Liverpool Media Interview

Well here is a blast from the past!

This interview was printed way back in 2010 in LSMedia magazine after I worked with the lovely Rose Gallager, who most of you will know from Mixed Gem's, on a student fashion event!

Interview with Sian-Louise Auld, Liverpool based make-up artist

by Emma Huckerby

Lady Gaga is, perhaps, one of the most striking, dominating and creative women in music at the moment. And on first impressions what, exactly, do we, as the ever judgemental audience, see? Well, exactly this. Take away the clothes (although admittedly Gaga can be prone to wearing little, if any, at the best of times) and one is still given the image of this particular woman. And it can be argued that this specific image is all down to Lady Gaga's entourage of makeup artists and hair stylists. Immense false eyelashes, glittering and pouting lips, intricate hairstyles...it's a major slice of what the Gaga brand is all about. So it is no wonder, then, that getting highly expressive with one's makeup and hair, is becoming increasingly popular. And also no wonder why Lady Gaga herself, is admired by makeup artist Sian Louise Auld Here, in our exclusive interview, Sian divulged her advice for looking utterly gorgeous, how she experiments with her own makeup, whilst also allowing us to have a peak at one of the favourite 'looks' she created through makeup...

Emma-    Which celebrities do you recognise as having idyllic hair and make up, and why?

Sian-   I personally, like most of us, really love Lady GaGa’s hair and make-up in her videos- its so way out and individual! Make-up artist and Illamasqua Creative Director, Alex Box has fantastic style, make-up and hair too- I’d love to be brave enough to dress like she does every day! 

Would you say that having such a good knowledge of hair and make up allows you to experiment more with your own personal look, or, contrarily, allows you to acknowledge which styles suit you best and stick to them?

A bit of both really! When time isn’t on my side or it’s a special occasion I stick to what I know suits me but when I have a bit more time and going out I like to experiment a bit more! Especially with bold lip and eye colours! A lot of my friend’s are hair and make up artist’s too so its always exciting to see what everyone else is going for!

Talk us through one of your favourite pieces from your portfolio.

I love this image! It was taken in London February 2009, and since then has had pride of place at the front of my book! The photographer was someone whose work I had admired for a long time and was lucky enough to be given the chance of working with her in her hometown of London. The inspiration was Make-up Forever’s Gothic campaign at the time and I used there fabulous products to create the look.

Photographer- Berna V www.berna-v-photography.co.uk/-

Model-Rosanna Dimmick at First Model Management

Make-up- Sian-Louise Auld using Make-up Forever 

Stylist- Kati Brugnoli

What general tips would you give to ensure effective make up application?

I always recommend applying your make-up with brushes and spend as much as you can afford on them! I love the MAC brushes, as they are the most reasonable but still amazing quality. My favourites are 190-foundation brush and the 217, 239 and 224 eye shadow brushes.

What general tips would you give for maintaining healthy and well-styled hair?

Regular trims and using good quality shampoo, conditioner and treatments for your hair will keep it in good shape. Like make-up brushes, spend as much as you can regularly afford on hair care, which is made especially for your hair type.

Are there any good quality products under £10 that you could recommend to a student on a budget?

 I love max factors products, especially Masterpiece Max mascara (£9.95) and miracle touch foundation (£11.95). No.7 lip liners and glosses are brilliant budget buys too!

What's in my foundation drawer?!

What most people find surprising is that professional make-up artists rarely use the products in their kit on themselves. Unless, that is, we are testing longevity, pigment or practicing a specific look for a job.

Instead, we too have our own personal make-up bags for day to day use.

Typically, mine carries far more budget brands than my kit. Even if I choose to invest in a more expensive product, if I think it would be perfect for my clients or a job, it quickly finds its way into my kit!

As I have mentioned previously, my make-up 'bag' during my teenage years was, in fact, a make-up drawer. Since then I have  done my uttermost to downsize, but as a terrible hoarder and beauty shop-a-holic, my make-up now call  a small drawer unit, complete with Cath Kidston esqe ceramic rose handles, home. (I do suffer from a slight Cath addiction too...)

So first up is my Foundation drawer! 




Since working for Max Factor back in 2007, I have been a huge fan of their Miracle Touch Foundation. This solid to liquid foundation offers a medium coverage, with a radiant finish, perfect for my admin/office days!

