The Look: On Location With The Queen Of EDM
If you’re a fan of electronic dance music, you know JES. She’s propelled songs with artists such as Tiësto to Grammy-nominated smash hits. We’ve never gotten over JES’ glowing, bronze makeup in the music video, “Flying Blind” (by Cosmic Gate a.k.a. DJ Bossi & Nic Chagall). She braves the desert elements looking ethereal. The makeup is sexy and pairs perfectly with cut-off denim shorts and music festival wristbands.
Makeup artist, Pavy, who created the look, shared his secrets with us. He has provided the exact products and colors he used on the video shoot, as well as his favorite tips on how to help makeup last through the day and night.
JES’ Music Video Make-up Breakdown by Pavy
The Face:
Base: Dinair (airbrush makeup was used for the foundation)
Concealer: MAC Face and Body foundation
Setting Powder: Laura Mercier Universal Loose setting powder
Cheek Color: Laura Mercier Rose Bloom and Nars Mata Hari Blush
Bronzer: Nars Laguna
Highlight: Nars South Beach Multiple and Tart smooth operator™ Amazonian clay illuminating serum.
Light dusting to refine the T-Zone: Coverfx FX Mineral Powder Foundation (it’s a pressed powder)
The Eyes:
Lid: Laura Mercier Haze on lid, blend through crease
Crease: Laura Mercier Topaz softly blended in
Lash line: Nars China Blue and Nars Underworld on top and bottom lash line
Highlight : Nars All About Eve
Liner: Make Up For Ever Aqua Black Waterproof Cream Eyeshadow
Mascara: CoverGirl Colossal Lash in black
The Lips:
Liner: Nars Sex Machine and Nars Rosebud
Lip Balm: Korres Lip Butter Glaze in Jasmine
Lip Color: Nars Damage and Nars Pillow Talk lip gloss
Q & A with Pavy:
Q.
Working in the desert, what did you do use to help the make-up stay put in a drier climate?
A. We shot the video for “Flying Blind” in Las Vegas in the Spring so the weather was very forgiving. We shot over 3 days, approximately 10 hours. I am very lucky JES and her makeup held up perfect.
“I really did not touch up that often and I know the reason was how I set the makeup. I always use a translucent setting powder and buff in with a puff or firm powder brush.”
I try to just use that as I touch-up as it doesn’t build-up texture like a powder foundation. In that climate generally it can be really hot so sweating is usually a cause for makeup meltdown. I try to always keep my clients cool in between takes so a small portable hand held fan is essential.
Q.
How do you come up with the concept for the looks you create?
A. I always try to get inside the vibe of what the video is about and the direction my client wants to go. I always like to see inspiration as a guide and I build from that.
“Location for this particular video with JES did offer a lot of inspiration. I felt the video reminiscent of 70’s Farrah Fawcett meets Dukes of Hazard.”
I really talk a lot with who I am going to be painting to get inside of their head and understand fully their vision and I then can interject my ideas and we really collaborate to create the look.
Q.
What were you going for with this look? A girl has never looked so good waking up in the back of a car.
A. Thanks for the compliment! I really wanted to make JES look super refreshed, dreamy literally. She is so beautiful anyway, so I really just wanted to enhance her and I loved the blue accent we did for her eyes, it really was a great way to pop her lovely brown eyes. The vision for this particular shoot was to give the idea that she was almost abandoned in the desert from the dream of her love. She is not sure if he is real, then she sees the picture of him on her dash and the search begins and of course she looks perfect in her pursuit.
Q.
What are some special techniques for women doing their own makeup for a big event?
A. My tips for getting ready for big moments hmmmm … well the #1 thing is keep it simple. You never know when you will meet the love of your life whether a friends wedding .. a night club… or in an elevator, you need to look like yourself. Take a feature and play it up, focus on it and balance the rest of your features.
“When you are showcasing a feature such as the eyes and they are more enhanced, don’t totally mute lips out.”
Take a nude liner or lipstick and take a tinted lip balm or lipgloss in a sheer color on top, this will balance an enhanced eye. People want to see you and your beauty not the makeup covering it. I do have essentials that are a must mascara, concealer and tinted lip balm. These 3 items are essential to make you pop.
Q.
Lastly, what’s the best way to keep makeup looking great all day or night?
A. Keeping makeup fresh all day is easily achieved. I think it’s important to have a refreshing mist like Caudalie’s Grape Water. When you touch up lightly, mist your face after and this will perk you up and your complexion. Tip for my gals who naturally glisten (oily skin) use Laura Mercier Secret Finish Mattifying in the t-zone or wherever you glisten naturally, I love these products!
Pavy has worked in the beauty and fashion industry for more than 14 years. His talents have been seen in top magazines and graced the runways of designers including Escada, Pamella Roland, Max Mara and more.