Actually Sofia & Johan  / DIVA Models are both Swedish.
The blonde hair, bronzed skin, warmth of the sun made me think of Miami Vice (the TV show with Don Johnson, not the horrible movie) meets Scarface. I kept yelling out 'cocaine!'  - No, I don't do drugs. Yes, I think I'm funny.

Why models need to do yoga.

Products used on Sofia:

Dermalogica (skincare)
FACEatelier (foundation)
MAC Cosmetics (cheeks)
Tom Ford Beauty (eyes)
Benefit Cosmetics (eyes)
Ardell Eyelashes (2 pairs of wispies - one black on brown!)
NARS (lips)

Products used on Johan:

Dermalogica (skincare)
FACEatelier (foundation)
NARS (bronzer)
Laura Mercier (top secret - wink)

Hair products on both:

O&M Original Queenie

Marc Anthony Strictly Curl Lotion (I love this for round brush blowouts too - which I did on Johan.)

Team credits:

photography: Boon Chian

hair & makeup: Andrea Claire

styling: Xindi Siau

Years ago... rephrase... MANY years ago, when I was 14 (I am now *gulp* 41) my grandmother took me to have my colours done. It was the 80s and that was the thing to do then. I remember driving over to some woman's house in the outskirts of Chicago, my grandmother proudly explaining what we are up to. Kind of like the time my mother told me on the way to a Robert Palmer concert that we were seeing Robert Palmer - at the time I pretended I knew who he was... Oh right... the guy in the Duran Duran Power Station video! (After that night I knew who Robert Palmer was - damn sexy for an old guy.)

Actually - looking back I think my grandmother took me  for my colour session because all I really wore then was a lot of black, and... while I was vacationing at my grandparents' house in the suburbs of Chicago, I shaved the sides of my head in the middle of the night - not in a punk-rock way - more in a New Wave / Cyndi Lauper way... She noticed over our morning ritual of Eggos.

Poor Grandma Jean.

One of the colours I was told to avoid in my 'colours session' was black... sigh... I have seen way too MANY beauty blog posts that tell redheads to steer clear of black eyeliner and mascara. This advice makes me cringe.

Moving forward: YES!  Pippi - you can wear black!

photography by Aaron Wong

Here I am in my new profile shot wearing - the horror! - a black top! (by Singaporean designer Sabrina Goh.)

(Red) Devil in a blue (Calvin Klein) dress, photography Aaron Wong (check out his underwater portfolio! AMAZING!)

A colour not only in my colours but a colour I wore on TV once and was told by 'the network' to wear as often as I could - I think Emma Stone received the same request. Obviously more powerful than black but that doesn't mean ditch all your black dresses!

Guess what's on my eyes... BLACK. Of course it's an eyeshadow mash up of other colours and well, yes - I would say that as a redhead wearing only black liner is a little harsh - that doesn't mean avoid it.

My makeup in order of appearance

For both photos:

Luview Whitening Capsule BB Cream under my eyes

FACE atelier Ultra Foundation #2

Soap & GloryTM; Solar PowderTM Bronzo £11.00 at Boots

MAC Cosmetics mineralize blush in Warm Soul

Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base  $24.00 USD at NARS Cosmetics

Eyes in the top photo:

I used Guava on my lid and Cafe Au Lait at my lash line and crease. Simple.

MAC 'In Extreme Dimension Lash' Mascara (Premiering at Nordstrom) $20.00 USD at Nordstrom - BLACK!

On my brows - Veluxe Brow Liner in Strawberry Blonde  $19.50 USD at M·A·C

Sugarbomb Ultra Plush Shimmering Pinky Nude Lip Gloss  $16.00 USD at Benefit

Eyes on the second pic

Whenever you are doing a shoot think of it as a day to night - you start off simple and build on your base makeup - my base never changed.
I added:

From the Laura Mercier palette  I used Coffee Ground (Matte) on my lash line - upper and lower. Buy it as a single eyeshadow for $22.00 USD by at SpaceNK

I then smudged on top of the Coffee Ground Tom Ford Beauty Noir Absolute For Eyes  $35.00 USD at Saks Fifth Avenue - BLACK on a redhead! ;)

For my inner corners I used NARS 'Soft Touch' Shadow Pencil in Hollywoodland $24.00 USD at Nordstrom

I filled in my entire lip with FACE atelier's Lip Pencil in Sand and then applied NARS Lip Lacquer- Chelsea Girls   $24.00 USD at Barneys New York

**You will notice I have no mention of concealer nor powder... that's because I never used them. The Luview works so well brightening up under the eyes that I didn't need it and powder is so over-used making you look old - rarely do I use it on anyone.

