The Rise of the Pretty Boys

I ended my last post with an interesting revelation – that Eylure now make false eyelashes for men. I thought it would be fun to do a little research into male cosmetics, and see how far the macho grooming scene has come…

We all know that when it comes to making a Hollywood blockbuster, both actors and actresses are sent to makeup. This is nothing new – the theatre has been slapping stage makeup on men for centuries. But what are our Hollywood heartthrobs up to when the camera's switched off?

You may be shouting at your screen that male makeup is nothing new – we’ve all heard of Boy George, Adam Ant, and David Bowie after all.

Adam Ant shunning the 'natural' look

But I’m not talking about performance makeup, I’m talking about the sort of makeup you don’t even realise is there. The makeup we ladies have been slyly applying for years…

Guyliner, manscara, foundation, bronzers...they’re out there in their truck loads, and they’re gaining massive popularity with celebrities and ordinary folk alike.

Guyliner

Manscara

Foundation specifically made for men's skin

There are even websites dedicated to supplying our chaps with beautifying products. In fact, Men’s Makeup UK features a ‘man palette’, with tones such as chiffon, walnut, and clove…

What’s your fella’s skin tone?!

And then there’s the ‘Men Pen’ – apparently a must-have for male actors and models, this wonder wand is a cosmetic concealer stick specifically designed for men.

The 'Men Pen'...bigger than women's concealer!

So, who’s guilty of hogging the bathroom mirror? We all know Russell Brand, Alex Zane, and The Killers’ front man Brandon Flowers are partial to a touch of eyeliner - it’s almost part of their theatrical personality.

Russel Brand looking carefully dishevelled

Brandon Flowers

Pretty boy Alex Zane

But it’s these famous faces that are more surprising…

Daniel Radcliffe

Zack Efron

Baby face Justin Beiber

Where are the blemishes, pimples, and dry skin? Underneath piles of foundation, that's where.

It’s clear this is a trend that is on the rise, and from a makeup artist’s point of view I find it fascinating. Applying makeup to male skin is bound to require different techniques, which I’m always keen to explore. But when it comes to stumbling across manscara in my guy’s wash bag, I’m not so sure…

Lustrous Lashes - why faking it can sometimes work!

False eyelashes are a real hit or miss. Done well, and they can look fantastic, but get it wrong and it’s the first thing people are going to notice about you…

Long, lustrous lashes are a desirable look, and are widely believed to be an important part of femininity and glamour. But unfortunately not all of us possess them, and this is where going fake comes into play.

But when did the technique of applying false eyelashes first come about? It was American film director, D.W. Griffith, who set the trend while making his 1916 epic ‘Intolerance’. Griffith wanted actress Seena Owen’s lashes to touch her cheeks, and commissioned a wigmaker to weave human hair through fine gauze to create the dreamy, lengthy lashes he envisioned.

Seena Owen

 However, up until the beginning of the 21^st century, false eyelashes have been a turbulent fashion simply because the products on offer were poorly made, and frustratingly temporary (finding a fake eyelash floating in your wine half way through the night is NOT ideal!)

But with development in material production, the false eyelashes available nowadays are infinitely more enduring and authentic. And to go one step further, in 2006 Japan introduced a lash-by-lash technique whereby each individual lash gets its own extension, creating an incredibly natural and alluring effect.

There’s a major hurdle to get over when it comes to fake eyelashes, and that is what people associate them with. I used to think they were only for glamour models like Jordan, but as my experience as a makeup artist has grown, I have come to appreciate how well they set a look off if they’re used in the correct way.

For example, Cheryl Cole gets it right a lot of the time, demonstrating exactly what Griffith was after when he wanted his actress’ lashes to brush her cheeks.

Cheryl Cole batting her lustrous lashes

But it’s about creating a balance. If someone’s lashes are so long that it’s the first thing you notice about them, then it can be a bit too obvious. The only exception to this rule is the Japanese trend of wearing very long fake eyelashes on the bottom lashes, which creates a doll-like look and makes for a powerful photoshoot.

Marina and The Diamonds pulling off the look beautifully

But for all of you who want to nail the look for a night out on the town, here are a few tips:  

1.       Go for Ardell or Eylure, and if you’re really pushing the boat out then shu uemura are fabulous.

2.       Measure the lash against the length of your eye and cut it (from the outside) if necessary to fit your eyes.

3.       Curling the lashes before applying can help to get the fit right.

4.       Apply mascara to your lashes.

5.       Use white lash glue that dries clear and apply to the band of the fake lash.

6.       Let the glue dry for approximately 15 seconds (until tacky) before applying.

7.       Apply the fake lash as close to your natural lash line as possible.

8.       Go over the top band of the lashes with black eyeliner to help blend in the line and make it look more natural.

 And to finish off, I’d like to share some rather amusing and surprising news with you all - Eylure are making fake lashes for men! Whatever next…