My latest Max Factor purchase is their CC Cream. CC (Colour Correcting) creams  are the big beauty news for 2013, with most brands launching theirs this Spring. Formulated to contain skincare to hydrate and enough pigment for a natural flawless coverage, this my best friend on my days off! 










I am also a big fan of No7 foundations Stay Perfect and Beautifully Matte, which both offer medium to full build-able coverage and perfect for an oily T-zone like mine. The great thing about No7 is their Foundation Match made Service which I use two to three times a year to ensure I'm wearing the right shade! 
You can read more about this service by visiting my previous blog post on this topic. 

For a special occasion or a long work day-night, I always turn to Smashbox Studio Skin Foundation. Another medium-full coverage (can you tell I like a good coverage!?!) this fantastic product is sweat, humidity and transfer proof- and stays in place for over 15 hours. Trust me, this is one product where you can believe the hype!







When I'm suffering for any blemishes or darkness under my eyes, I like to use Smashbox High Definition Concealer or MAC Pro Longwear Concealer either under or over my foundation. Both offer a high level of coverage with a natural long-lasting finish. 

As a girl with skin prone to a bit of shine, my powder is a must!
Each morning I finish my make-up with a light dusting of Smashbox Halo Powder and keep MAC Blot Powder in my handbag at all times. You never know when you might need to powder your nose after all!


Phew- that is one packed drawer!!

Coronation Street Gifting Lounge

This really has been a week full of Soap!

On Monday the So Coco Rouge team worked with our friends over at Label PR to pamper the cast and crew of Coronation Street at their Gifting Lounge.

The event was held in the beautiful Rooftop Gardens of Great John Street Hotel which is luckily situated directly opposite the Corrie set -so close we could even see the Kabin!

Throughout the day the lovely ladies (and a few gents too) dropped in to meet us and get their hands on some gorgeous goodies!

We were in excellent company, exhibiting alongside brands such as Simply Be, La Moda, South Beach, Lavish Alice and my personal favourite Rock N Rose.

Sisters Emily-Jane and Jess, who founded Rock N Rose back in 2007, were great fun, and definitely could be adoptive Rougettes!  Rock N Rose are most famous for their Floral Crowns, which often grace the pages of Look and Grazia magazines and are worn by celebrities such as Pixie Lott and Fearne Cotton. And now, even me, after the lovely girls kindly gave me my own, which compliments my red hair beautifully!

The Rougettes in our Floral Crowns

They also showcased a gorgeous selection of jewellery- from oversized bow rings to inverted cross necklaces and cute midi rings! If you like vintage inspired jewellery, quirky sunnies and festival headgear, you really need to take a look at the Rock N Rose website!

The Corrie Cast with their goodies!

Anyway, first through the door was the stunning Samia Ghadie, who plays hairdresser Maria, and her friendly manner set the tone for the rest of the day! Definitely no diva behavior here!

During the day we also had lots of fun with the lovely Jennie McAlpine (Fiz), Georgia May Foote (Katy) and Kate Ford (Tracey). Plus, we even met soap royalty Barbara Knox, who plays Rita! 

We cannot wait to give all the Corrie girls a full on pamper at the So Coco Rouge salon before their next trip down the red carpet!

The Corrie cast at the So Coco Rouge Stand

British Soap Awards

Did you watch the British Soap Awards this weekend?

If not, you have no doubt seen the endless tweets and pictures flying around the internet talking about how us Northerners out-styled our Southern cousins!

Luckily for my very competitive side, myself and the team over at So Coco Rouge, feel like we had a big part to play in winning this battle- as you can imagine we were very busy with our make-up brushes! 

Karen Hassan

First up in the SCR chair was Hollyoaks scarlet Karen Hassan who played Lindsay, until she met her grisly end at the hands of Silas last year. So Coco Rouge's  Robyn has worked with Karen on various red carpet appearances and this weekend she created stunning smokey eyes, luminous skin and nude glossy lips which complimented her slinky black dress and sleek hair perfectly!

And it wasn't just the cast we were pampering either!

The all important crew also needed to look red-carpet ready and our team were on hand to make them feel a million dollars too!

