MANILA, Philippines - When you hear the term “Lost Weekend” you might think of John Lennon’s long, drunken vacay away from Yoko in LA, or the Billy Wilder movie. But in Australia, birthplace of Becca Cosmetics, “Lost Weekend” means something quite different.
“It’s almost like a rite of passage, something Australians do with their family and friends when they’re a bit more grown up,” says Lisa Pemberton, international makeup artist for Becca. “They go camping, and kind of get lost in the bush exploring and having fun.”
It’s also the inspiration for Becca’s Lost Weekend collection, which gives you the bronzed, summery look you’d normally get after taking such a road trip outdoors. “The colors are taken from nature the beautiful colors of the Australian bush.”
Pemberton, who also does makeup for films like Steven Spielberg’s upcoming War Horse (“It’s amazing to work with someone that’s your idol”), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Robin Hood, was at Adora recently to introduce the collection and train sales staff there.
For her work, the British beauty whiz has the interesting challenge of making people look beautiful (for Becca) and, at other times, awful (she did the prosthetics for a short zombie flick). An example of the former is when she did supermodel Erin O’Connor’s makeup for the Elle Style Awards and O’Connor won for Best Lipstick.
“She had a really nice red lip,” Pemberton says. “I used Becca’s Beach Tint in Strawberry and red lipstick in Nina over it. She’s a beautiful woman, not just to look at, but she was so kind. She asked me, ‘Can I get you some tea?’”
The London College of Fashion-trained Pemberton says the Lost Weekend collection is right in step with the trends seen at the fall/winter 2011 fashion shows: “Dewy skin, a bolder, squarer brow, metallic eyelids, bright, jewel-toned lips, and the cat-flick eyeliner shown at Marc Jacobs, which gives you a defined but neutral eye.”
Lost Weekend’s super-charged nudes allow you to recreate those looks but in the Becca way, which means no outré colors that shout, “I’m wearing makeup!” but natural tints that discreetly call attention to a heightened, more beautiful you.
“The philosophy of our founder, Rebecca Morrice Williams, is wearable makeup for women,” Pemberton says. “Rather than making you look like a trend, it makes you look like you just got back from holiday.”
And now, Becca nail color
The big news in Lost Weekend is the nail line, which Becca is introducing for the first time. A trio of polishes are all in chic shades of brown, which is the fashion hue du jour: Billy Tea is a dark mushroom taupe; Toasted Marshmallow a soft, pinkish brown; and Saddle Up, a caramel nude.
“The products are all named after things from camping,” notes Pemberton.
The Becca difference: Free from harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and toluene, these varnishes have a square brush that deposits the perfect amount of polish on the nail. Another innovation is Becca’s multi-tasking 2-in-1 Base/Top Coat.
Tip: Mix your nail polish with Jewel Dust for eyes, like Lisa does, to create a custom color.
Lost weekend palette
This eye palette has three brown tones that mimic the shadows on your face. Use them and you can contour your eyes to your heart’s content and it still looks totally natural. The enclosed bullet brush is also a keeper.
The Becca difference: This creates a smoky look that’s sexy rather than scary, and subtle enough for daytime. “It’s not too dark but really draws attention to the eye,” Pemberton says.
Tips: • Sweep matte Moleskin all over the lid. Blend velvety Chino into the crease. Use shimmery Moiré to highlight the brow bone or lid.
• To achieve the cat’s-eye, use a thicker, wider angled brush like Becca No. 60. Wet and dip into Barbarella cake liner. Look down into a mirror placed on a table. Starting at the inner corner, line the eye until you reach the outer corner, where you angle the brush point upwards. “If you want a flick, the shape of the brush does the work for you.”
• For an extra-beautiful glow, apply Becca Illuminating Wash on the inner corners of the eye and on cheekbones up to temples. Blend with fingers.
Mineral powder blush
Inspired by Becca’s bestselling Mineral Powder foundation, these come in two shades: Sweet Pea, a rosy nude; and Wild Honey, a naked peach.
The Becca difference: These paraben- and talc-free blushes preserve the beauty of your skin.
Tip: Sculpt cheeks by focusing the color underneath the cheekbone and blending upwards toward the temples.
Lip-plumping moisture gloss
Pemberton calls this triple-duty product, which shines, hydrates and plumps lips, “amazing.”
The Becca difference: Active ingredient Atellocollagen actually increases the collagen in your lips over time. Jojoba and avocado oil, shea and cocoa butter, vitamin E and honey extract nourish your pucker; Tahitian vanilla and cinnamon provide a delicious scent.
Tip: Top any Becca Beach Tint or lipstick with Lip-Plumping Moisture Gloss to create a fuller-looking pout.
Butter balm spf 20
If you’re not a gloss fan, try this clear balm instead. It’s housed in a silver lipstick tube so it’s the most luxe balm you’ll ever apply and it’s travel-friendly.
The Becca difference: It has the same lip-loving ingredients as the Lip-Plumping Gloss with added SPF to protect.
Tip: Prime your lips with Butter Balm before any other lip product for a soft, supple mouth.
Mineral bronzer & Illuminator duo
Containing two-thirds bronzer and one-third highlighter, Pemberton says this compact is excellent for sculpting the face.
The Becca difference: Unlike other bronzers that can make you look orange, this has plum undertones so it gives you a candlelit glow, not the dreaded Oompa-Loompa effect.
Tip: Lightly buff on the highest points of the face, focusing on the temples, forehead, bridge of the nose and chin.
Fig beach tint
This latest addition to Becca’s best-selling Beach Tints is a lovely tea-rose nude delicately scented with fig.
The Becca difference: Not only is this cream stain for lips and cheeks waterproof, streak-free and non-greasy, it’s easy to blend and flatters all skin types.
Tip: Squeeze out a drop the size of a grain of rice on your hand and use fingertips to blend on cheeks and lips. Build color according to desired intensity.
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Becca is only available at Adora in Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati.