Australian make-up artist Rebecca Morrice Williams, founder of BECCA cosmetics, passionately believes that creating a fresh, glowing look (even on a few hours sleep) is all about getting the base right. And the proof is in the (ultra-sheer, complexion-illuminating) powder: Rebecca has dedicated her career – and her loved-by-beauty-insiders make-up range – to making skin look as fresh, clear and naturally radiant as possible. The rest (which she also does very well – beauty pros love BECCA’s Jewel Dusts, for example) is just the frosting on the cupcake.

How much has your experience as a make-up artist influenced the BECCA range?

Whereas, in the beginning, I was more focussed on creating products for make-up artists, I now focus on what works for women generally. Products need to perform for our busy lives and they need to look good under all sorts of lighting situations, including daylight! And they need to work for real life – not just on the catwalk or on a photo shoot. Make-up needs to look good – in the office, at dinner, even in the gym or on the beach – and it needs to feel weightless and comfortable on the skin, without being irritating.

Where do many of us go wrong when choosing foundation?

Many women try to look for a “one-product solution”, instead of layering different formulations to get the desired finish and look. BECCA is about layering products together: sheer to heavy, on different areas of their face. Layering will achieve the coverage where needed, but not necessarily all over, and the result will be much more natural. The other thing to remember is that accurate product-to-skin colour matching is even more important than the texture of a foundation. The wrong colour of any formulation will look unnatural and mask-like on the skin.

Any tips on selecting the perfect shade of foundation?

At the counter, always try to get an artist to apply the products together with their respective setting powders and so on, on the face, so you can see the total effect. Also, try to have a look in natural light. If you don’t have time to do this, try the colour on the jaw-line to see how it blends between the colour of your face and neck. The colour needs to have the same undertones that your skin does, so it will blend into the skin and look natural. I tend to go for the palest colour in the skin, as you can then add depth and dimension with other products such as blush and bronzer.

Anything else to be aware of?

Be aware, too, of the skin colour on your chest and arms as you want your face to blend in with the body.

How does the BECCA foundation range make selection easier?

With a range consisting of 34 colours, every woman – regardless of skin tone or ethnicity – will be able to find the perfect colour for their skin. When developing the range, we researched our colours intricately to get the right undertones, textures and colours. As a result, BECCA foundations look flawless yet natural and luminous on the skin.

Can you offer any advice for disguising the signs of an interrupted night?!

If you are tired, don’t wear too much make-up – particularly on the eyes. A touch of cream blush, like BECCA Crème Blush, will make you appear fresh and more rested. Adding a little illuminating liquid, such as the BECCA Shimmering Skin Perfector, under or over your foundation will give the skin instant radiance. Wear a sheer tinted lip gloss, curl lashes to open up the eyes and apply mascara.

As a nonstopmama yourself, what’s your everyday, get-glowing make-up routine?

This is my everyday, drop-off-the-kids-and-go-to-the-gym face:

I apply BECCA Mineral SPF Primer SPF30 to my whole face, followed by a sheer covering of Luminous Skin Colour and a touch of Concealer. I then pat a bit of water-resistant Beach Tint to the apples of my cheeks and buff Boudoir Skin Mineral Powder Foundation all over my face. I spray a light mist of water on my face, curl my lashes and add lashings of Ultimate Mascara and a touch of Brow Powder. I finish with a dab of balm on the lip. Most days – even through a sweaty gym class – I need only a little touch up afterwards with a little Boudoir Skin Mineral Powder Foundation and I’m pretty OK.

What are your personal must-haves in the BECCA range?

The Mineral SPF Primer is a personal favourite, as it was particularly difficult to formulate a heavy Zinc based product whilst making it beautiful and weightless on the skin but without being greasy. I also really love the new Boudoir Skin Mineral Powder Foundations – new this year - as they are a wonderful alternative for people with super-sensitive skin and those looking for a quick, medium level coverage foundation that still looks natural and doesn’t feel dry on the skin. I wear this before and after the gym every day to keep me looking respectable. Other favourites are the BECCA Tinted Moisturiser and the Crème Blush - both really do make you appear healthier-looking. And I can’t live without the Compact Concealer as it really does match the skin perfectly and cover any sort of skin emergency. Also, The Ultimate Mascara is also a must-have as the ‘tubing’ formula means you can be sure of absolutely no running, smudging or panda eyes …

What inspires you creatively?

I am always inspired by fashion and definitely photography. Also interiors: fabrics, combinations of textures and styles – boutique hotels are good for this. It could also be travel, music, music videos, paintings, definitely film … And nature – beautiful birds, insects… Sometimes, I’m not sure where I am drawing inspiration from, as it’s a culmination of various different influences etched into my memory. That can be more for collections, colours, themes and so on.

When it comes to creating a new product, selfishly it usually always comes back to me and my desire for a particular product or type of product! Whether it be bronzers that are not orange, tints that you can wear to the beach or makeup you can wear to bed … It starts with something I want, which I’m sure means other women are wanting it too.

Posted in Beauty flash! on 4th February, 2010.