“My lipstick today? It’s my Rouge Experience Refillable Lipstick, specially engraved with 'M.B.E' – and the shade was, of course, Lisa.” So says Lisa Eldridge of the lip colour (a lively yet neutral pink) she chose at last week’s investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, where she was officially awarded an MBE for her services to cosmetics and fashion.
The lipstick was a surprise from her team, but the rest of her make-up look was meticulously planned, a fact that will come as no shock to anyone who has encountered Eldridge; she’s diligent, thoughtful and a champion of self-expression. From Rihanna to Taylor Swift, there’s barely a celebrity who hasn’t graced her make-up chair, but how did she decide on a look when the red carpet was her own?
“I was deeply humbled to accept my MBE, and the day was clearly a huge deal for me! I went for my most trusted make-up look; I created a softly sculpted eye using my Vega Palette and plenty of Kitten Lash Mascara, with additional individual lashes as I knew there would be lots of of photography after the ceremony.
“I wore a veil, so I wanted my skin to look as glowing as possible beneath it. I used my Skin Tint in 6.5 with my Seamless Skin Foundation in number 9, applied in a patchwork style wherever I needed a little more coverage. I finished with plenty of Elevated Glow Highlighter in Crystal Nebula and blush worn high on the cheeks for lift".
Eldridge admits that the investiture ceremony made her feel “unbelievably nervous” when she’s normally unflappable and perfectly at ease in front of the camera; she was the first professional make-up artist to launch a YouTube channel, for starters. It speaks to Eldridge's character that she's donated 100 per cent of her YouTube advertising revenue to female-focused charities (to the sum of £200,000) and that her recently launched vintage-inspired Rouge Experience lipstick is a global-first in that it’s fully recyclable, with no magnets or plastic used in its packaging.
“It was a pinch-me moment,” she tells us of the MBE presentation, “but part of the ceremony involved me walking backwards and I was convinced I was going to trip and fall over. My hands were a little clammy and I talked to Prince William far too much.”
Her make-up routine, however, provided a grounding element to proceedings and it’s a confidence-boosting ritual she sees come to life among her celebrity clientele too. “I have seen even the shyest of clients draw strength and inner power from make-up,” she enthuses. “I’ve watched people almost grow in stature – that’s the psychological benefit of make-up and something I’ve witnessed first-hand."
It’s not simply making others feel “empowered and emboldened” that motivates Eldridge: from writing a New York Times bestseller (Face Paint, a history of make-up) to designing make-up looks for film (her first was Eva Green’s make-up for Tim Burton’s Dumbo), her interest in beauty is at once academic, creative and always forward-thinking.
As a tetrachromat, Eldridge perceives a ‘fourth dimension’ of colour, meaning she can see up to 100 million more hues than the average person. To say that her eye is discerning is an understatement, but it’s practising her craft on “as many faces as possible” that has helped her to hone her skills the most. “Every single job, big or small, was a chance to learn, to connect and to create. Through constant practice you really learn how to structure a face. It’s like shorthand to me now; I can read a model’s face as soon as they come through the door!”.
As for her most significant career moment thus far, MBE aside, it’s seeing her make-up on the big screen. “Watching Tilda Swinton apply my True Velvet Ribbon Lipstick in The Room Next Door was a real milestone. Director Pedro Almodovar doesn't take choosing the colours in his films lightly, so seeing Ribbon make the cut and get his critical seal of approval was everything. The fact that the film’s make-up designer, Morag Ross, suggested it was really moving. Every time a make-up artist chooses a product I have poured so much time, effort and love into creating is truly special.”
Eldridge gets the same buzz “every time someone reaches out to me, or I see a review about the impact my make-up has had on them.” She may be beauty royalty, but she’s staying humble, clammy hands included.
Shop Lisa Eldridge’s MBE make-up look
