Exclusive Interview With François Nars

Contributed by Daily Makeover's Amber Katz:

I don't have to tell the makeup obsessed gals that you are about what a legend François Nars is. For beauty junkies, his technicolor makeup products are the cosmetic equivalent of baseball cards. I recently had the chance to sit down with this superhuman talent and pick his brain about everything from how he keeps track of his inspired product names to his favorite makeup item of all time.

Daily Makeover: What is your all-time favorite beauty look you've ever created?

François Nars: My first favorite look is one that I brought back: False lashes. Twenty years ago, when I worked a lot with Steven Meisel, I brought back a very 1950s and 1960s eye liner effect. That was a time when you wouldn't see many false eyelashes. Mascara, yes--lashes, no. Another favorite: The ones I created for the Marc Jacobs fashion show in February 2009--a myriad of night clubbing visages. That was a great show and it was so much fun to create the makeup concepts for it.

DM: What the trick to creating a bold lip look?

FN: I stay away from rules. Rules get boring. You know? Too cliché. You can do a smokey eye and a red lip. It reminds me of the Helmut Newton photos from late 1970s early 1980s. There was no blush, just a deep-hued eye and strong lip. Helmut didn't like blush. The application is all about the way you adapt it. Some women look better with a pale lip, so it's more about what the woman individually can get away with. Get creative. Makeup is a way of expressing yourself. Try something else in front of the mirror. Simple as that. It's my goal to give women more freedom.

DM: What is your favorite eye shadow for creating a smokey eye effect?

FN: I like the dustiness of the NARS Cosmetics Brume Eye Shadow Duo. It almost looks bad in the pan, but on, it looks foggish and fantastic. It makes the eye pop, particularly if you have light eyes. Strong, obvious colors don't necessarily do that.

DM: What's the story with your Schiap lipstick and nail polish shade? Why do you think it's so iconic for your brand?

FN: It's named after Elsa Schiaparelli, the designer who's also the grandmother of Marisa Berenson. She invented the shocking pink in the 30s, which propelled her to fame. "Schiap" was her nickname. We worked hard to make it as close as possible. It's a bright bright bright pink--not Barbie pink, nor Pepto Bismol pink.

DM: What is your go-to red?

FN: NARS Cosmetics Semi Matte Lipstick in Jungle Red is my favorite. Even if it stops selling, it should remain. That name is so iconic because of the movie The Woman. NARS is the only one with that name. Jungle Red Lipstick launched with the original 12 NARS lipstick shades at Barneys, which were the original pieces of the line. It is a signature NARS red--stocked with rich, intense pigment and a semi-matte finish, it is a classic, perfect crimson.

DM: What is your single most-used makeup item?

FN: NARS Cosmetics Satin Lipstick in Honolulu Honey. This beigey-nude shade has been used in countless shoots, shows and ads. This shade also launched with the original 12 shades at Barneys. It is a perfect warm nude because it has just the right amount of yellow and pink. The combination of shades along with its sheer finish makes it ideal for all skin tones.

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Sandra Bullock at the Oscars: Get the Look

Best Actress Sandra Bullock was styled by Abergel for Fekkai who wanted to bring back simplicity, with Sandra’s sleek and straight down-do. The strong side part created beautiful lines to compliment her dress. He modernized the texture of the hair by creating a sleek look, with a slight wave at the end.

Conditioned hair is very important for any sleek style. Abergel used Fekkai Advanced Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner, leaving the conditioner on for 15 minutes. He then rinsed and towel dried the hair. Then he parted the hair in a deep side part. Adir recommends following the arch of your brow to choose where to part your hair. He then took a large Fekkai Round Brush and blow-dried the hair completely straight, making sure the roots were flat. Then spray with Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray to 2” sections of hair from roots to the end and use a flat iron to get a bone straight effect. To finish the look, Abergel took a 1 1/4” inch curling iron and lightly curled the ends of the hair for a nice slight wave and tucked the bangs behind the ear. To complete the look he added the Fekkai Silky Straight Ironless Smooth Finish Serum to create a sleek finish.