Emmerdales Kerry

Whilst Robyn was working her socks off in Liverpool, I was over in Manchester, in the middle of the Soap madness at the Hilton hotel. Working as part of the Art Deco Creatives Team once more, we got to work pampering the cast and crew of Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks.

Laura Norton

Best Newcomer nominee Laura Norton, who plays troublemaker Kerry was my favourite client of the day. Laura's character Kerry isn't the most glamorous women in the village and her chavvy style definitely leaves room for improvement- so I'm sure many fans did a double-take when they saw her in this weekend!

We decided to create a look that oozed Hollywood glamour, using neutral tones on Laura's eyes with a hint of smokiness in the outer corners and full false lashes.

Contoured cheeks, a neutral lip and a killer red dress completed Laura's glamorous transformation.

Benefit They're Real Mascara

There is nothing I like more than receiving a freebie with my monthly glossy- and this month I was one happy girl indeed when the postie dropped Elle through my letter box!

Not only did the cover star a sexy yet androgynous looking Miley Cyrus, hiding in the bottom corner was a tasty little treat for us make-up junkies.

The UK's Number 1 selling mascara, Benefit 'They're Real'.

Image- Benefit Cosmetics

I have been tempted to use this mascara since it was launched, but after not being 100% happy with the result of Benefits famous mascara 'Bad Girl Lash' back in 2005 I was wary. At £19.50 it isn't a majorly expensive purchase in comparison to some brands, but when the Max Factor mascara I know and trust is half the price, its hard to break free!

So, lucky for me, Elle has granted me a week long trial before I commit to making it a more permanent fixture in my daily routine!

What does this mascara offer our lashes then?

Try lengthening, volumizing, lifting, curling and separation for starters.

Add a unique domed brush head, complete with plastic bristles and a long lasting, smudge proof formula and there you have the recipe for luscious lashes all night long.

Following my daily technique- wiggling the brush from side to side as I comb the mascara from root to tip and grabbing the corner lashes with the tip of the brush- my first observation was to how wet the brush was. Usually this would indicate an overload of product, but my lashes stayed surprisingly clump free. 

My short lashes definitely appeared longer, lifted and more defined. But thicker?
Not as much as my sparse lashes need. In fact, I was even tempted to sneak my Max Factor fave out of my bag and add a coat to bulk them out a touch.

Two Coats of They're Real mascara

And I can hand on heart say it most certainly is. 


 The final claim that Benefit make is that this mascara is long lasting and smudge free.
How do I know?

Well, I was a very naughty girl and after 11 hours of beautifying the whole of Liverpool in So Coco Rouge, followed by a friends Birthday BBQ, I collapsed in a sober heap, full face of make-up in place.

Waking 8 hours later, I discovered that not only was my floral pillowcase make-up free (this is usually not the case on a Sunday morning) I, for once, did not resemble a panda. 

24 hours later....

So, most importantly- will I be making the purchase? 

YES!

Probably not for day to day use, as I definitely need a bit more thickness to my lashes, but for holidays and long work days, I will most certainly be pulling this little gem out of the bag.

PS...

The eyeliner I am still rocking 24hours later is No7 Stay Perfect, but we'll talk more about this soon!

NYX Cosmetics

I'm always on the lookout for new products to try, much to my business partner 

Robyn's horror. (the So Coco Rouge studio literally has boxes and boxes full of 

my random purchases over the years. Neon yellow eyeshadow anyone?!)





This weeks cheeky purchase is from LA based brand NYX  Cosmetics- who are famed for their

 on-trend shades, strong pigments and amazing colour payoff. 

NYX, founded by Toni Ko and launched in 1999, is the talk of most beauty bloggers and 

professional make up artists- and always one to jump on the bandwagon, I wanted 
my chance to try these beauties too!

The NYX UK website is jam packed with tempting images of their latest offerings- 

I'm already planning on purchasing their Soft Matte Lip Cream and The Curve liner next- but 

today I headed straight to the Jumbo Eye Pencil section on the hunt 

for Karla Powell's new favourite, Milk.







This bright white pencil is made with a blend of mineral oil and powder pigments 

enabling an easy application with no pulling on the eyelid. All NYX Jumbo Eye 
Pencils can be worn alone, but Robyn and I decided to try this as a base to 

eyeshadow. The waxy texture is perfect for loose pigments to adhere to, and a 
great way of enhancing the vibrancy of any eyeshadow shade.

