish may seem like a logical solution, but this can actually weaken your nails. A better solution is to use a ridge filling base coat, such as Joe Fresh Ridge Filler ($6, at Joe Fresh), in order to create a smooth, even surface for polish application. A quick coat of this before you apply your colored polish will balance everything out and make ridges a thing of the past.

As runway light bounced off intricate embroidery at the Mikael D Fall 2014 show, the skin gleamed just the same. M.A.C senior artist Jane McKay drew inspiration from the opulence of Baroque textures and designed a fresh-yet-glamorous look. Radiance was an important element in the makeup: “It’s all about the play of light bouncing off the skin,” said Ricky Boudreau, M.A.C cosmetics trainer, who led the team backstage.

Models’ skin was moisturized with Strobe Cream and kept lustrous with a light application of Mineralize Moisture Foundation and Concealer. Boudreau softly sculpted the cheeks with Sculpt Powder and added an additional hit of illumination with an iridescent loose powder—“Silver Dusk”—applied around the eye, from brow to cheekbone. Brows were simply groomed with Brow Set in “Clear.” Finally, eyelids were drenched in bronzed gold tones and intensified with a set of MAC #33 lashes and multiple coats of mascara. Boudreau pressed a layer of “Half & Half” lipstick into the lips with his fingers for a neutral pout.

See how to match your lipstick and blush »

Blush and lipstick are meant to live in harmony. Both products are intended to create a look of flushed, healthy beauty, and used together, they can brighten your appearance on even the dreariest days. But how do you match your lipstick and blush? To get the best results, it’s important to choose colours that complement and don’t clash with each other. But with never-ending choices, finding the right pair can be a challenge.

We didn’t really need another reason to be excited for summer, but M.A.C has just upped the ante. The global cosmetics brand announced yesterday that a collaboration with our latest beauty crush, Lorde, is forthcoming. Cue major squeals of excitement.

Lorde, a longtime fan of M.A.C products, has worked directly with the brand for over a year now, with senior Artist Amber D having created some of her most eye-catching looks. Remember her stunningly vampy look for the 2014 Grammy Awards? Or how about her black lipstick from the Brit Awards? Amber D and M.A.C were behind both. Lorde has proven that bold makeup isn’t exclusively synonymous with bright red lipstick or a smoky eye—and to the same effect, she’s proved that a dramatic dark lip is no longer reserved for the high school goth. It is now perfectly suitable for a formal event like, oh you know, a major awards show.

One of the best things about going backstage at New York fashion week is seeing what the top makeup artists and hairstylists are using in their kits. It’s often a sneak peek at products not yet on shelves, or uncommon tools they’ve found on their travels. Here, five of the best products we’ve spied backstage this week at the Fall 2013 shows:

The eyes, hair and nails have been making most of the beauty statements so far on the Fall 2014 runways at New York Fashion Week. Here are our favourite looks and the top beauty trends so far:

Russet lipstick as eyeshadow at Helmut Lang
Helmut Lang’s textured, masculine collection was complemented with a simple, pared down face punctuated by a soft wash of lustrous burgundy on the eye. “It’s very minimal and clean but with a hint of punk,” said lead artist Hannah Murray, who painted Nars lipstick in “Deborah Audacious” (coming this fall) onto the eye and pressed “Heat” bronzing powder over it to set. She skipped eyeliner, mascara and brow colour, and kept the under-eye area clean to avoid a “pink-eye” effect.

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

How important is sleep to healthy skin? I haven’t been getting much sleep lately and I’m not sure if it’s negatively impacting my skin.
While a lot of emphasis is placed on the importance of healthy eating, exercise and proper skincare, getting a proper night’s rest is often underestimated in terms of how much of a difference it makes to overall health, skin being no exception. While skincare products cannot entirely replace the benefits of a good night’s sleep, they can help prompt an earlier bedtime. If you aren’t able to unwind at the day’s end, the lavender scent of Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Skin Protectant Nighttime Miracle Moisturizer ($47, thebay.com) can help slow you down. It’s incredibly soothing and the formula contains shea butter and vitamin E to hydrate, as well as salicylic acid for a bit of exfoliation— revealing skin that looks the precise opposite of exhausted.

We understand it may be wildly unfair to compare Beyoncé to, well, anyone else. But Lorde was blessed by Bey last night (touching Beyoncé = blessed) and she also took home two Grammy awards, so we think that gives her enough music industry magic to stand her own in this beauty roundup.

While teenage stars often succumb to adopting a shimmering, fairy princess-esque look for major red carpet events, Lorde stayed true to her signature look of deep lipstick and loose, wavy hair— like an edgy, mini Alanis Morissette. “We wanted to keep the look fresh and radiant. Modern, a bit boyish and darkly cool with a lip focus,” said M.A.C senior artist, Amber Dreadon. After applying M.A.C Lipliner in “Vino,” Dreadon mixed two lipsticks together for Lorde’s Grammys look: “Heroine” (a bright purple with a fitting name) and “Cyber” (a vamp-worthy maroon). The final result was an edgy shade of deep-purple with an almost ombré effect.