My MAC Cosmetics Holiday 2008 makeup session using the Red She Said Collection!

I’m a woman who usually does the oh-my-God-I’ve-got-to-run-five-minute-makeup job before dashing off to events or to a meeting with a friend so you can imagine how much of a thrill it is for me to sit down with a renowned makeup artist and get the same treatment models get backstage during Paris … or Milan … or London … or New York fashion week!

MAC Cosmetics’ Senior Artist Jane McKay is a whiz with her makeup brushes and she’s one hell of an educator as well!

Last month, I highlighted my first meeting with Jane. If you missed all that incredible information and all those makeup tips for women over 35, you can still catch the posts here:

Should women over 35 continue to wear MAC Cosmetics makeup? (part 1)

Should women over 35 continue to wear MAC Cosmetic makeup? (part 2)

Since this IS the party season of the year it made perfect sense to me to sit down with Jane and talk about makeup tips for the holiday and also play with MAC’s Holiday 2008 “Red She Said” collection.

I had two requests to Jane: I wanted her to show me how to apply false eyelashes and I wanted to learn how to do a perfect tight line (apply a line of eyeliner on top of my eyelid).

Jane chose to use the new Red She Said eyeshadows as the base for my holiday look. The eyeshadows in this collection are all metallic, but that should NOT deter women over 35 from delving in with much confidence. It’s going to be a balancing act so that you aren’t wearing too much glitter.

The six palettes range from blues, to purples, to plums to even red (the Dangerzone palette)!

Jane chose the Inter-View palette which she felt would complement my complexion quite nicely because of the perfect blend of medium red brown, copper pearl and shimmering dark blue (this is a very dark blue that’s closer to being a blue-black).

I have to say that I was a bit hesitant when I saw the blue because I usually shy away from blue and chose purple instead because I find blue brings out my dark under-eye circles.

I’m happy I was wrong and I let Jane do her magic because the dark blue in the Inter-View palette is dazzling!

It’s an incredible experience sitting in front of a mirror and seeing your face being transformed by someone else. The experience of having a makeup artist do your makeup has nothing to do with doing your own makeup because you don’t know what they have in mind and you don’t know how they see your face and which features they want to focus on.

Jane chose to focus on my eyes and she gave me the kind of look that would literally stop traffic and cause people to talk (and it did!).

Here are the most memorable moments from my supermodel makeup session:

* I saw her apply the blue shadow from Inter-View on my eyelid in small and gentle strokes to create a perfectly straight line that extended past my eye.

* I watched Jane apply the false eyelashes (what a job that is) and then I looked at myself in the mirror and I noticed how much bigger my eye looked (she applied the mascara on my lashes before gluing on the false eyelashes).

* I took mental notes when she played with the metallic copper and shimmer dark brown colour from Inter-View on my eyelids.

* I also took mental notes when she suggested darkening my eyebrows with black instead of my usual dark brown to add drama to my evening makeup.

* I also noticed how she chose a plum coloured blush and not a hot pink because she wanted to match the warmth of the makeup with a blush that was appropriate and a blush that would also look good with the bronze colour lipgloss she selected for me (Miss Dynamite from Red She Said).

The look was really incredible and people around me commented on my makeup all afternoon and evening long.

I unfortunately didn’t have a big red-carpet event to attend, so I headed to the gym with my full on makeup and let me tell you that got everyone talking since I never wear makeup to the gym. I had men and women asking about my makeup.

At the end of my workout I stopped to chat with some of the staff at the front counter and I also started chatting with Dominique another gym-goer. I was lamenting on the sophisticated process of applying false eyelashes when she told me that she had a waaaaaaaaaaay easier way of applying MAC eyelashes. Dominique smartly books an appointment with a MAC beauty expert and for only $15, they will glue on eyelashes that you have already purchased to get you ready for your evening! Considering these beauty experts are trained to do this perfectly, I would entrust my lashes into their hands before I attempted to gluing this on myself … and for only $15!

Jane’s tips to taking your makeup from day-to-night for the holidays:

I asked Jane some of her tips to take your makeup from day-to-night and she had these practical tips to share:

1) Use a black pencil and smudge it around your eye or inside the rim of your eyes.

2) Use false eyelashes to glam up your look.

3) Use two coats of mascara to make your eyelashes stand out.

4) Use a bit of shimmer on your lips.

5) Shake things up by going for red bold lips and a more neutral face.

Here are photos of my final look (my skin is flawless) … I look glamorous, but not overly made up … imagine my hair done (think Halle Berry) and a nice dress and I’m ready to go!:

Here I am half way through with no lipgloss and no blush:

Here’s a close up so you can see my fake eyelashes … that was quite the glamorous experience!

Posing with MAC Cosmetics’ Senior Artist Jane McKay:

Red She Said makeup collection:

Red She Said EyeShadows:

Red She Said Lipstick:

Red She Said Lipgloss:

Photo from Beauty Match and MAC Cosmetics