After four or five days of grueling makeup-on/makeup-off scenarios, anyone’s skin would be freaking out, perhaps most of all the models involved in the Fashion Weeks around the world. Today, however, backstage at TOME, skincare expert Tata Harper brought models a respite from the foundations, shadows, and creams for which their faces had been a canvas. With her Refreshing Cleanser, she removed excess oil and makeup for a clean slate, following it with a Hydrating Floral Essence that both minimizes the appearance of pores and moisturizes the skin. Her Rebuilding Moisturizer followed, hydrating then mattifying the skin, as did a Restorative Eye Crème to reduce puffiness, and an Aromatic Stress Treatment to promote relaxation.
While backstage skincare is sometimes just a treat for models, this time it was integral to the show’s beauty looks. Makeup by Diane Kendal for MAC Cosmetics featured only matte skin courtesy of first Harper then the makeup team, as well as a darkened brow, and a swipe of white paint on the sides of the face in homage to the Dinka Tribe, native to South Sudan. This look that was “natural with an edge of universal and tribal” was duplicated in the hair looks by Antoinette Beenders for Aveda. Lightly fluffed then sprayed through for texture, the hair was that same stylishly undone look that appeared at some other shows this season.
I was happy to see, too, the greatest diversity in casting at any show I had attended so far this season. Models of all ethnicities, ages, and body types were having their makeup done backstage. It was nice to see “universal” reflected in this aspect of TOME’s Spring/Summer 2017 collection as well, a lesson many designers could use moving forward.