I LOVE blue eyeshadow on us redheads but avoid a blue dress and blue eyeshadow unless you're a soccer mom - they love to be all matchy matchy that way. Try NARS Shimmer Eyeshadow in Tropic  $24.00 USD at Barneys New York

Bronze shadows rock on us too especially if you have red hair and blue eyes. Try Eye Color Glimmer - Hypnotic  $23.00 USD by Paula Dorf at DERMSTORE

High Impact purples with redhair and green eyes are killer. Try L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow, Endless Sea  $7.95 USD at drugstore.com

More to come! I owe it to the fellow Gingers of the world to set the record straight on makeup.

A surprise cover!! This was from the same day we shot Lisa Ray for Harper's Bazaar.

photographer: Colston Julian

fashion stylist: Nadia Pizzimenti

hair, makeup & nails: Andrea Claire using Marc Anthony HC, FACE atelier and Dashing Diva Design FX assisted by Delia Lupan 

Read a digital copy online here.

Lisa just got married - you can see some of her gorgeous wedding photos on Lisa's Facebook page.

More from behind the scenes:

Stunning right? And this is just a photo from my HTC ONE S...

I LOVED this - a little magic happened when some stray balloons were carried to Lisa by a slight gust of wind.

I NEVER jump in for a photo-op... I couldn't resist - Lisa was just so much fun! [Not that everyone else I have ever worked with isn't...]

I do have a picture with John Abraham and I where I was being goofy and the magazine we were shooting for printed it in their behind the scenes - I was so embarrassed but it was so funny... I will scan it if I can ever find it...  I am a Fashion Hoarder... now THAT'S a show - I know many of us F.H'ers... I'll host it...

PS - Lisa's bun from the Bazaar shoot? I have actually gotten emails about her bun - it is in fact: a sock bun. And yes, I had poo-pooed the sock bun on my blog but I had travelled from Singapore to Canada with a pared-down kit so I used my unused socks from my Air Canada business class amenties. For a photoshoot it's fine but for a wedding I recommend the hair donuts vs socks. IF you insist on wearing socks in your hair at least pick a pair that match your haircolour - black hair + white sport socks = not a chic 'do.

The lovely Lisa Ray is getting married. I had the pleasure of dolling her up for Harper's Bazaar India who is featuring her this October.

I have learned over the years to offer beauty suggestions to the celebs in my chair. Of course they need to feel comfortable with you and what you can do; ultimately it is up to them to decline  - Lisa was a joy to work with and I say a huge 'thanks' to her for letting me play around with hairstyles.

[sidebar: YEARS ago before Alanis Morrisette cut her hair off I was hired to do a press junket with her in Toronto. I asked her how would she like her hair & makeup done - her answer: whatever I like. Um. How fab is that?  Except I opted for the safe root and did her up like anyone else had.

Note to self: Whenever someone says 'do whatever you like' take it and run with it. Alanis: if you are touring in Asia - call me!]

Hi there hot Lisa in a laser cut leather Valentino dress!

Our team:

photographer: Colston Julian

fashion stylist: Nadia Pizzimenti

hair, makeup & nails: Andrea Claire using Marc Anthony HC, FACE atelier and Dashing Diva Design FX assisted by Delia Lupan 

Buy your digital copy online here.

Some behind the scenes:

Wicked nail bling: Dashing Diva

My second assistant trying to take over Delia's job but obviously full of attitude and a little lazy.

A gorgeous September day in Toronto.

I love this photo of Lisa I snapped with my HTC.

A little bling that Nadia hand on-hand... actually, that's my hand... Nadia: I'd like this ring please. For serious. Who's is it??

Find the team on Twitter:

Lisa Ray

Colston Julian

Nadia Pizzimenti

Andrea Claire

Harper's Bazaar India

PS - I discovered a new song to add to my playlist that day. Listen here, it's catchy.

Ziggy magazine had this clever idea to shoot the anti-heroine; who would decline such a fun opportunity? Not me.

Photography: Chuck Reyes

Hair & makeup: Andrea Claire, assisted by Sital Patel

Manicures: Yani

Wanda Woodward / CRY BABY

Skin:

RMK Liqud Foundation in 101
Stila illuminating powder foundation  in 20 watts
Okuma  concealer in 03
The Body Shop bronzer 01

Eyes:

Bobbi Brown Black Ink long wear gel liner
Benefit They're Real mascara
VAU Beauty fake lashes in Natural Susan

Lips:

Julie Hewlett Belle Noir lipstick, Laura Mercier lip liner in Tulip with Joe FRESH in Flamingo lip gloss

Wig: GirlHairDo [I have so many wigs from Girlhairdo I could almost be their competition!]

