New York Fashion Week: Julie Rocks The Haus

Backstage was bustling Friday at Julie Haus. Dwight O’Neal, Key Makeup Artist for theBalm, gave me the skinny on the makeup inspired by Haus’ NYFW debut…

A model hurriedly does her makeup in a cab on the way to a go-see. She dots a lip stain on the center of her pout and blends outward with her fingers, then applies a few hasty swipes of mascara to her lashes. When she arrives at the casting, she stands out in the crowd…she’s shining through. She’s wearing the makeup. It’s not wearing her.

To create the look, Dwight (who is fabulously personable, by the by) started by creating a flawless foundation, literally, by mixing Balm Shelter Tinted Moisturizer SPF 18 with timeBalm Anti-Wrinkle Concealer. “It gives a great dewy glow and provides medium to full coverage without looking like a mask,” he says. “The mixture of these two products creates an anti-aging foundation. It’s concealing and healing!”

On the eyes, Dwight used timeBalm Anti-Wrinkle Concealer in Lighter than Light, as a primer. Then he set the concealer with Sexy Mama Translucent Powder, followed by Caught in the Act Courtney Shady Lady Eye Shadow lightly in the crease and along the lash line. He lightly dusted Luscious Lani Shady Lady Eye Shadow on the brow bone, then applied Sexy Stacy Shady Lady Eye Shadow with a wet brush as an eyeliner. After applying FIVE coats of Two Timer Mascara in Black to top lashes only, Dwight finished the eye look by shaping brows with Pick Up Liner. Bahama Mama Bronzer was applied beneath the cheekbones to contour the face.

To achieve the effortlessly sexy lip, Dwight starts with Staniac in Prom Queen (applied to the center of the lips and blended out), Read My Lips Lipstick (to moisturize), and Plump Your Pucker in Cocoa My Coconut (to plump, plump, plump, plump it up).

I also had an opportunity to chat up Marissa Shipman, the Founder & CEO of theBalm. After I went on and on about the genius of BalmsAway Eye Makeup Remover, she told me that it was inspired by her grandma. She also hinted that theBalm has an amazing new product in the works – and Julia got her to divulge that it is a lip product. I'll keep you posted as details unfold…

Oscar Blandi was the mastermind behind the masterfully beachy waves. He told me that the Julie Haus hair look embraces natural texture rather than fighting it. To replicate, start with wet hair with Proteine di Jasmine Protein Mist. Apply Volume to roots, Acqua Marina to the ends to the ends for hold, and blow dry hair to a smooth finish. Using a straightening iron, curl sections of hair in different directions to create an edgy look. Then take a few sections and braid them – then curl the braid around the flat iron. Finish the look by teasing the ends with flat brush to open up the curls. Use Tocco Finale for hold and definition and Lacca for additional volume.

Stay tuned for more New York Fashion Week - Spring/Summer 2009 coverage!