‘SOOT’ SAYER
The biggest news coming out of last month’s Grammys wasn’t the fact that 17-yearold Lorde took home two of the top awards namely Best Pop Solo Performance and Song of the Year, nor was it her spring update of a vampy goth make-up look, usually reserved for fall and winter — created by MAC Cosmetics senior artist Amber Dreadon — which comprised a deep plummy lip focus, pale skin and subtle eye detail. But in fact, it’s her nail art.
There are those who have described the look as frostbitten, then there have been the ink-dipped label, but we prefer the soot-laden interpretation.
We could totally see the Kiwi-native brooding in a darkened bedroom chamber like a Brontian Bertha Rochester, outing the wicks of rows of jumbo candles, sprigs of incense, and attempting to make papier-mâché creations out of ash, just for kicks.
For those among us wanting to tap into our darker emotions, á la Lorde, but want to avoid the henna route we suspect she indulged, we recommend a quick and easy painting your nails in MAC Cosmetics Nail Lacquer in Nocturnelle and then when dried, dipping your finger tips in silveryblack- hued MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Blackground or a blacker shade for your own moment in the spotlight — or should we say moonlight?
FACE
MAC Cosmetics Prep + Prime Natural Radiance in Radiant Pink served as the base, then followed by coverage of MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Moisture Foundation, and finally topped with MAC Cosmetics Cream Color Base in Pearl for highlighting.
EYES
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Groundwork, used to shadow lids in a neutral taupe and MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack to ink the water line.
LIPS
Lips were first filled in with MAC Cosmetics Lip Pencil in Vino, a creamy deep purple, and then layered with two lipstick shades: the black-purple Cyber and the bright-purple Heroine.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
By popular demand, here are the MAC products used by the cosmetic brand’s Amber Dreadon to achieve the ethereal goth beauty look rocked by the Pure Heroine artiste for her first Grammy appearance.
TIP
Lest you make a mess by leaving your ‘ashy’ fingerprints on every surface you come in contact with, might we suggest you focus more of the dipping on the nail-bed side of the fingers, in order to spare yourself some of the obvious inconvenience in pulling off this now hot-to-trot trend.