Beauty and the brush

Among my many firsts, I was the first one to shoot Solenn Heusaff for a fashion editorial for the now defunct Teen Philippines. She was just 12, but was perhaps, and still is, the most stunning girl I have ever seen.

She grew up to become an accomplished fashion designer in her late teens. Under the aegis of Lulu Tan Gan, she honed her craft and slowly ventured out on her own, creating singular designs coveted by those who know the way of the fabric. Curiously, Solenn has moved from fabric to creating with makeup. (Her controversial Rogue cover drew attention and launched Solenn’s career.) Her covers for YStyle and a recent photo shoot we did together made me see her vast range in style and unconventional sense of beauty.

“I’ve always loved makeup, and after looking at several magazines, I would organize shoots at home and would hang a white bed sheet on top of my closets and dress up and put makeup on my friends,” she shares. “This was when I was about 14. Then I started modeling and would observe the makeup artists in their element.”

As for her innate talent, it was something that she nurtured in her early years and perfected as she went on. “I have been painting since I was child. I went through several art instructors. I think that helps a lot because makeup is just like painting,” she says.

On creating a 360 when it comes to art, fashion and design, Solenn has done it seamlessly. “Like I said, I love art. Fashion and makeup are part of the same family to me. I haven’t given up on fashion. I will be doing both as long as I live and as long as I have the luxury and time to do both. I don’t think I could choose if I had to.”

In terms of the future, “I would like to work abroad when I get more experience and more confidence, perhaps Italy or Paris. I’d love my work to be seen in big fashion magazines abroad. Dare to dream.” When it comes to the actual grit work, Solenn has a few grievances, particularly “people that have bad skin or who want their makeup done a certain way. Sometimes, what’s ugly makeup for you can be beautiful makeup in their eyes. You kind of have to go their way. After all, they are your clients.”

Having her way, Solenn likes a mix of natural and lush textures and colors, “I like natural-looking makeup, Bridgitte Bardot style, but instead of using blacks, grays and whites, I’ll use skin tone colors like brown and pink.”

“No matter how much I love makeup, I still think being natural is the best. Wear makeup only when needed, like in big events, shoots, parties or dates. Your skin needs to breathe, and you want to keep your skin healthy as long as you can. Putting on too much makeup during the day just makes you look ridiculous instead of prettier,” she adds.

After all, makeup “is an art, a way of presenting a person in the way you see them, a way of enhancing one's beauty.”