Some people can leave their houses without makeup without looking like a swamp thing. For everyone else, there’s Lisa Eldridge.
Chances are you’ve gawked at her magazine covers, consulted her blog while in line at Sephora to make sure that eye mask gotten the Eldridge seal of approval, or frantically landed on a YouTube tutorial of hers after one too many botched cat-eyes.
Whether it’s creating her signature fresh-faced look or the perfect smoked-out lid with a swipe of her MAC 217, whatever Eldridge touches turns to Vogue. Seeing as the British makeup magnate is the blushes and brushes behind faces like Emma Watson, Kate Moss and Salma Hayek, we jumped at the chance to take a peek inside her beauty bag, take inventory of her holy-grail products, and grill her on the life cosmetic.
Take notes, boys and girls.
On high-stakes gigs...
I like doing all the different types of make-up and jobs. Red carpet is the most stressful of all as the pressure is on and the stakes are high. HD Images are all over the world within minutes of the celebrity stepping on to the red carpet so there is no room for error. The most outrageous job was probably a shoot I did for The Face magazine which involved throwing tins of household paint all over the models–poor girls! The results were great but the cleaning up process was painful.
On what inspires her...
My inspiration comes from everything around me. Nature, architecture, books, films, art, galleries, interior design, friends, anything really. I’m a color fiend, so I’m always on the look out for interesting combinations and textures. In my experience, inspiration tends to pop up when you least expect it in the most unlikely places.
On getting that flawless, fresh-faced look...
Get the base right and assess your skins needs. Maybe it needs a mattifying foundation, a light BB cream or just a little concealer. Whichever you choose make sure you get the right colour for your skin tone.
On saving face...
Curl your eyelashes. It makes such a huge difference. Practice with a good curler like Shu Uemura. Blush is a lifesaver, it can bring a face right back to life after a sleepless night quicker than anything.
On trends she’ll (probably) never revisit...
I think the most cringe-worthy trends I wore were definitely crimes against hair and make-up. I was a teenager in the 80’s - say no more. I had a thing for lime green, orange and gold eyeshadow…worn all at once! I had a perm when I was 16 and wore more blush and highlighter than anyone should in an entire lifetime.
On prized possessions...
I collect vintage make-up. Most of my collection dates between 1920-1990 but I always keep interesting new Limited Editions if I believe they will become future vintage classics. These Limited Edition Viktor & Rolf lashes by Shu Uemura are works of art.
On current favorites...
My favorite lipcolour is Boots No7 Lip pencil in Nude (I designed it for myself when I was their creative director and I still wear it). My favorite nail polish is probably the classic Rouge Noir by CHANEL. I’m currently in love with mascara by Japanese brand DHC, but I'm a tart when it comes to the black stuff… I love them and leave them.
On her holy grail...
The one product I couldn’t live without is concealer – I like Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage.
