Dressing The Windows To Celebrities’ Souls

Contributing editor Brian Saxon directs his gaze towards a trio of showbiz figures who make most of the eyes nature gave them with some dazzling make-up strategies.

Christina Applegate

After laughing for two decades since her role as the ditzy Kelly Bundy on Married… With Children, we don’t need laser eye surgery to see that actress and cancer survivor Christina Applegate has done well to maintain her youthful, vibrant appearance. She owes much to great cosmetic eye care.

With her latest show keeping her Up All Night (for Australian release next year on the Seven Network), thirty-nine-year-old Applegate regularly dabs Crème de la Mer under her eyes. Before the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards in 2009 however she accessed a more extensive toolkit with a little help from professional make-up artist Joanna Schlip. The latter’s celebrity clients have included Scarlett Johansson, Eva Longoria, Carmen Electra, Ellen Pompeo, Sheryl Crow and Jessica Simpson.

Applegate wore Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Bronzer, Blush & Eye Shadow in “Vegas Strip” tone. To bring out those big blues, eyeliners used were Physicians Formula Eye Definer Felt-Tip Eye Marker and Dior Crayon Eyeliner – Waterproof in “Trinidad Black”.

Balance lies at the heart of good eyebrows – not too thin and not overbearing – she used the Dior Powder Eyebrow Pencil in “Blonde”. Ever since 4000 BC, when the Egyptians used kohl to “protect the soul”, mascara has been employed to enhance women’s eyelashes. Applegate however used the DiorShow waterproof variety, which fans say makes for bolder, fuller lashes.

Halle Berry

Forty-five-year-old Academy Award winner Halle Berry is lavished with praise for her apparently effortless, glowing appearance, but this is merely the outer layer of a remarkable talent. Strength and integrity are at the base of her fine performances, from being an atypically dominant Bond girl to the intense work in Monster’s Ball and Raising Isaiah, and the sheer force of her “Storm” in the X-Men series. Berry is also closely followed as a proponent of the “smoky eyes” guise, which she often pairs for a striking contrast with the bare-bones Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss, Nude Lustre. The actress has also carried the banner for Revlon as the firm’s spokeswoman.

She stole the show on this year’s Oscars award ceremony red carpet with the aid of make-up maestro, Kara Yoshimoto Bua. The skilled professional said she was stimulated by the delicacy of Berry’s Marchesa corset creation that dripped with naked crystal and silk-tulle. The natural result of the gown flowed on to the make-up, especially the eyes. Berry carried it with an almost Zen boldness, eminence without attempt, soft and exposed.

Loyal celebrity customers of Yoshimoto Bua include Jessica Biel, for the former’s ability to generate eye-popping visions at Hollywood events. The artist dressed Berry’s eyes in warm browns rather than blacks, for a softening effect that maintained a suggestion of gleam. Definition came with darker smoky brush strokes and heavier eyeliner. She achieved this with Revlon Luxurious Colour Smoky Eye Crayon in “Bronze Smoky”, and CustomEyes Mascara, also by Revlon, in “Black”. For contrast with the “smoky eyes” and to be faithful to the actress’ vitality, CHANEL Joues Contraste Powder Blush “Horizon” was dabbed on the fleshy part of her cheeks, giving them a more balmy, peach tone.

Lady Gaga

Not since Madonna’s conical bra of the 80s and David Bowie’s various 70s transformations has a musical artist made as much of a visual impact as Stefani Germanotta – “Lady Gaga”.

For most appearances, especially in the star’s Poker Face video, she apparently styles herself as a redux of Pris, Darryl Hannah’s character in Ridley Scott’s cult film Blade Runner. You know… the platinum hair, eye make-up that looks like it’s been applied with a spray can. The internet is packed with “Look like Lady Gaga” tricks.

Make-up artist Sharon Gault aimed at giving Germanotta a luminous complexion and a touch of tan for Poker Face. This incorporated using bronzing powder on the Lady’s cheeks and a restrained amount of kohl (see above) eyeliner, to direct the focus to her eyelids.

A great deal went into the look, but PersonalEyes will focus of course on the eyes. For eyeshadow, Gault dipped into the “Metallic Silver” out of her MAKE UP FOR EVER 12 Flash Colour Case. To provide clear delineation of eye edges, Dior Crayon Kohl Pencil in “Black” was called for. The fact that the manufacturer promises a “more saturated intense black with extra-volumisation, expansion and curl” of the eyelashes, probably explains Gault’s choice of M.A.C. Opulash Mascara. Final touches on Germanotta came with her near trademark false eyelashes in the form of Shu Uemura’s Smoky Layers.

She wasn’t Born This Way, but perhaps in the near future, with just about every woman in the world borrowing from her tastes, it won’t be long before some enterprising eye specialist develops a corrective eye surgery procedure that transforms patients into Lady Gagas in a single sitting. No mess, no fuss, no shopping.

Brian Saxon is a writer for Personal Eyes who offer laser eye surgery & an extensive range of vision correction procedures.

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