This Season’s Hottest Make-up Look

Since 1954, the undeniable allure of Dior Beauty has captivated women around the world with its signature sophistication and glamour. Known for its complexion-perfecting Dior Forever line that leaves skin flawless for sixteen hours and Dior Addict glosses that hydrate and enhance, the products possess the power to transform. We met Dior International Pro Team make-up artist Alexandre Nedellec, who shares his insider tips on creating this season’s show-stopping beauty look.

Dark lips were the main focus of the Dior autumn/winter runway. How did this reflect the overall mood of the collection? Do you have any expert tips on how to re-create this look?

Poison lips from the this season’s runway express femininity in its most seductive dimension. The deep plum shade focuses our attention on the most delicate and sexy area of women’s face. To get the look, first use Dior Contour Lipliner to draw the lips and fill them in; next, cover with Rouge Dior 962 – the shade launches this month. Finally add a touch of Dior Addict Ultragloss 001, or Lip Maximizer, in the centre.

The bold runway lips were paired with flawless skin – what’s your secret for seamless foundation application?

Every woman dreams about having a flawless complexion. My secret is to mix a drop of Diorskin Forever foundation with a drop of Dior Prestige Nectar before applying on the face with the Backstage brush. It is so easy to blend and skin gives off a new radiant and glowy texture from the serum, but shine is gone thanks to the matte effect of the Forever foundation.

Which Dior beauty product do you swear by?

I am definitely crazy about Backstage Pros products! Those products are like tips you can use to push your makeup to the most radiant and long-lasting result in a minute. I can’t do a make-up look without Lip Glow Pomade and Rosy Glow; I use them to give a pink freshness to lips and cheeks in a balanced and sur mesure way.

What makeup trends do you expect to see for the upcoming season?

This season’s trend is to mix pastel and vivid colors. Delicate pastel hues contrast with pop and vibrant colors to create a refreshing and playful look. Make-up is an accessory for your look.

How did you decide to be a makeup artist?

Ever since I was a student during Plastic Arts lessons, I have been interested in playing with colors and textures. After being a dietician for a while, I decided to use my passion to make people feel more confident and happy with their image. I became a make-up artist so I could show women how pretty they are and how to reveal their beauty.

There are so many fashion houses out there, why did you choose to work with Dior? What does the brand represent to you?

Nine years ago, I had a crush on Dior … It’s full of history, the idea of Christian Dior making women more beautiful and happy. The audacity of colours and the architectural style make me very proud to work for this house. As a make-up artist it is also crucial to work with the best quality products, and Dior make-up products are like a symbol of the French savoir-faire.

How do you keep calm in the midst of all the excitement backstage at a fashion show?

Even in the midst of excitement backstage, everything is perfectly organised – there is no improvisation. Everyone (hair stylists, manicurists, makeup artists) knows what he or she has to do. What helps us a lot to keep calm is that Peter Philips, our conductor, is very calm.

What’s it like working with Peter Phillips?

It is so enriching to work with somebody who has as much amazing experience and creativity as Peter does. On top of that, he is very approachable and easygoing, you can easily share your opinion with him. I’m really thankful to be part of his team for fashion shows, press meetings or tutorials.

What’s a must-have for all makeup cases?

In my makeup case I always have good skincare products to prepare the skin before applying makeup and to reveal the natural glow of the skin. I always use Dreamskin before applying makeup. I never leave without my Backstage Pros collection, which can fix any problem easily. To get “the look,” I use Diorshow mascara and Rouge Dior 999.

What is your favorite classic beauty look? A sharp cat’s eye? A sultry smoky shadow? Tell us.

My favourite look is the most timeless one: nude! The look suits any woman, anytime, anywhere, with any outfit. Create a perfect complexion with Diorskin Forever foundation, get a touch of innocence and freshness on the cheeks with Rosy Glow and lips with Lip Glow and have amazing eyes with the Eye Reviver palette using the eye-contouring technique. 

Which celebrities have you worked on? Do any of them have certain make-up preferences?

I had the opportunity to work with many celebrities and models such as Ming Xi, Shawn Dou (Dou Xiao), Yang Mi, Liu Kaiwei and Liu Yifei. They always trust me as a make-up professional. But most of the time they only want to look fresh and natural.