Betty White Calendar

We wouldn't mind getting older if it really is as much fun as Betty White makes it look. The young-at-heart actress is starring in her own calendar, complete with hunky, young, shirtless men. Proceeds from the calendar benefit her Morris Animal Foundation. The calendar goes on sale in September. You go, Betty!

Update: The calendar isn't all Betty White has cooking. WWD reported today on Betty White hoodies.

Julia Jones at the Eclipse Premier

Even though Kristen Stewart seems to get more beautiful with every installation of the Twilight movies, the one we couldn't keep our eyes off of in Eclipse was Julia Jones as Leah Clearwater. She was appropriately scene-stealing at the premier as well. Here's how to get the look from Mark celebrity makeup artist Jamie Greenberg:

Julia Jones' Face Makeup
“I started by using mark Mist Opportunity Multi-tasking Refresher to prep the face and applied mark For Goodness Face Antioxidant Skin Moisturizing Lotion all over Julia’s skin. Next, I added a touch of mark Get Bright Hook Up Highlighter in Golden under the eye area and mark Get A Tint Tinted Moisturizer Lotion SPF 15 Honey/Golden to even out her complexion. To give her a naturally radiant look, I dusted mark Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder everywhere except for her cheeks. To really emphasize her cheeks, I used a combination of mark Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint in Cheeky and Peachy and then lightly swept mark Glowdacious Illuminating Powder in Amped Up to the apples of her cheeks.”

Julia Jones' Eye Makeup
“I began by prepping her eyelids with the mark Please Hold Eye Primer in Medium/Dark to create a strong base for her eye makeup. I then applied a combination of three mark I-mark Custom Pick Eyeshadows to her eyes. I swept Magic across her lids, blended Latte into the crease and added Whisper under the brow bone. To add definition to her eyes, I applied the black shade of mark Keep It Going Longwear Eyeliner and Eyeshadow in Entourage to her top lash line and used the gold shade of mark Keep It Going Longwear Eyeliner and Eyeshadow in Iconic along the lower lash line. I finished her eyes with one coat of mark Scanda-Lash Hook Up Mascara in Blacklash for thickness and a second coat of mark Lash Splash Hook Up Waterproof Mascara in Black to lengthen and hold her lashes for the night.”

Julia Jones' Lips
“I prepped Julia’s lips with mark Kiss Dry Goodbye Lip Smoother. To get her bold lip, I applied mark Kissink Lip Tintmarker in Red Siren topped with mark Gloss Gorgeous Stay On Lip Stain in Lolli”.

All products are available at online at MeetMark.com.

Model Fourth of July Destinations

Some of the hottest faces in the business shared where they're heading for the Fourth with Modelina. At least now we know where not to show our bikini clad bods. Kidding! We do hope to see a video on YouTube of Hilary Rhoda (pictured) at Katie Lee Joel's Grease singalong in the Hamptons.

Find out more destinations of top models on Modelina.

Britney Spears' Line at Kohl's

When we first heard about Britney Spear's designing a line of Candies' clothes and accessories for Kohl's, we were tempted to laugh. But then, we rememberd how much we like Lauren Conrad's collection, so maybe we should give it a shot. BettyConfidential gives us the inside look at Britney Spear's line for Kohl's.

Get Ashley Greene's Look for the Eclipse Premiere

Artist Vanessa Scali used mark cosmetics to create Ashley Greene's look for the the Twilight Saga: Eclipse premiere at the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival. “We wanted to create a soft, glowing goddess look to complement her beautiful Alexis Mabille Couture dress. The overall look was golden skin, soft blushed cheeks, champagne shimmer and a softly lined eye.”

Face
”I prepped Ashley’s skin by applying mark Primed for Perfection Face Primer all over Ashley’s face to create a nice, even canvas. I like the skin to look flawless but real, so I always use foundation and concealers sparingly. With Ashley, I used mark Speedway Do Everything Makeup in Natural. I applied it with the mark Foundation Brush and then blended it with my fingers. Using my fingers to blend heats the product just a bit and leaves a seamless finish. Next, I applied mark Good Riddance Hook Up Concealer in Light/Medium under her eyes.”