 A definite kit must have. 
Left- Milk alone. Middle-Shadow alone. Right- Shadow over Milk.

Being a Liverpool based salon, our clients love a bit of sparkle, so glitter was 
another definite purchase! Usually we tend to stick to MAC loose glitters, but 
as NYX offered such a great selection at a bargain price, it seemed rude not to 
pick some to try!

I love warm golden tones, so Hot Gold Glitter was a must! Starting with my Jumbo 
Pencil in Milk, applied straight to the entire lid then smoothed using my 


fingertips, I then blended MAC Copper Ring into the socket line. Teaming this 
with MAC Carbon in the outer corner, the finishing touch was Hot Gold Glitter on 
the lid, which created the perfect 'Glitter Smoke' as us scousers call it!

Hot Gold Glitter over Milk
Both Robyn and I were really impressed with these new additions to the SCR kit, 


and will definitely be trying our Crystal Glitter on our clients this weekend too!

Look Good Feel Better

I will be the first to admit, that I have never really been a fan of Angelina Jolie. As an avid 'Friends' lover, I was most definitely on Team Aniston during the 00's Pitt-fight.

But today, my opinion changed. 

 This morning Angelina bravely revealed that she carries the faulty gene BRCA1 and has taken the hard decision to have a preventative mastectomy, reducing her risk of developing breast cancer from 87% to less than 5%.

For any women, this must be a terrifying decision., but it must be especially so, working in the public eye where every inch of your appearance is critisied. It hard to even imagine. 


Cancer, and the research into genetic mutations is a topic very close to my heart, and since I began my training ten years ago, I have been itching to 'give something back' and work with women going through tough times. But it wasn't until a few years ago that I heard about Look Good Feel Better, a charity which works with women who have developed cancer.

I came across the programme whilst working for Max Factor in 2008, at my local Boots store. Various members of staff from each cosmetic house took it in turns to volunteer at the local hospital workshop where women suffering from different types of cancer would come for a relaxed and informative skincare and make-up lesson.

I then came across more information about the charity,  through my admiration for top make-up artist Caroline Barnes' work. I was under the impression that LGFB only accepted volunteers from employed cosmetic consultants rather than freelance make-up artists, but seeing Caroline's support convinced me to give the team at LGFB a call and offer my services at the Liverpool centre. 

 LGFB use a 12 step programme, using the products kindly donated to each of the women by many cosmetic houses such as Chanel, Elizabeth Arden and Clarins.  Usually there is eight ladies attending the workshop, all various age ranges and at different stages of treatment- but all there to leave the Cancer chat at the door. This is their ME time. 

Once the women complete the session, they all admit they feel gorgeous. 

More importantly, they can recreate the look at home, meaning they can feel and look fabulous every single day! Working with these ladies is inspiring. Their 'positive energy' and thirst for life is infectious and as far as I'm concerned, this is my most important job as a make-up artist. 

For more information, and to volunteer, please visit

LookGoodFeelBetter

You can read more information on BRCA and Angelina Jolie's experience by visiting 
My Medical Choice

Max factor's UK ambassador and long term Look Good Feel Better supporter, Caroline Barnes, demonstrates the 12-step skincare and make-up regime on the Confidence Kit DVD, offered to all patients, for a small donation, through the website.

My love for Gatsby.

Since I first sat cross legged in front of the television, watching the antics occurring at Fat Sam's Speakeasy and admiring Tallulah's fur stole, I have been smitten with the 1920's.

 My love grew further when, aged 16, my GCSE Drama and Dance projects focused on the era, and as the only lessons I took a real interest in, I reveled in the topic. 

Fur coats, cloche hats, red lips and secluded jazz bars still remain a few of my favourite things, and if I could hop in a time machine and experience it all for real, even just for 24 hours,  I would be the first in line to do so.

So when I heard one of my favourite stories- The Great Gatsby- was to be re-created for the big screen by the genius Baz Lurman, my love for the era and excitement grew and grew. So much so, that my friends, family and twitter followers must be rather sick of me going on about it!

I even held my very own Gatsby birthday party earlier this year, in a bar hidden behind a bookcase,  just to grab my own slice of the prohibition pie!

