ELLIS FAAS MAKEUP: AN INTERVIEW WITH ELLIS FAAS

 

With years of working with top fashion players under her belt, Faas is one of the most renowned makeup artists working today. Upon completing her studies at the Christian Chauveau’s Technical School of Artistic Makeup in Paris, Faas found herself travelling all over the world collaborating with photographers such as Mario Testino and Patrick Demarchelier. To this day the she has worked on a great number of catwalk shows and fashion campaigns, including Chanel, Dolce and Gabbana, Armani, Dries van Noten, Moschino, Fendi, Yves Saint Laurent and Emanuel Ungaro to name a few.

Faas has kept the concept for her line simple: Ellis Skin comprises the Skin Veil foundation, concealer, blush and powder, Ellis Eyes includes eye shadows Creamy Eyes and Milky Eyes (the latter is more translucent), mascara and eyeliner. Ellis Lips gives you a choice of Creamy Lips (long lasting lipsticks, medium coverage), Milky Lips (fluid and translucent) and Glazed Lips (ultra glossy, long lasting lipstick). All products, aside from the powder, come in liquid form and are housed in easy-to-carry-and-apply bullet-shaped, pen-like dispensers equipped with a brush or sponge, depending on the product. For maximum practicality Faas has also come up with a genius makeup case to keep your favourite products neat and tidy, the Ellis Holder.

All products come in a vast array of shades and colours to suit all skin types and tones. The foundation has a very on trend dewy finish, giving enough coverage without looking cakey or mask-like and the eye shadows are easy to blend (watch the quick and easy make up tutorials on www.ellisfaas.com) and transform into powder on contact with the skin, never creasing and staying put all day. The blushes and lipsticks too come in gorgeous shades – from nudes to deep plums – and are easy to apply, moisturising and long lasting.

I’ve got caught up with Ellis Faas to find out how she came up with the concept for her Astir Award winning line, how she started working with maquillage and what advice she has for any budding makeup artists.

Q: When did you realise how much you enjoyed make up and wanted it to be your full-time job?

A: I have always enjoyed (makeup) ever since I was a little girl, but I didn’t even know that it could be a full-time job! Then my mother saw an ad in a newspaper for a professional makeup course and that was when I started to put two and two together.

Q: You’ve been a makeup artist for several years now and you’ve worked with some of the top designers and models out there. Was there a particular moment when you thought “I’ve made it”?

A: Not really. I never planned for it to happen. The only thing I have always wanted to do is make nice things with nice people. So when my international career took off, I was more trying to organise things logistically, especially being a single mother. I never sat down thinking “I’ve made it”. And even going through my portfolio, I always think “Is this all? I have done so much more”. Nevertheless, it’s great to have met and worked with so many inspiring people, of course.

Q: When did you decide to start your own makeup line and was there an epiphany, a moment when you thought, OK, this is the right time?

A: Before embarking on this adventure, I had a contract with Biotherm for whom I designed the colours (for their makeup line). Of course, they had exclusivity, so as long as I worked with them, I couldn’t start (my own collection). But when the contract expired, I was able to start with the plan for my own brand.

Q: What was the most important thing, or things, that you wanted to capture with your line?

A: I made something that I missed in my own daily life. My professional kits were always very neat and organised, but I couldn’t stand my private makeup bag: different sizes, different ways of packaging, brushes and other applicators – and all of that stuffed into a bulging makeup bag. There was once a survey stating that women take longer to find a product in their bag than actually applying it, and it was exactly like that for me. Many brands try to come up with portable solutions, but then for instance they make palettes of which you only use one colour. So the main thing I wanted to come up with was a solution that was practical, looked nice and gave women 100% flexibility.

Q: Being a makeup artist is a much sought-after job these days. Do you have any advice for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

A: Experiment, experiment, experiment! And stay true to your own sense of beauty, because that is what makes it personal – and being personal is what will make your work stand out. So don’t start freaking out unless it’s suits the concept of the story (you are working on).

Q: Is there anybody in particular whose makeup you’d like to do?

A: Not really, although I think Cate Blanchett is stunningly gorgeous – and in the press she has praised our brand.

Q: What do you think are the most common mistakes that women make when applying makeup?

A: Choosing the wrong colour foundation and using it as a mask. Many women want to use foundation to make the skin look darker, but that always looks fake.

Q: What are the 3 key things that a makeup line should always deliver?

A: Portability, flexible colours and easy application.

Q: What are your favourite items in the Ellis Faas Collection?

A: Our foundation is magical; ever since I found the textures of our eye shadows, I fell in love with them; and our mascara is the best I know. And we’ll soon launch highlighters, which are going to be gorgeous!

By Stef Bottinelli

Ellis Faas products are available to buy at London’s Liberty, Edinburgh’s DollyLeo Apothecary or online at www.ellisfaas.com