Cheeks
“I wanted to create a nice luminous glow, so I started by applying just a touch of mark Get Bright Hook Up Highlighter in Natural to the top of her cheekbones, down the center of her nose and the bow of her top lip. Next, I applied mark Bronze Pro Bronzing Powder in Pro Glo to her temples, under her cheekbones and under her jaw line to lightly enhance the bronze in her natural skin tone. Lastly, I used mark Just Pinched Instant Blush Tint in Peachy on the apples of her cheeks for the perfect healthy flush.”


Eyes
“For Ashley’s eyes I started by using mark I-mark Custom Pick Eyeshadow in Nomadic to create a champagne shimmer all over her eyelids and under the bottom lashes. Next, to define and elongate the lash line, I lined her upper eyelids with mark Keep It Going Longwear Eyeliner and Shadow in Entourage (Black Shade). For a touch of added depth, I used mark Get in Line Hook Up Waterproof Eyeliner in Painted Black at the very base of her lashes. I finished with a few generous coats of mark Lash Splash Hook Up Waterproof Mascara in Black.”

Lips
“For Ashley’s lips, I started by using a dab of mark Kiss Dry Goodbye Lip Smoother to give her lips a touch of moisture. I then used mark Kissink Liptint Marker in Berry to define the outer edge of her lips and smudged the color into the center.”

Photos from Eclipse

Eclipse was our favorite in all the Twilight series--we loved all the background on the Cullen clan and that Bella and Edward finally worked through there issues. Not to mention that Edward is in it a whole lot more than in New Moon, which means we'll get plenty of more photos like this one or Robert Pattinson. Thanks BettyConfidential for the roundup!

La Mer and World Oceans Day 2010

We're just sick about the tragedy in the Gulf and we happily support efforts to protect our oceans and waterways. January Jones is featured in this beautiful video in honor of World Oceans Day 2010. La Mer is supporting Oceana's efforting to conserve our seas with their special edition Creme de la Mer.

Kate Winslet at the Oscars: Get the Look

Presenter Kate Winslet was beautiful at the Oscars Sunday night.  We love her old Hollywood glam hair styled by Frederic Fekkai's Renato Campora.  Here's how to get the look yourself:

Start by applying Fekkai Coiff Strong Hold Volume Mousse mixed with the Fekkai Coiff Perfector Anti-frizz Silkening Creme from roots to ends. He made a side part before he dried the hair. He dried the hair with  Fekkai Large Round Brush and pined it in place as it cooled down. Next, he used a one inch curling iron to create soft loose waves. He finished with Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray.

Fekkai products available at fine salons, on-line, and Sephora.

Jennifer Lopez at the Oscars: Get the Look

JLo will always shine on the red carpet, and this time was no exception.  Her makeup was absolutely gorgeous; though we were less enthusiastic with her loose bun.  Here's how to get her makeup:

Jennifer Lopez’s radiant Academy Awards look was created by Matthew Vanleeuwen for NARS Cosmetics with the Orgasm Illuminator  (which we love and used on our trip to Miami this weekend), Cruising Lipstick, D. Gorgeous Single Eyeshadow, Sweet Dreams Lip Gloss and new-for-Summer 2010 products Enchanted Cream Blush and Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (try Gueule de Nuit Cream Blush and Makeup Primer now).

Maggie Gyllenhall at the Oscars: Get the Look

One of our all time favorite style setters, Maggie Gyllenhall, was beautiful at the Oscars.  Her pink lip was TDF.  Here are the details of the look she got from NARS:

Maggie boasted bright lips with Schiap Lipstick, rosy cheeks with Dolce Vita Blush and copper-toned eyes with Skorpios Soft Touch Shadow Pencil.

Oscar Looks

Thanks to our special guest blogger, stylist Christina Joy, who weighs in on the best looks of last night. 

As expected, last night’s 82nd Annual Academy Awards didn’t disappoint.

It felt like a whole new Hollywood with plenty of new faces and names.
It made for quite an interesting evening on the Red Carpet…

This was the year of the soft pulled back upswept do. Also soft were the colors starring on the Red Carpet. There were blush pinks, lovely lavenders, pale peaches and barely beiges.