Birthday Celebrations!

After years of waiting, and week of listening to the soundtrack 24/7,  it's now less than a week until the UK film release.  Not that I have had a countdown or anything.....

 Long loved Gatsby fans like moi and new ones, intrigued by the media attention, will no doubt flock to their nearest cinema, where the Daisy and Gatsby of our generation will be portrayed by Carey Mulligan and every 90's girl's Romeo- Leonardo Dicaprio. 
Carey Mulligan has been one of favourite actress's and elfin hair icon since I first watched her in An Education back in 2009, and I couldn't think of a better casting for Gatsby's leading lady.  And if you have any doubt she wasn't born for the role, then you should turn your attention to the May issue of American Vogue.  To me, she truly encompasses the essence of Daisy Buchanan. 

These stunning images were shot by Mario Testino and styled by the legendary Grace Coddington. 

Being a typical make-up junkie, my eyes were instantly drawn to Carey's vintage inspired make-up, which was created by cosmetic genius Mark Carrasquillo, whose work often graces the pages of Vogue. Although this bold look appears tricky, its simple to recreate when you have the right tools- and this is how I plan to turn myself in a modern day Daisy!

  Daisy’s soft, smoky eye-
In the 20's they favoured a more rounded shape, but for a modern take, Mark has slightly winged out Carey's shadow to suit her natural eye shape.

1. Apply a small amount of a light shimmer cream shadow, such as MAC Cream Colour Base in Shell from lash line to the brow bone, using your fingers. 

2. Using a soft black eyeliner pencil, I like MAC Smoulder, apply short strokes into the lash line working from the outer corner towards to  inner, stopping two thirds of the way in. Repeat, moving up the eye lid until you have reached halfway between the lashline and socket line. 

3. Take a flat brush, by favourite is MAC 239 , and pat a dark brown/charcoal shadow on top of your eyeliner. For added warmth I like to use Illamasqua Shadow in Wolf.

4. Time to blend! Using a clean fluffy brush, blend the shadow on the lid up into the socket line. Use both back and forth and circular movements to blend seamlessly. Be careful to only use this brush in the upper parts of the dark eyeshadow, we want the area closest to the lashline to stay nice and dark! Try Crown Brush C139

5. For the metallic finish to Carey's eye make-up, apply Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Surge to the inner third of the eye and tear duct, using a synthetic brush from Crown. Use your fluffy brush to blend the edges of the two colours together.

6. Apply your kohl pencil to the water line and under the lower lash line until you meet the shadow in the outer corner of the eye. Blend the darker shadow over the pencil line under the lower lashes using a pointed brush, such as Crown C321, until you reach the metallic shade in the tear duct. 

7. Finish with two coats of a lash building mascara, such as Lancome Hypnose.

The iconic 20's red lip:

1. Line your lips using a rich red lip liner such as MAC Redd. Start at the cupids bow, before moving to the outer edge and work up into the bow. Repeat to the lower lip, again starting in the centre. Fill in your lips using the liner, this will help your lip colour to stay in place all night. 

3. Apply a matte red, I like Art Deco, Dita Von Teese, using a lip brush. No7 Lip Brush is one of my faves. 

4. Finish by applying MAC Pigment in Naked to the area immediately above the cupids bow using a cotton bud.

Voila! Daisy is reborn!

I hope you all enjoy The Great Gatsby, as much I hope I will!

In the meantime, take a look at this fabulous behind the scenes video Vogue created, I particularly enjoyed hearing Carey read an extract from the novel.

You can't repeat the past? Well, of course you can!

http://www.vogue.com/videos/behind-the-scenes-of-carey-mulligans-great-gatsby-themed-cover-shoot/

Face Lace

Last week at So Coco Rouge HQ we received a lovely call from the talented make up artist Phyllis Cohen. Phyllis has worked with some of the most outlandish of celebrities, such as Annie Lennox, Boy George and the Rougettes favourite, David Bowie. Her artistic, bold designs made her the go to make up artist for those wanting an eccentric look and the Rougettes have admird her work for years.

After 35 years in the industry, Phyllis has launched Face Lace. Put simply, these artistic self adhesive designs create a look which would take us professionals hours, within minutes. 

