Our editor went and got glammed up with the help of Alice from AlyCat Makeup and Hair Artistry in London, Ontario.
Ever feel like you were born in the wrong generation? We can’t change the past, but we can certainly borrow its clothes, and some makeup tips too. (We can leave the horrible politics behind, though. Those can definitely stay behind.)
Miniskirts, beehive hairdos and daring makeup looks — the ’60s completely broke the mold for what it meant to be a modern woman, fashioning herself on her own terms. The influence of British fashion and the rise of “it” girls like Diana Ross, Cher, Twiggy, and Jane Birkin helped to eschew the rigid beauty standards of the 1950s, toward something that was a little bit looser, freer, more organic and super psychedelic. Goodbye, ten tons of Aquanet and petticoats, hello loose curls and bell-bottoms.
I’ve been trying to recreate some looks inspired by the Hair-era (Haira?) but am hopeless when it comes to makeup application. That’s why I was elated when Alice from AlyCat Makeup and Hair Artistry reached out to me and wanted to do a collab.
Alice and I go way back — to about a year ago, when she was my wedding makeup artist. For the big day, she perfectly nailed that soft romantic wedding look, and added a twist with a flick rose gold eyeliner. Thanks to Alice, I love looking back at my wedding photos, because LOOK AT HOW CUTE I AM:
Anyway, for our ’60s makeup look, we went with something very, very different. This definitely wasn’t something you’d wear to a wedding, unless you happened to be getting married in the Guns N Roses November Rain music video.
Here’s where we took so inspo from:
Alice, being a true artist at heart (and not just a”makeup applier” in her own words) put another one of her signature twists on this eclectic makeup look. Instead of the standard black cut crease that’s de rigeur for every 60s look. Alice’s idea? GO BIG OR GO HOME. Electric blue cut crease, lashes everywhere, and coral blush.
Safety First
Safety and sanitation has always been Alice’s top priority when it comes to her artistry, but COVID-19 has pushed that over the top. She greeted me at the door from a safe distance wearing double protection in the form of a face mask and face shield, offered hand sanitizer and took great care to ensure that I felt safe throughout the whole process. Alice also discussed her measures for keeping her workspace as clean as possible: sanitizing every product once it’s picked up, using disposable tear-away sheets and fastidiously cleaning each brush between uses.
Pro MUA, Pro Tools:
Much of the look was done with Daness Myricks pigments — the under the skin illuminator made my face looked like glass, utterly poreless and oh so shiny — and the electric blue certainly wasn’t shy. Alice topped off the look with luvlashesonline lashes — again, the bolder the better.
It was such a deeply inspiring time in the makeup chair. Alice’s whole business was thrown for a loop (to say the least!) by COVID-19, but her resourcefulness and dedication to her craft kept her love of makeup artistry alive.
You won’t find a better, more welcoming artist in the London, Ontario area. Book with her today — you’ll come out looking and feeling utterly majestic.