Colour has a transformative effect like no other. To put it to the test, ELLE asked 6 up-and-coming makeup artists to use the same Chanel makeup collection to create without boundaries, a look that speaks to their unique vision.
Colour is a powerful channel to express our inner selves. It has the ability to change how we feel, empower us from within, even change who we want to be that day. This is the thinking behind Chanel Beauty’s Cometes Collective, a group of three rising star makeup artists who are set to make up reshape how we think about colour. Chanel’s Spring 2024 Makeup Collection collection is the first line to come from the Cometes Collective – and we can’t get enough. From the beautiful blue eye shadow quad, coral blush duo and lip lacquers, to the gold-flecked shimmering skin balm and blue tinged powder highlighter, this collection is filled with things to add to our makeup kit.
To put the concept of colour to the test, we asked six up-and-coming makeup artists to use Chanel’s Spring 2024 collection to create a look that is all their own. Shot by the incredibly talented Eddie New, the images are a beautiful deep dive into creativity and the powerful and transformative effect of colour. With special guest, Chanel Makeup Artist Victoria Baron on set, each of the makeup artists spoke candidly about the role of colour in their work and life. Here are 3 of those artists.
Makeup artist: Sean Brady
Self-taught with a flare for high drama looks, Sean Brady’s work is unique. “Sean’s unconventional approach to interpreting makeup collections results in modern, unexpected looks that are undeniably inspiring,” says Baron.
Victoria Baron: You came into the makeup industry with a strong vision. How did you get into makeup artistry?
Sean Brady: I was working as a model agent and I was modeling before that. Then COVID happened, and it was the first time I had free time to be creative so I just channeled that into makeup. With makeup you don’t need to have access [into the fashion industry], you can buy a palette, which is empowering. You can create something.
VB: You’re self-taught, which is exciting because you’re led by your intuition and your own aesthetic.
SB: I think it’s a mix of having like an idea and applying it and not getting too caught up on what that idea is. I feel like that’s why there’s an organic nature to it.
VB: Today, you came with quite a few ideas and inspiration. But it wasn’t until Venus sat down that you created the makeup look…
SB: I like to have I have an idea of what I’m going to do. I saw Venus next to the products, that’s when I sort of almost straight away thought of Devon Aoki in Fast & The Furious. So even though I had started off thinking I would do a more rounded eye shape, I thought “no I want it to have momentum and to look a bit fast like the Suki character”.
VB: You’ve pulled the eyes out to create that shape.
SB: Using that really light metallic powder [in the Exclusive Creation] through that center of the eye is really exciting. Because you can only see it if you’re really looking at it. I try to paint for the back of the room but the light points are for the person in front of you.
Chanel Exclusive Creation in Lumiere de L’Ocean highlighter, $105 at Chanel
VB: The lips you have created is quite unique. Can you talk us through the application?
SB: Venus’s look is so intrinsically fresh looking. And I wanted to keep that freshness so I put the Mermaid balm across the lips to have that reflective element and then brought the balm across the cupid’s bow because it’s a light source so it pulls the lips out.
Chanel Baume Essentiel in Mermaid Glow, $74 at Chanel
VB: Venus’s skin is so beautiful.
SB: For me, anything you can’t buy, things like freckles and birthmarks, is a commodity. So I wanted products on the skin to be as sheer as possible. I’m just highlighting what’s already there.
Makeup artist: Cherry Cheung
Her distinctive bold approach to colour has made Cherry Cheung’s work distinctive. “Cherry finds beauty in the irregular with a gentle touch,” says Baron.
Victoria Baron: It’s really amazing to see the way that you play with color and shape. You’ve got a really creative artistic flair. What do you love about being a makeup artist?
Cherry Cheung: What I love about my job is the creativity. You actually get a person sitting in front of you and you can see what makeup works on that person.
VB: I love the shape of the eye you created, that sort of play between bold colour and no colour.
CC: Even though it’s quite graphic, it’s a look that people will be able to do at home too. You could use your own fingers or a brush to blend it out. I love the negative space; it’s graphic but it’s also a look that people can do at home. You could use just an eyeliner by putting a little bit on the inner corner and a little bit on the outer corner.
VB: How do you get your inspiration for your work?
