JEDDAH, 9 March 2003 — Arab women are fabulous.
So says Chase Aston, who has embellished the looks of Cindy Crawford and Shakira and made the cover pages of 250 international magazines including Vogue, Elle and Cosmopolitan.
“I personally think the Arab woman’s makeup is fabulous, especially the way they make up their eyes. Their smoky and strong eye makeup really impresses me, although many people see it as too loud or dramatic. My philosophy on makeup is that if it makes you happy, go for it,” Aston told Arab News during the Dubai launch of his new makeup collection for the Body Shop. “To make it look less dramatic and strong my advice is to soften the makeup on the lips and cheeks,” he said.
In his 18-year career in the fashion and beauty industry, Aston has put makeup on top movie stars, models and pop idols. Unfortunately, he has not done any work with Arab women. “My work is mainly in the fashion business in Europe and America and there are no Arab models,” he says.
More and more easy-to-use collections are coming on the market, he stresses. Makeup companies are using the latest technology to develop new products like multiproducts, where one product is used for the eyes, lips and cheeks. He is excited that makeup companies are now using space technology and products used and experimented by astronauts. “Women are able to create for themselves the same makeup we makeup artists create,” he says.
“I’ve seen makeup artists doing bad makeup and I’ve seen women doing very bad makeup. I think a woman should always take her lifestyle into consideration, whether she is doing the makeup herself or somebody else is doing it for her. She should always look for the focal point in her face and base the makeup on it.
“I remember a woman who was working at an airport. While she was checking me in I could not stop staring at her eye makeup; it was the most beautifully blended makeup I have ever seen. I told her that I am a makeup artist and I am really impressed by her work.
“Know your limitations and never try to be someone you are not,” he cautions. “You can never achieve supermodel looks; those women are different. Even if an artist is doing the makeup for you, you can always stop him or her and choose what is best for you. Also, do not fall for or be dictated by the color trends unless they really suit you.”
