Inika joins designer Ben Smith at RAFW

By Virginia Muzik

Inika Mineral Cosmetics provided makeup services for Sydney designer, Ben Smith’s Anon. Women show at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Tuesday, April 28.

A team of six Inika makeup artists did the makeup for around 17 models, according to the brief of the show’s Creative Director, Dhav Naidu (pictured here, fourth from left in back row).

Naidu said he wanted to create an “ombre effect” where colour changes gradually from light to dark. “The look is a nubile woman – not a girl. The colour enhances beauty and is more neutral, but still has a bit of oomph,” he said.

“There’s no harm using colours, as long as they’re blended well.”

Inika’s Nicole McCann (pictured third from left in back row), key makeup artist assistant at the show, said backstage that they were creating, “luminous, sculpted-looking skin, with a natural sheen and soft, smudged eyes, using Peach Fetish, Coffee Cream, Gold Dust, Aubergine and Thunder eyeshadows. We want a ‘washed’ look over the face with no edges, so Kiss Kiss blush and luminiser are buffed in. Lips are natural, using Blossom, Cherub and Venus lipsticks with lip liner,” she said.

Smith’s clothes for this show were minimalist floaty, loose, bias-cut garments in natural fibre fabrics like silk and linen. McCann said that with Smith’s emphasis on natural fibres, Inika was an ideal match philosophically, and for creating a look that wouldn’t overwhelm the clothing.

She added that more fashion designers are looking to mineral makeup for their runway events. “You need so little product to get full coverage. And it has great staying power under the lights of a fashion show.

After a 30-minute delay due to a blackout in the city the show began. With live music performed by soprano, Sue Ellen Cusack and cellist, Braxton Neate, the show had a sombre, ethereal air. Models wore serious expressions, as if to further emphasise the garments themselves.

An excited Inika co-founder, Miranda Bond said that this was the first time Inika has partnered with a fashion event anywhere in the world.

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