BEAUTY

WE MEET OUR 'GLOW UP' CHALLENGE WINNER

By Shannon Paris Evans, 19 May 2021

What do you get when you take the beauty industry's most iconic creatives, add 10 budding makeup artists and throw in some of the biggest names in TV, film and fashion? BBC Three’s must-watch series (and our fave TV show this week) Glow Up, that's what! In case you missed it, last night ASOS joined the search for 'Britain’s Next Make-Up Star' with a challenge to create a ding-dong (IYKYK) look for our Face + Body campaign, which you can check out below...

Our very own design director and guest judge Vanessa Spence picked *spoiler alert* Craig Hamilton as the winner. You can check out his look in the video above. To get the lowdown on his win, we chatted to Craig about the looks he's lovin' right now, his top tips for flawless makeup every time, and his fave three products, ever. Keep scrolling for *all* the insider info…

Firstly, congrats on your win! How did it feel creating a look for ASOS Face + Body?

I really want to get into fashion and film so, when I found out what the challenge was, I thought ‘OMG I want to win this one!’. ASOS is such a well-known global brand, so this is one I really wanted under my belt. It’s amazing to add to my portfolio!

Where did you start when deciding on the direction you’d be taking the look?
Naomi Campbell in New York in the 90s, came into my head straight away. That was the vibe I wanted, and I could see the vision immediately because of the model’s natural fox-shape eye and the high pony she was rocking. I went for glowing natural skin and a gold cut-crease lid. It wasn’t overly dramatic but, as a look, it just made sense!

You use a lot of colour and playful techniques in your looks, both on- and off-screen. Where does your style come from?

I come from an art and design background, so I’ve always gravitated towards more paint and colour. If you saw a plain brick wall or one covered in graffiti, you’re going to notice the graffitied one first! I think of my looks like that. Sometimes when I have free time, I paint; I really got back into it over lockdown.

Where do you get your inspiration?

90s music videos, sets, clothing and interior design. I’m very into the 60s, so I love to look at old catalogues; it's a nice way of seeing how colours go together.

What tips would you give a budding MUA?

Stay true to yourself. This industry is over saturated, so I think the most important thing you can do is find your niche and grow from that. There's room for all of us!

What’s your top tip for flawless makeup, every time?

You need to look at the skin routine first. Before you build a house, you have to plan; the face is the same – skincare is your plan! We’re starting to see less of the full-beat looks and more natural bushy brows and fresh skin, and I absolutely gag over that – I love it!

If you could only use 3 products for the rest of time, what would they be and why?
Fake tan. Liquid bronzer (just mix it with moisturiser and you have a fresh-face glow!). And a lash curler – even without mascara, a curler can open the eye so much!

Pictures: ASOS

What direction do you plan to take your makeup (and style!) post-lockdown?

I love to create looks specifically for each person. I'll take their ideas away and create something tailored to them and their face. For me personally, I keep my skin as natural as possible, so a bit of concealer and liquid bronzer does the job! Also, fake tan can really do the most. For someone who likes to play with colour so much, I keep my clothing quite minimal. I love beige, brown and rusty tones – I love to keep it soft, neutral and tonal.

What changes would you like to see in the beauty industry this year?

I think the comparison. A lot of MUAs get stuck comparing themselves to others, and I felt the same until I found my own style. I think it's about people learning to accept their own style and figuring that out, rather than getting too occupied with social media – because that's just one type of makeup artistry. When you look at books and films, you really start to understand the history.

Watch 'Glow Up' on BBC iPlayer, every Tuesday at 7pm.