Nails: OPI A oui bit of red

Cady Heron / Mean Girls

Skin:

BECCA  Luminous Skin Colour in Nude
Smashbox HD concealer in fair/light
Bobbi Brown Nectar shimmer brick

Eyes:

Benefit Cream Shadow in Pre-nup, Ben Nye eyeshadow in Graphite
Benefit They're Real mascara

Lips: MAC Innocence Beware and Brew lipsticks with NYC liner in Rose.

Nails: OPI in Pink I LOVE YOU

Veronica Sawyer / HEATHERS

Skin:

RMK Liquid Foundation in 101
Stila illuminating powder foundation in 20 watts
Okuma concealer  in 03
MAC  Posey

Lips: MAC Costa Chic
Nails: Deborah Lippmann in I'm Not Innocent
 

Margot Tenenbaum / The Royal Tenenbaums

(If you haven't seen this movie I highly suggest you do. I LOVE Wes Anderson... except for Bottle Rocket... I didn't get that really... a little borderline Eraserhead...)

FACE atelier Ultra Foundation #2
Versace invisible press powder
Concealer Okuma in 03

Eyes:

MAC Little Miss Moffet
Benefit They're Real mascara
VAU Beauty fake lashes in Natural Susan

Lips: Tom Ford Coco Ravish lipstick

Nails: OPI in Suzi loves Cowboys and Rally Pretty Pink

Wig: Girlhairdo

*I was really disappointed with the Versace powder. It cakes likes crazy. I don't recommend it at all. If you want a powder Stila is still my running fave.

*The Vau Beauty lashes were lovely; an easy second to Ardell lashes.

*I have seen all of these movies and actually own them all too. Our copy of Mean Girls actually belongs to my teenagers. I can't get them to watch The Royal Tenenbaums... *sigh* You can lead a horse...

I've said it before: I love a makeover; especially when I am in control. *wink*

Therese has a fabulous blog, articulate and interesting. We first met when I had a Twitter giveaway for MINX nails.

Therese popped by my petite studio for another go in the beauty hot-seat.

Luscious locks right? A hairstylist's dream to be given carte blanche. Thanks Therese!

With all the mirrors covered Therese could only guess how silly she looked at this point.

After cutting the perimeter and point-cutting her layers with my scissors I wanted to add a little texture with my razor.

NOTE: Don't shy away from a hairstylist's razor as the effect can be quite cool. I love it for added texture and volume for free-style hairstyles. You just need to make sure your stylist's razor is sharp otherwise your hair will split. I put in a new blade minutes before cutting Therese's hair. Need a middle-woman for your hairstylist? Take my tips with you.

The big reveal...

Ta da!!!

The colour breakdown: I put 2 shades of foils in her hair, cinnamon and dark mahogany; leaving the top of her hair and hairline her natural colour. Why? Her natural shade is beautiful. Asian hair has a tendency to absorb light without dimension so my goal was to create dimension and a low maintenance but fun style for her. Find more Asian hair colouring tips here.

Prepping for makeup. One of my favourite things that I have found in Singapore is this dohickey velcro hair thingy. It works great for keeping a fringe (bangs) swept out of the way without a clip mark left in the hair when you remove it. Beauty Geek loves these too!

Another fave of mine: Shadow Shields, they catch the eyeshadow fallout. I do have some for sale if you live in Singapore and want some. DM me for details.

The finished makeup.

What I used:

FACEatelier Ultra Foundation #5

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Nectar

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP [I constantly give them love and no one from Benefit has ever tried to reach out to me so I mention them out of pure love for the product with zero industry perks. Translation: it's THAT good.]

A light brown Ben Nye eyeshadow in the crease or you can get Wedge by MAC Cosmetics, same thing.

Bobbi Brown Gel liner in Bronze

Mascara on top of Therese's beautifully permed lashes! OMG - totally seeking eyelash perming now... I WANT!

Lips were glossed with a bronzey-lipgloss I got in one of my BellaBox boxes. Beauty subscriptions are such a fab idea!

The new Therese!!

I blew out Therese's hair with a medium size round brush using Marc Anthony's [no, not the singer] Anti-Aging leave-in treatment and the Strictly Curls spray for loose bounce and waves.

We had soooo much fun. Click to see Therese's blog about her makeover experience.

Who's next??

Imagine the local fish market stall owner's surprise when I asked him for fish skin. I tried to explain that it was for a photoshoot.

Not sure where I come up with my ideas. Pretty sure it's either a) from tequila or b) sleepless thinking of shoots, beauty and art.

Clicking on the images above will give you clear makeup credits. I used a collection of YABY, MAC, Benefit, Shu Uemera, FACEatelier, Make Up For Ever, L'Oreal Paris, Kryolan and MINX nails.

Note: The pinkish/red nails were a MINX knock off I found in Far East Plaza in Singapore.

Credits:

View Veux online here.

Buy Veux online here.