S/S '09 Make-up Trends: Varun Bahl

An artful minimalist, Varun Bahl has specific ideas about runway beauty. "We used fresh day make-up which was very spring summer: a light brown eye shadow washed over the lids and a pink mouth," explained make-up artist Mickey Contractor.

The overall feeling of the collection was fresh and feminine, so the make-up the artist paired a clean, just-back-from-the-garden complexion with sheer brilliance on the lips and cheeks. A fresh-faced look demands perfectly clear skin, so Mickey began by evening tone and erasing imperfections with a primer, foundation and loose powder as needed. Next, he applied M.A.C Powder Blush in Mocha and blended it to create a sheer finish.

Smoky eyes are traditionally dark, but a heavy look would've seemed out of place against the models' berry cheeks. Mickey applied a highly pigmented shadow, using Cork for light skin and Saddle for dark skin, and finished the face with a smudge of raspberry-toned lip pencil.