Your questions, answered! (Part 2)

If you ever get an opportunity to assist any make-up artists you will gain great knowledge particularly regarding backstage and shoot etiquette, how lighting works and how make-up is translated to the page when digital effects are used. Having more than one mentor is always good as, in my experience, make-up artists all work in different ways and you can foster so much knowledge by working with different artists.

I would say some of the most valuable experience has been my work at the MAC stores. Working on customers every day you are dealing with so many different skin types, face shapes, ages and colour that you learn so much about make-up and how it works on different people. Product knowledge is so important as you need to know how to manipulate product to make it work for you and each situation you are in. It is also really important to be a people person. You are literally in someone else's personal space so need to enjoy spending this close-up time with them, and remember that likewise, you need to adapt yourself to make them feel comfortable with you. Immerse yourself in all things make-up; culturally, historically and in trend. Understanding where inspiration comes from will really help you understand creative direction form stylists.

You are continually learning every day in your career as it you are always asked to do different things, particularly as trends change so often and new technologies in make-up products become available — this is what keeps the job so interesting. You have to have a lot of patience, be prepared for anti-social hours for the rest of your career and little or no pay when you start out; but persevere — the rewards are great when you see your work on the pages of a glossy, on a great blog or on a catwalk in Paris!

Finally I thought you may like my thoughts on trend in make-up for autumn/winter '08/'09. There is definitely a big focus on lips: dark cherry and berry reds and chocolate colours in velvety, matte or creamy textures. This is worn with little or no eye make-up.

When you do want to wear something on the eye go for a blown out, smoked out, soft and frameless melancholic feeling (think of Stevie Nicks) in greys and soft mauves. Continuing this homage to the 1970s and '80s, a stronger blackened colour palette was seen on the eye: for example, blackened blue, blackened teal and green teamed with a neutral lip.

Skin is perfect (of course) creamy textured and pure, reminiscent of a Victorian maiden. No dark tans still (I'm glad — tanning is so bad for the health!).

Art movements have also played a big role in colour choices for the season: think of Monet's water lily paintings as a key to applying soft washes of colour with a secret hint of bright colour hidden in the harmony.

So there you have it, in a nutshell, you heard it here first on Your Beauty Spot and can get an update at any MAC counter with all the new products I have mentioned from September onwards ...

Lots of love
Nicola x