The biggest fashion labels more recently ally with the biggest beauty brands for maximum exposure - Autumn/Winter 2014 trends in makeup

Chanel Fall/Winter 2014 Ready-to-Wear Collection
Makeup by Tom Pecheux
Hair by Sam McKnight

As seen first on the international runways, beauty looks are conceptualized and applied by leading makeup artists to complement the designer collections – Giorgio Armani, Tom Ford, Prada, Gucci, Versace, Valentino, Marc Jacobs or Burberry Prorsum. Trends in makeup happen twice yearly, seasonally in Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter, like clothing. Beauty products, makeup and skincare, are released and become available in step with the fashion industry. The biggest fashion labels more recently ally with the biggest beauty brands for maximum exposure. Beauty is visible - the designer lipstick, the moisturiser, the perfume, the nail varnish. The beauty adverts are everywhere, they’re trans-media. Beauty is idealized, framed and packaged, an update or advance on what happened before. Beauty is fashion’s most lucrative, accessible and affordable market. Particular to women, even during recession, beauty sales are gigantic. In Britain alone, the beauty industry is worth £16.1 billion a year.  

The billion pound market leaders are the names you know. L’Oreal (especially for lipstick – in my opinion, exceptional) and Max Factor; the classic American brand Estee Lauder (including its newer sister brand Origins) and the Canadian Elizabeth Arden; Maybelline (by now there is no other volumising mascara), and Europeans Givenchy, Chanel and YSL Beauty, all three designer clothing collection related. The Topshop range of makeup, and there is an accompanying scheduled runway show, is one of the best - blusher in Topshop pink, especially the Blush Stick, and Topshop pink lipsticks like ‘Brighton Rock’.

Trends revolve the beauty industry. The season’s forthcoming trends for Autumn/Winter 2014 include pink nudes in lipstick. Pink nude colours are by now a new classic. Metallics in clothing are reflected in the makeup - metallic colour eye shadows especially in blue and colour liners are here to suit the clothing. The focus this season is on the eyes and includes extra-length false eyelashes. A more neutral makeup is here also with the appearance of other eye shadow colours in shades of taupe - a grey or brown tan. In hairstyles, there are braids and sweeping fringes frame the face. In the adverts for the forthcoming Autumn/Winter 2014, we will see the new beauty product, its formula, the innovation, the colours, the application and the effect as perfected in the genius hands of backstage makeup artists, skincare included.

Max Factor Wild Shadow Pencil 2-in-1 Gel Shadow and Liner - super soft, light and highly blendable

Max Factor Wild Shadow Pencil
10 Fierce Lime 

Max Factor Wild Shadow Pencil
05 Caramel Rage 

The Max Factor Wild Shadow Pencil is a new 2-in-1 combined Gel Eye Shadow and Eye Liner. The Max Factor gel formula, an alternative to powder, is super soft, light and highly blendable. It allows a fluid application of the eight highly pigmented eye shadow/liner colours. The pencil is for precision along the lower lash line and the inside waterline of the eye also. It should be sharpened for extra, buildable colour and definition. Caramel Rage, Fierce Lime, Vicious Moss, Untamed Pink, Savage Silver, Bold Sapphire, Brazen Gold and Blue Ice Fury. The range of eight colours is an array, each one an unusual take on grey, green, brown and number 40 Brazen Gold is a superb, golden corn yellow. You will find the number of each colour just under the pencil cap in small print. These superb colours are metallic and very current, providing a seasonal Summer finish. 

Colour number 10 Fierce Lime is a light, I think, apple green. 15 Vicious Moss is a light silver grey with a hint of khaki. 25 Savage Silver is a much darker smoky grey, an ideal colour for night time - it’s dramatic. Number 05 Caramel Rage is a classic, neutral brown, and an excellent, wearable daytime shade. Each colour blends beautifully and smoothly across the lower lash line and the eyelids. The Max Factor Wild Shadow Pencil is not available in black. Extend the stayability of this light colour gel formula by using a shadow primer on the eyelids but I found this optional. This pencil is as excellent an eye shadow as it is an eye liner although it is not waterproof. It is opthalmologically tested for safe use or allergies around the delicate eye area. Colour eye shadow and liner in one, the Max Factor Wild Shadow Pencil 2-in-1 Gel Shadow and Liner in eight unique shades - £5.99 (9G). Available online or at Boots and most high street stockists. The Max Factor Wild Shadow Pencil 2-in-1 Gel Shadow and Liner - another evolution in the technology of beauty.