1/2   From left: NARS Illuminating Multiple in Hot Sand; NARS eyeliner Stylo in Carpates; NARS Audacious lipstick in Audrey. 

Inspiration is everywhere, you just have to know where to find it. RUSSH spoke to NARS’s international lead makeup stylist, Uzo, about creativity, exploration and the names that make you blush.

How did you get started in the makeup industry?I’ve been with NARS since 1998, so I remember when Orgasm blush launched and I remember the entire collection for Spring Summer 1998 and I don’t think he anticipated that it would be what it is today. I just remember some department stores in the United States – like what kind of name is that? How are we going to put that in the catalogue? 

What’s been your favourite thing about working with François Nars?The man is a genius. With his experiences and his curiosity for life, he’s like an encyclopedia of information. It’s not just about learning about how to do makeup, he literally is like teaching you about culture. Places I’ve never heard of; like if I see a product that he names because he was inspired by one of his trips, I would have to go look it up. He knows stuff from the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s and he knows his fashion history inside and out so I learn so much from him, that’s what I love.

“[François Nars] is a genius. With his experiences and his curiosity for life, he’s like an encyclopedia of information.”

How do you keep in touch with your creativity and always come up with new things?Reading, travel, going to museums. If I could be with François 24/7 I would because he is such a vast plethora, cornucopia, vessel of information. Just being around people that have different experiences from me that I can also learn from.

Do you have a career highlight or favourite person that you’ve worked with?I’m in L.A., and it’s so celebrity driven but I’m constantly inspired with old Hollywood and even older celebrities. I recently worked with Goldie Hawn and she knew exactly what she wanted and it was so modern.

What influences your approach to beauty?I embrace it all. I want to try it all. I don’t want to limit myself to like ‘okay well this is what works best’. I want to be surprised. I get excited when new stuff comes out and I want to try everything.

The post On planet Nars appeared first on RUSSH.

 I feel most womanly when … I swim in the ocean. First impressions are … Not everything. I was spotted at … The age of 13 in Australia. Growing up I used to think … I knew everything. But now I know … A little more than I used to. Women are … Beautiful, emotional creatures. I always wanted to … Skydive.

“When I was little I wanted to be all sorts of things, from a vet to a forensic pathologist.”

“If I had my time over, I would do a few things differently, but for the most part I’m happy with the way I’ve lived.”

My girlfriends think … I’m crazy. My style influences are … A little bit of everything and everyone. My style really depends on my mood. I would tell my younger self … Life isn’t easy. The last book I read was … Carrie by Stephen King. The last movie I watched was… Friday the 13th. I’m looking forward to … Turning 30. My wardrobe consists of… Black, black, and more black.

PHOTOGRAPHY Santiago & Mauricio Sierra @ Cadence NYFASHION Gillian WilkinsMODEL Catherine McNeil @ The Society Management NYCHAIR Ward Stegerhoek @ Bryan Bantry for Living Proof Hair CareMAKEUP Nikki Mnray @ArtList New York using Make Up For EverMANICURIST Dawn Sterling @ Melbourne Artists ManagementSET DESIGNER Lizzie LangPRODUCERS Neil Cooper & Mark Day @ Cadence NY and Cesar Leon @ Sansierra StudioPHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANTS Evan Browning, Daniel Jaramillo and Alessandro ZoppisSTYLIST’S ASSISTANT Ashlee HillPRODUCTION COORDINATOR Sylvia M. ZakharyPRODUCTION ASSISTANT Ana GuilleneaDIGITAL TECHNICIANS Antonella Scarano and Ryan ShanleyRETOUCHING Blank DigitalSHOT AT Dune Studios NYC

SEE THE FULL ARTICLE IN THE VENUS RISES ISSUE

The post Cat McNeil appeared first on RUSSH.

“When I first arrived in Nice I had to take the bus a lot. I hated riding the bus and I saw a guy on a skateboard outside of the window. I realised it was the most pragmatic way to go.”

Your greatest travel adventure was? Crossing Kenya and Tanzania via Mount Kilimanjaro. What are you obsessed with right now? Obsessions are not healthy. When did you know what you wanted to do? I still don’t know what I want to do. My only motivation is to simply make beautiful things or at least to evoke interesting emotions. I really believe in the positive impact emotions can grant when viewing any kind of aesthetic expression. It makes people feel better. Fashion gives opportunities to every woman to find out their style and have better self-respect, which is one of the reasons I like it. As far as what I want to do, I just want to concentrate on now and do what seems right.

Who are you style influences? Nobody. I am more inspired by terms like street, roots, rock, modern, dark, nature, light, classic, minimal, elegant and sobriety. Who or what did you want to be when you grew up? I never thought on those terms; I just wanted to be happy. If you had your time over, would you do anything differently? I don’t think so. I believe that things happen the way they have to happen. What surprises you? The miracle of life, it’s so incredible we exist.

“My style evolves constantly depending on the environment but it always suits my personality and my mood of the moment. It’s like a body language.”

PHOTOGRAPHY Will Davidson @ MAPCREATIVE DIRECTION Stevie DanceMAKEUP Chiho Omae @ Frank RepsPHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANTS Benedict Brink, Andrew Peters and Nyra LangSTYLIST’S ASSISTANT Sasha Kelly

SEE THE FULL ARTICLE IN THE OUT OF THIS WORLD ISSUE

The post Aymeline Valade appeared first on RUSSH.