Jen Kao Beauty, New York Fashion Week S/S 2012

Jen Kao

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK S/S 2012

Deconstructed organic forms and clashing prints in apricot, violet, cream, and sage tones characterized Jen Kao's chaotically feminine spring collection. Color-blocked, cut, and dyed fabric transformed into fashionable works of art. It's one of the most architectural collections we've seen on the runway so far.

MAKEUP

"Polished grunge is the inspiration behind the makeup look at Jen Kao," said Maybelline New York Global Makeup Artist Charlotte Willer. "The bright lips and flirty lashes give a playful look, while the sleek eyes provide a hard contrast." Charlotte prepped the skin with Maybelline Fit Me! Foundation and dusted Maybelline Fit Me! Powder across the T-zone. She applied Maybelline Fit Me! Blush in Medium Coral, a warm orange-based shade, on the apples of the cheeks. She used the gold shade from Maybelline Eye Studio Color Plush Silk Eyeshadow in Give Me Gold to create a straight hard line that extended from the outer corners of the eyes towards the temples. She applied Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm in Quenched on the lid for a glossy yet natural sheen. A few individual lashes were sporadically placed along the lash line and coated with Maybelline Volum' Express The Falsies Waterproof Mascara in Black Drama. Charlotte swiped a combination of Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Colors in Coral Crush and Are Your Red-dy on the lips.

HAIR

"We wanted a strong, independent girl–a 'tank woman.' We felt like having fun and making sure this was a look where the girl could have completed the look herself." Peter Gray for Cutler/Redken Salon.

1. Blow out hair with Redken Full Frame 07 Volumizing Mousse and split hair into two ponytails separating from bottom to crown and crown to forehead.

2. Merge pony tails into one at the top center of the head and create a whispy ’90s knot, leaving the ends out hanging toward the face.

3. Create two small braids with colored string interlaced. Pull them up into the ponytail base to make the braids look like the anchor point of the bun.

4. Finish with Redken Forceful 23 Super Strength Finishing Spray to lock hair into place and Cutler Shine Tattoo for shine.

NAILS

To enhance the highly stylized pieces, Wanda Ruiz and the CND team created gradation manicures, artfully diffused with an airbrush tool. Recreate the look at home with a stippling sponge using CND Colours in Midnight Sapphire, Anchor Blue, Rouge Red, and Green Scene each combined with Inkwell and topped with CND Air Dry Top Coat while wet for an ombré finish.

Images courtesy of CND, Cutler, Maybelline and NowFashion.com