Valentine's Day..GGGRRRRR!!!!!

The updated services menu : February 2010

Kevyn Aucoin: NOW IN PAKISTAN!

I have loved Kevyn Aucoin since I was a young teenager. I still have the TIME magazine that featured his then brand new book "Making faces". I watched this gentle giant on Oprah. I read his books cover to cover. I found his story inspirational. I like to think that he taught me a huge part of what i know. I like to think that it shows sometimes. I use his books in my teaching. I cried when he died.

So you can imagine my joy when, on a recent visit to lahore, I stumbled on the information that there was a store that was stocking his line. The sucky part was that it was midnight and I was flying out for Islamabad in the morning. I resolved, however, to drive back to worship at the altar of Kevyn. What was 8 hours on the road?


The experience lived up to my expectations, both the shop (http://www.thesquare.pk/) that houses the Kevyn Aucoin range and the range itself. The products are on the high end and pricey side but boy are they fabulous and completely worth it. The creams are extra gooey, the powders are ultra rich, the brushes are super soft, the packaging substantial and luxurious. As you can see from my pictures, I shopped till i dropped. Using Kevyn's brushes and Kevyn's products (that he worked on before his tragic death) makes me feel like I am paying proper tribute to his memory.

Make-up Titans:: The father of make-up, Maximilion Factorowitz aka Max Factor

It’s difficult for us in this day and age to think of a time when foundation, mascara, eye-shadow and indeed make-up were things that did not exist. If you asked to borrow someone’s lipstick in the early 1900’s they would have looked at you like you were crazy. Firstly, only women of loose character painted their faces too much and even those rarely in public. Secondly, ladies only used rouge and lip paint, and if it looked obvious, it was a fashion faux pas. Thirdly, these things sat in jars on dressing tables, and the idea of them being portable was as yet unthought of, there was no such thing as “make-up”. One painted ones face. There was a white powder for your face (often lethal, over 600 husbands died in Italy before it was realised that their wives face powder killed them, and the make-up artist in question was executed ), a rouge and a lip paint. That was that.

The make-up revolution started in America….. of course. Or to be more exact, in Hollywood. All of these things had to be invented and the phrase “make-up” was a phrase that had yet to be coined (by Max himself). What I found surprising was just how recently these things came in to existence and how many of them were invented by just one man, around one time. One gifted, creative, gutsy man who invented foundation (both cream and cake), waterproof mascara and had a hand in developing pretty much every products that we take for granted today.

Maximilion Factorowitz was a polish wig maker in Russia in the early 1900s. One day a group of performers blew through his store, bought a bunch of his stuff and wore it at their performance of the evening….. for the Russian Royalty. Maximilion soon found himself appointed as the Royal adviser on all things cosmetic. But this was not enough for Max. It’s a moment in his history that I find fascinating. For most this would be the pinnacle of success, appointed to the Royal court as a trusted adviser. Why would you rock that boat?

Maximilion packed up his goods, his wife and his kids and his $400 fortune and boarded a ship to the United States of America. I think that it was this pioneering spirit and tremendous drive that made him the man who has, to date, been responsible for the greatest breakthroughs in make-up history. They settled in St. Louis and Max did well, sold well at the World’s fair but Max’s keen business and creative sense sniffed out a new opportunity. A place where there was scope for a person of his talents and an insatiable market for all things cosmetic….HOLLYWOOD.

Celebrity clients were the faces of the Max Factor brand

Max Factor (his new american moniker) became a dealer for theatrical greasepaints and all of Hollywood came to his store. He invented a lighter weight, breathable foundation that worked well in the new world of cinema, in 12 different shades. The idea of matching foundation to your skin tone was a new one. (Sadly in some places in the sub-continent it has yet to catch on as our post colonial complex still demands that we look like our erstwhile white overlords, and many unthinkingly comply. Sad but true) The revolutionary "natural looking" pan cake, as advertised by Judy Garland

In 1938, he invented pan cake make-up, a lightweight formula that, when wet and applied with a silk sponge, gave the wearer a truly natural and translucent effect. From the screen (where critics raved about this new make-up), some stars (including a couple of models) started to wear it in real life. This created such a demand for the product that it remains one of the fastest growing, highest selling products in make-up history. His greatest achievements seem to be not only the products he invented, but also his sense of marketing. He opened up a salon in Los Angeles and stars flocked it. He introduced the famous “Colour Harmony” principles, the idea that some shades suited some complexions and hair colours more than others. His celebrity clients appeared in advertisements for his products putting forward the idea that anyone could look like a movie star if you used the right cosmetics. Also, being in charge of the most famous and filmed faces in the world allowed Max to change the way make-up was done the world over. He drew Clara Bow’s lips in to their famous shape, and the world followed. Tired of this shape, several years later he drew Jane Seymour’s lips in to their famous over drawn fuller pout and created a trend that lasted through the 1950’s.