From glitzy masks, to pretty artistic eye designs and smaller floral transfers, there is a Face Lace design for any occasion you need to make the boldest of entrances.

Ringing a bell? Face Lace has already been worn on the catwalks of London Fashion Week, Instagrammed by the cast of Made In Chelsea and used by top make up artists Pixiwoo and Lisa Eldridge in their popular tutorials. Face Lace are also the talk of press, only a few months ago the Daily Mail hailed Face Lace as the latest make up trend, and they have graced the pages on Vogue online. 

Why did Phyllis call a group of scouse make up addicts?!

Well, with Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazar only a stones throw from our beautiful little home and an event with Grazia magazine around the corner, Phyllis needed a Rougette to represent the Face Lace brand. Flick in place and my lips painted their signature red, off I went to tell the ladies of Liverpool about Face Lace! 

We showcased a number of Phyllis's best selling designs including the Crystallised Hipstar Mask and Crystallised Fleurty  which all looked stunning on model Charley, from Impact models. All of the designs proved popular with the audience, and I'm sure there will be lots of scouse ladies sporting Face Lace this Summer!

The evening, held by the Beauty Bazaar personal shopping team, included talks by tanning expert James Read and Grazia make up artist Anne Sophia Costa.

You can purchase yours from Harvey Nichols Beauty bazar or direct from www.face-Lace.com

Illamasqua Beauty School Drop In

I'm the first to admit that I am a beauty product addict and a pretty bad shopaholic, especially when it comes to make-up. So you might be shocked to hear, that the area I hate most in department stores is in fact the Beauty Hall. Which is funny since I spent the first few years of my working life there.

Why? Well the florescent lighting doesn't help for starters, but it's the help, or should I say, lack of help I find I get from some advisers  who most of the time seem more concerned with preening themselves and blagging the biggest sale, than helping the customer. Yes, funnily enough us make-up artists do like to ask your advice when it comes to your latest products and we do value the knowledge the brand has given you on them!!

I'm a great believer in the power of knowledge. We can never stop learning and improving on our skills. Especially in an ever evolving industry such as make-up artistry. 

So, where do we turn when we want to try the latest products and be guided on new types of application? Illamasqua of course!

War Paint Against Mediocrity. Well said Illamasqua!

'Beauty School Drop In' is a complimentary group make-up lesson held on the first Sunday of every month at Illamasqua stores and counters. Each month the theme changes, meaning you could actually 'drop in' on a monthly basis and constantly widen your make-up knowledge!

This week I decided to pluck up the courage to attend my first class, and I will definitely be a regular student!

Our tutors, Patrick and Christina, were extremely friendly and put my fears of the beauty hall advisors at ease. No sales pitch or hard sell, simply friendly chat and lots of education.

This month's theme is Pin Up Beauty and the session I attended was aptly named 'Classic Pin Up Eyes'. Perfect for a girl who loves a new flick technique! 

Firstly, Patrick used the Eye Brow Cake mixed with a small amount of Sealing Gel on a Angled Brush to define his models brows. He recommended defining the arch and end of the brow first before using just the excess product on the inner section, which should be left natural looking. 

Well, by this point I knew this class was made for me. There is nothing I HATE more than seeing girls with an artificial square shape at the inner part of the brow. 

All hail Patrick I say.

Patrick creating beautiful brows

Next, he surprised us all by using Pencils for eye shadow. He sketched nude shade Vow under the brow bone and pink-chocolate shade Ascend onto the eye lid before buffing together using a fluffy brush. Quick, simple and a very effective end result!

 'Skin Sketching' is a technique practiced at the School of Make-up Art, and uses their Medium Pencils to create definition, contours and highlights. This handy tutorial explains it all.

Skin Sketching Tutorial

To intensify the eye lid shade, using the same fluffy brush, he applied Aura, the terracotta shade from the Paranormal Palette, up to and into the socket line. Patrick finished his pin-up look with a feline flick, using their newest best seller (this store has completely sold out!) Precision Gel Liner , two coats of mascara and a set of natural lashes.

Finished Pin Up Eyes

Unfortunately I couldn't stay for the next session, which focused on beautiful skin, but I will definitely be making Beauty School Drop In a monthly Sunday highlight  and I highly recommend that you do too!