CC: People’s stories will give me inspiration. When someone sits in my chair, we start chatting, and I get their vibe. It’s so organically developed. But I am also very decisive and I work fast.
Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Bleu Abysse, $50 at Chanel
VB: That’s a rare skill to have; it’s very easy to second guess yourself. And sort of, you know, especially when you’ve got a lot of colour [to choose from]. Do you have any tips on applying this look?
CC: Pencil is key. A light pencil is such a good tool to start with. I think it’s beautiful to start with the bottom and connect the outer corner. That will open the eye and make them look bigger. Then you could smudge it with your finger and make it look more of an effortlessly smoky eye.
VB: I noticed on this look that you didn’t put the eyeliner on the waterline…
CC: I look at models’ eyes and ask myself, if I do it, it will make her eyes look smaller? I’d say, it’s about what works on her face.
VB: Can you talk us through her skin?
CC: It was definitely not heavy handed. I spend my time prepping the skin, making sure it’s hydrated and went from there.
VB: What is a product that you will take home and having your kit all the time?
CC: The Duo Blush because it gave women’s skin an energized fresh look. If you’re not wearing any makeup, we could still have a little bit blush. I prefer a balm texture because it melts into the skin and looks more like a second skin. Yeah, freshness. But powders are so fun too; apply them lightly.
Chanel Exclusive Creation in Roses Coquillage Duo Blush, $110 at Chanel
Makeup artist: Yasmin Goonweyn
Colour and texture are often the start point of Yasmin Goonweyn’s inspiration. “Yasmin has that confidence to decide on a colour or design that’s a bit different and really go with it,” says Baron.
Victoria Baron: This is obviously a very editorial space, and it really suits you. What do you recommend to someone who might be nervous about wearing color?
Yasmin Goonweyn: If you stick with that one product and say “okay, I’m just going to moisturise, brush my eyebrows up, and then add this blue eyeliner.”
VB: Where did you often get inspiration for your work?
YA: It can be the products themselves. There’s something so important about having that tactile interaction with makeup. Touching, feeling, seeing the color payoff, the luminosity, how much shimmer there is and how the color reacts to different light. But I also get inspiration from the models themselves. Sometimes you just have to look at a face and let it speak to you.
VB: I loved that you took a product that’s not normally meant for the eyes and used that for layering.
YA: I noticed that the Baume Essentiel highlighter stick had a very strong blue shift in the shimmer. I pressed it over the eyelids and it gave this really wonderful chrome shift. I then layered with the blue and the eyeliner. After that it was about keeping the skin fresh, but also having a bit of color.
Chanel Les Ombres eyeshadow quad in Rivage, $112 at Chanel
VB: I don’t know much about your story as an artist. How did you get to this point?
YA: As a kid I was really obsessed with makeup. But I didn’t have any older sisters, and my mum [didn’t wear makeup] so the only time I could really get into somebody else’s makeup kit was when we visited my auntie. I would dig through everything and walk out with all kinds of everything on my face. When I was at high school and it was my favorite way of procrastinating. Instead of doing homework, I read Rae Morris’ books, the Bobbi Brown books, Scott Barnes… I poured over them. Then I started doing shoots with friends who were musicians or in fashion. Makeup is definitely my profession now.
VB: It’s really fun to have that confidence to decide on a colour or design something that’s a bit different and really go with it. Do you have any tips on how to get that confidence with makeup?
YA: Going for the unconventional colour and thinking, “okay how can we like make it work? It’s my way of keeping myself challenged; a bit like trying to work out a little puzzle.
VB: It is a lot to do with not being too uptight about something, and being okay to say, “okay, that wasn’t right, but we’re going to make it work”.
YA: Exactly, it’s makeup, you can wipe off, you can start again. And you can say “I don’t like that color that way” but there’s also thousands of ways to apply that color. You will find a way that works for you.
VB: Is there anything from the collection that you feel you would love to have in your everyday kit?
YA: I really love those lip lacquers. They were beautiful. I love the texture and the way they applied onto the skin as well.
Chanel Rouge Allure Lacque Lipsticks in Sea Shell, $72 at Chanel
Chanel Spring 2024 Makeup Collection is available now at chanel.com.au