The famous colour harmony principles

His contributions are without question and his career paved the way for not only celebrity make-up artists and make-up artist's brands but the idea of using make-up as a basic right for every woman, creating a revolution in the way women saw themselves. The ripples of this revolution continue to be felt till today. Thanks Max!

A celebrity cameo at Fashion Week...

Photography by Tapu Javeri

Photography by Tapu Javeri

Photography by Tapu Javeri

I am always insanely pleased when I am blindly trusted. When I am blindly trusted to be the only person to get someone ready for public appearances then its even more exciting. When you are someone in the media spotlight and many others hands have transformed you and you still choose me, loyalty like that is flattering in the extreme.

Tanya Shafi Khan is one such client, who will actively make my involvement in a project a condition to her participation. Now while we are family, I do think that I see a beauty and natural glow in Tanya's face and eyes that I feel others miss, I also know how to handle her hair (whose silkiness and divine weight have defeated many). She seems to think so too and thus the development of this monogamous styling realtionship. And it was through this relationship, that has stretched across a decade or so, that I found my work walking down the ramp at the recent Fashion Pakistan Week ( a beautifully organised event). Tanya returned to the catwalk after a hiatus of 3 years in a special appearance at Deepak Perwani's show. And of course I got to style her!

It was my privilege and pleasure to be involved in this nostalgic moment and as you can see, she had a blast! (Ever so elegantly obviously...)

Girl Guide: A detailed "how to" for smoky eyes

The lovely laughing Tanya Shafi Khan sports a chocolate brown eye

Photo: Bina Khan

Learn how to do the perfect smoky eye. For a step by step guide follow the link to my latest post on the Newsline website. Good Luck!

www.newslinemagazine.com/2009/10/thank-you-for-smoking-7-tips-for-perfect-smoky-eyes/

The Perfect Pink!

Photo: Bina Khan

This STUNNING lipstick by L'oreal is such a perfect shade of pink, it is sure to suit everyone. The texture is so fantastic and visibly creamy in a Bree Van De Kamp kind of way that it makes your lips look lustrous and luscious. Apply with a lip brush to acheive greater texture and colour.




That's 716 in the Linda Evangelista range.



Enjoy!

The traditional desi bridal.......

Photo : Bina Khan

There are very, very, VERY few things (man made at least) that I see in Karachi that make me think "How beautiful!". A genuine exception to this rule can be the components of the fantastic traditional desi bridal. From beautiful antique kundan jewellery and 30 year old chatta patti ghararas to the brand new stuff that is made with breath taking love and finesse to recreate the glory of the past just goes to show that sometimes old just IS gold! Often the highlight of my work day involves a face, outfit and jewels that inspire me to be the best that I can be. These are some of my recent favourites with a traditional bent.......

p.s. Be very careful girls, there is a fine line between classic and outdated. With all things though, its best to stick to quality over quantity (sadly, the odds are, if it's cheap, it shows!) and let the experts guide you. They will rarely guide you wrong....

Photo : Bina Khan

A beautiful Bunto Kazmi jora combined with spectacular traditional jewellery.





Photo : Bina Khan

This Chatta patti gharara was hand sewn
by her grandmother for her mother!

Photo : Bina Khan

A brand new outfit and jewellery recalling

the pretty side of the 80's

Another exsquisite Bunto Kazmi creation.

Photo : Bina Khan

EID MUBARAK, one and all......

Come join us on Chand Raat for mehendi, cake, chooris and good times! We will also be open throughout the eid holidays, so take this opportunity to massage, scrub and wash out all the long rozas and eid visits from your tired mind!For details please go to my facebook group "Bina Khan-Salon and Training" or call on the numbers provided above and below. Eid Mubarak to you all!

Newsline Post Number 3 : MAN GIFTS!

Ever feel absolutely lost for what to get the boys in your life? Tired of giving colognes and cufflinks? Check out the first part of my lastest Newsline blog post to get some ideas for the perfect gifts for the guys! Let me wish you "Good gift hunting!!"

www.newslinemagazine.com/2009/09/good-gift-hunting-part-1/