Alex Box

David Horne

Legendary make-up artist and Creative Director of Illamasqua Alex Box is in the Stylist office with the cult brand’s Director of New Product Development, David Horne to answer your questions in a live webchat now!

Cult British make-up brand Illamasqua prides itself on making ‘make-up for your alter ego’ – products come in a rainbow of intense, highly pigmented shades and shimmering formulations to allow you to unleash your imagination to create individual, avant-garde looks. Behind all this is the visionary hand of Creative Director Alex Box, a make-up artist who has worked with everyone from Gareth Pugh and Alexander McQueen to Stella McCartney and Chanel.

Illamasqua’s Director of Product Development, David Horne, has 20 years’ experience as a catwalk make-up artist and is totally fearless when it comes to pushing the boundaries of beauty. As well as working with designers like Calvin Klein and Balenciaga and making up the faces of Erin O’Connor, Sophie Dahl and Karolina Kurkova, David has also lectured at the London College of Fashion and now heads up SOMUA – Illamasqua’s school of make-up art.

I asked what colors he recommends for medium Asian skin with warm undertones and the fool proof way to do smokey eyes..

Here is his answer..

Hi Bhumika

For your skintone always select colours with a yellow or olive undertone to look most natural, this would be amber, orange, caramel colours. If you choose blue-based colours they will be more dramatic and self-expressive. When doing smokey eyes always do this before your foundation to help you maintain a clean area under the eye. To lift underneath the smokey eye, try an apricot concealer tone or peach to lift the eye upwards.

Some other questions and advices I liked..

1) any tips to stop eyeshadow creasing?

Always prepare the skin and start with a matte base to ensure your make-up has the best longevity.

2) Illamasqua Powder Blush for Contouring?

If you have a light to medium skinton you can try Heroine powder eyeshadow and use this as a cheek contour. If you prefer a cream to contour the cheeks try Hollow Cream Pigment. If you are a deeper skintone you can try Disobey powder blusher which is a mid-amber tone suitable for contouring.

3) Hi Alex and David, What advice would you give to an artist who is naturally very shy? I’ve struggled with the social aspect of freelancing but have a very strong art sense. I don’t want to give up on my dream because I’m a bit of a wall flower. I could use some tips!

Be confident in your ability and that confidence will help you open dialogue and interact in the settings you will come into contact with. Assist others who inspire you and also who will help you gain confidence. Even the people that seem the most outwardly confident are not always as they appear and like every circumstance, never judge a book by its cover – they are probably as nervous and scared as you may have felt at times.

I loved this answer ! 🙂 It was only for an hour..and thats why many questions were not answered..

I hope you find it useful 🙂