The backstage beauty for Michael Costello SS17 was decidedly romantic, with rich burgundies and bordeauxs accenting the face and fingertips.

MAKEUP

The makeup look, keyed by Edward Cruz for INGLOT, was bold and striking and a refreshing move away from the ubiquitous instatrends and instamakeup monopolizing social media feeds.

“We can wipe off the brows, wipe off the contour, wipe off the highlights, Michael didn’t want anything that reads as red carpet. The lip is the closest thing to red carpet you’ll see in the show. This is something that Michael has never done before. It’s completely the other end of beauty for Michael when it comes to makeup. This season he wanted to go editorial, artistic, beautiful – and you’ll see that also on the embroidery and the hair pieces.”

Cruz noted he is not personally against current beauty trends though when asked more directly about instamakeup. He explained, “I love seeing a good, clean instamakeup — it’s funny that we’re calling it that now — but to see a fresh look like this on the face is something special.”

To get the look, Cruz blended up to seven (7!!) gorgeous warm Inglot eyeshadows to rim the eyes, adding a glossy and gilded metallic touch to the center of the upper lid. He pulled from the Inglot Freedom System Eye Shadow Matte collection (#296 and #299) along with the new What A Spice! collection plus AMC Pure Pigment Eye Shadow (#81 and #24).

Lips were coated in Inglot Lipstick Matte #438 and AMC Lip Paint #58 to create an opaque, berry ombre lip.

Although the makeup is powerful, it’s an application the everyday woman (read: non-professional-makeup-artist) could absolutely recreate.

NAILS

Nails, keyed by Rita Remark for Essie, were a stunning ombre that layered Good as Gold as the base coat and Sole Mate on the tips.

Remark noted that the first coat of Good as Gold must be super dry before using a porous makeup sponge to quickly and easily stamp on the ombre effect.

The nail look was gorgeous, tying into the total beauty look and of course perfectly complementing the collection itself. Like the makeup, nails also would be refreshingly simple to DIY.

MORE BACKSTAGE BEAUTY AT MICHAEL COSTELLO SS17

Men, or more specifically Tyson Beckford (oh hello!!), and children also got in on the fun.

THE FINAL PRODUCT

And here’s where it all comes together…

Hope everyone’s having a great start to fashion week. See you at the shows!

xoLC

NOTE: This post is not sponsored. All thoughts are unbiased and my own. Samples may have been provided for editorial consideration and/or my use as a professional makeup artist. All photos are property of DIVAlicious.

Lauren Cosenza is the creator and editor-in-chief of DIVAlicious, a trusted beauty/fashion expert, an on-camera personality and spokesperson, a leading NYC-based professional makeup artist, a published contributor and writer, a brand consultant, a product junkie and an insatiable style seeker — with a former life at Cosmopolitan and Shape magazines.

Serving up style with a side of attitude, her site DIVAlicious gives women (and men) the confidence and permission to be fabulous. The site, with a goal to SPREAD BEAUTY, is filled with must-have products, pro tips and tricks, how-to DIY tutorials, makeovers, style inspiration and insider access. Topics range from beauty, fashion, culture, career, fitness, wellbeing, men’s and unisex offerings.