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 ELLIS
FAAS
MAKEUP ARTIST
AMSTERDAM,
NETHERLANDS
Ellis
Faas is
“one
of the most influential makeup artists of her
generation”
says Vogue Paris.
Ellis went on an unknown journey that took her to her
destiny.
Wanting to become a photographer, she built up her
portfolio, making herself her own model by experimenting
with makeup to create a different look; stumbling onto,
which she had no idea, her passion.
Following her passion, little did she know she
would eventually meet someone who clearly saw her
talent. World renowned photographer Mario Testino came
to the Netherlands to do a shoot for L’Uomo Vogue, that
is when
Photographer Mario saw
Ellis’s portfolio and was taken with her unique
style, and that is how
destination met destiny.
Ellis became the leading makeup artist for fashion shows
around the globe, because of
her ability to create and design makeup with use
of flamboyant shades and feminine soft colors, thus
attracting attention of many well-known fashion
photographers and designers.
Some of these fashion photographers and designers
that worked with Ellis are:
Photographers:
Patrick Demarchilier, Karl Lagerfeld, Terry Richardson,
Vincent Peters, Jean-Paul Goude, and Tom Munro.
Fashion Designers:
Chanel, Yves Saint-Laurent, Fendi, Giorigio Armani, Jean
Paul Gaultier, Dolce & Gabbana, and Viktor & Rolf for
H&M.
Ellis Faas for second time in a row, won the Elle Style
Awards 2009 for Best HP Make-up.
She was
recently featured in W Magazine online article.
In
February 2009 Ellis Faas launched her make-up line,
which can be
purchased through her
online store and throughout stores in various countries.
I am delighted to be given the opportunity to ask Ellis
Faas few
questions about her new make-up line.
Exclusively Fashion Magazine:
I believe that timing is everything; when did you know
that it was the right time to start your makeup line?
Ellis Faas:
A few years ago, I had a contract to design the makeup
for the brand Biotherm.
I suggested lots and lots of ideas, but I then
noticed that for an existing brand that is part of a
conglomerate like in this case L’Oreal, it is difficult
to start all over, get back to the basis and start
something revolutionary. So when I got the idea for this
packaging concept (which will make carrying around the
makeup and then find it in your bag a piece of cake), I
decided that the only way to do it is by myself – from
scratch. And I believe that more and more consumers are
looking for products that have been made with passion by
a small company instead of something driven by
marketing, so that makes the actual timing ideal.
EFM:
Where did the idea come from to name the Ellis lips
creamy, milky, and glazed?
The names suit perfectly.
EF:
I’m glad to hear that. All products in our brand are and
will be liquid, including the eye shadows, blushers et
cetera. So when I was thinking how to call the different
textures of Ellis Lips, it really needed to be related
to something fluid and also maybe something that you
could eat, since it’s the mouth. The difference between
Cream and Milk was exactly what I was looking for.
  
EFM:
What was the process like to get your makeup line out
into the market?
EF:
Difficult! At least from the production side: there are
so many different parties involved, design, packaging,
printers, production of the bulk, filling – and if one
is delayed, everything is delayed. Fortunately the type
of shops where we want to sell (small, exclusive
“boutiques”) have been very enthusiastic so far. And
apparently there are many stories to the brand and its
concepts for colours and packaging that the press likes
to dive into it.
EFM:
What is the first tip that you can give women when
applying their makeup?
EF:
Follow your own taste and don’t let anyone tell you what
“your colour” is or isn’t. Also try things that at first
glance don’t seem obvious. We have an orange lipstick
for instance that some people (including those in the
lab!) are afraid of until they try it and see how
wonderfully it looks. So just experiment.
EFM:
Out
of the three lipsticks, milky, creamy, and glazed; which
one do you find yourself wearing daily?
EF:
I am not really someone who goes for shiny lips, so even
though our Glazed Lips don’t get sticky like normal
glosses which I absolutely dislike, I wear Creamy or
Milky, depending on my mood.
  
EFM:
With so many makeup products out in the market; your
rich shades are an “eye popper”.
Was that the idea that you were going for?
EF:
Not really, at least not as a preconceived idea. I just
made the range to consist of all my favourite colours
that were not available on the market yet. So whenever I
wanted these colours for a show or shoot, I mixed them
especially for the occasion. After the range was final,
I realized that I based all colours on the colours that
are already present in the human body (like the blue of
a vein, the green of an old bruise, and like the
blood-red of Ellis Red), so even though they might be
“eye poppers”, they appear to suit everyone – whether
you are a 16-year-old white girl or an 80-year old black
grandmother.
EFM:
What brought on the idea of using a 3-D effect?
EF:
To
be honest, it was not really something that I chose or
specifically looked for; it was just an effect that was
included in the formula that I liked best.
EFM:
When will your makeup line hit the
United States?
EF:
At the moment we are talking to a retailer who has quite
a few shops in the US, and they are planning to launch
there after the Summer, when Ellis Lips has been
expanded by Ellis Eyes (shadows, mascaras, eyeliners)
and Ellis Skin (foundations, concealers, blushers etc).
Until then, people can visit our web shop, because we
ship all over the world.
Interview by Rochell “E” James
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