This was also the year of self-expression when stars made concerted efforts to make individual statements.

Here are the winning looks from head to toe…
The Darling Award
goes to
Carrie Mulligan in Prada
Carrie has been getting lots of press this award season for her performance and her high style.  She’s become the “It Girl” for designers to dress.  Yet at times it’s looked as if the dresses were wearing her.
She’s new to this so I let it slide.  However, last night she owned her look.  She was sweet and sophisticated all at once which is no small feat.

The Daredevil Award
goes to
Zoe Saldana in Givenchy
Zoe has been a style star ever since landing on the Red Carpet this award season.  While this wasn’t my favorite look she still deserves accolades for taking a risk.  She was ever so chic and pulled it off with grace and confidence.

The Sophisticate Award
goes to
Kate Winslet in Yves Saint Laurent
Kate shined in a shimmering corset and column dress.  Her jewels added sparkle and perfectly punctuated her look. Her style statement, though simple and elegant, spoke volumes about her serious eye for style.

The Triple Threat Award
goes to
Rachel McAdams in Elie Saab
Rachel’s look was flawless - the hair, the face and the dress. Her gown was feminine, youthful and elegant, all while sporting perfect skin, make-up and hair to match.  On top of that she knows how to strike a perfect pose.

The Glamour Girl Award
goes to
Jennifer Lopez in Armani Prive
Despite her recent string of style faux pas, Jennifer soared straight to the top last night and reclaimed her style star status.

The Leading Lady Award
goes to
Meryl Streep in Chris March
Last night Meryl’s style statement mirrored the qualities she often displays on screen.  She was sophisticated, alluring and elegant while appearing approachable and relaxed.  It was yet another brilliant performance.

The Avant-Garde Award
goes to
Charlize Theron in Dior

While, yes, this was another daring look, Charlize stood tall and statuesque in the pinky lavender satin creation.  It was a look fitting of a Best Actress and a most dramatic performance on the Red Carpet.  Her hair, make-up and skin were at their best and won for supporting roles as well.

 

The Striking Award
goes to
Penelope Cruz in Donna Karan Couture
Who knew that these two names would make for such a good pair.  Penelope was sultry and elegant in this deep red number.  She was simply ravishing on the Red Carpet.

Jessica Simpson's The Price of Beauty

We've already set our DVR for the premier of The Price of Beauty when it premiers on March 15. Jessica, best friend CaCee Cob and main man Ken Paves travel the world learning about different beauty standards, treatments and traditions.

Jessica visits Thailand where she gets a traditional Thai massage, meets a Thai woman disfigured by the use of bleaching cream and meet the Karen Hill Tribe of "ring neck women" where they participate in a ceremony where a young girl gets her first ring. And that's all in the first episode!

USA Networks Character Approved Awards

 

A special thanks to our friend Ashley for encouraging us to brave the snow on Thursday night to hit the Vanity Fair-USA Networks Character Approved Awards party. Among the things we would have missed: Seeing every actor on the USA Networks, Jeff Goldblum, Tiffany Theisen, and Mark Feuerstein, included; a special performance of the cast of American Idiot, the Green Day musical that opens on Broadway next month; free flowing Veuve and an inspiring video with each of the winners, including, Kathryn Bigelow, Nora Ephron and Narciso Rodriguez. Watch Narciso's clip above!

Lauren Conrad's Carry On Bag

Lauren Conrad has had many jobs. After finishing up a long stink as reality TV star on shows such as Laguna Beach and The Hills, she currently splits her time between writing books (That's her on Feb. 18 signing Sweet Little Lies), designing for her namesake label and as spokesperson for mark cosmetics. Needless to say, all the above requires a lot of travel and she is undoubtedly a stylish jet setter. I got a chance to ask her about her must have beauty items and essential wardrobe pieces while traveling when she was in NYC last month raising awareness about m.powerment by mark.

Lauren Conrad's travel style by 20somethingirl featuring Elizabeth and James jackets

When traveling, LC always packs a couple of blazers, skinny jeans and heels. For beauty, she's a big fan of mark cosmetics' hookups since they are the best way to take multiple shades and save space. To get her signature perfect cat-eye on the road, she packs mark On the Edge eyeliner in Cleo. To camouflage any tiredness and puffiness from lack of sleep and rest while traveling, LC uses mark Get Bright Hook Up Highlighter. She finishes off her travel beauty look with m.powerment gold lip gloss which she likes to layer on top of her lipstick for extra shine or wear it alone for a nude look.

By the Stylester.

Get the Look: Jennifer Garner at the Valentine's Day Premiere

Frederic Fekkai Celebrity Stylist Adir Abergel was responsible for Jennifer Garner's soft tousled curls at the Valentine's Day premiere.  We love wavy, beachy hair and this do is just refined enough to wear to a big event.

Here's how to get the look yourself:

First, prep the hair by applying Fekkai Full Blown Volume Lifting Hairspray at the roots. Next blow dry the whole head with your hands to create texture and bring out the natural wave. Follow by taking a round brush and blow dry the bangs forward and to one side. Continue with a 1’’ curling iron, curling hair away from the face but leaving the ends alone. After curling the hair, mix Fekkai Coiff Océanique Tousled Wave Spray with Fekkai Coiff Magnifique Ultra-Light Finishing Crème and apply to the ends to create a tousled look. Finally, to hold the look for the entire evening, finish with the Fekkai Coiff Sheer Hold Hairspray all through the hair.

Brooklyn Decker 2010 Sports Illustrated Cover Model

David Letterman announced this year's Sports Illustrated Cover Model, Brooklyn Decker, last night on Late Night.  While the news was supposed to be "secret" up until the announcement; we'd heard rumblings this weekend she was the choice. 

Brooklyn, who is 22 years old and married to tennis player Andy Roddick, says this is "the equivalent of a model winning the MVP of the Superbowl." (Toledoblade.com)  This is her fifth time in the swimsuit edition.  Andy says he's just glad she won so that she won't be as nervous next February because she's already checked off that box.  Kind of like winning your first grand slam, Andy?

The 2010 Swimsuit Edition is on shelves today.  Sports Illustrated provided a buyer's guide on-line if you see a suit you'd like for yourself.
Picture credit Sports Illustrated

Kim Kardashian at the Airport

People Stylewatch posted another of our favorite slideshows, Stars' Airport Style. Black was a predominate theme, as many celebs were headed to chilly Sundance and, hey, it is a good color to travel in, after all.

We love how Kim Kardashian managed to turn a casual jeans and a t-shirt look into a stylish statement with high heeled booties, motorcross jeans and a boyfriend blazer.

Michelle Williams looks adorable after landing in Salt Lake City for the trip to Park City, but we would personally worry about flying cross country in a short jean skirt. One wrong turn while you're napping and you're flashing the plane your business!

We know that Ashley Greene is on her way to being a huge star and she's already playing the part. She's got the over-sized shades, a cute pooch in a sweater and someone else to carry all her bags, even her purse.

Check out the rest of the Stars' Airport Styles on People.com.

Lea Michelle at the Grammy's

Lea Michelle is our pick for new Red Carpet Darling. From the Golden Globes to the SAG Awards to last night's Grammy's, she just keeps getting better. We were particularly wowed by her makeup at Sunday's award show with a sexy, smoky eye and pale lip. The look was created by Dior makeup artist Melanie Inglessis, who says, "I wanted to create an edgier, sexier look for Lea." Mission accomplished! Here's what Melanie used on Lea:

Eyes: Dior Eye Show in Glam and Glitz Black, Dior 5-Colour Designer Eyeshadow in Smoky Design, Dior Waterproof Crayon Eyeliner in Trinidad Black, DiorShow Mascara
Lips: Rouge Dior creamy lipgloss in Beige Silk Satin

Melanie's Smoky Eye Tip: "When doing dark eyes, I always recommend to do the eyes before your concealer or even your foundation just in case some of the color falls onto your skin or under eyes."

Read JSG's tips for how to do a smoky eye.