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9 products an Oscar winning makeup artist can't live without
You are going to want to add all of Ve Neill's kit to your basket immediately.
When it comes to Hollywood makeup artists, they don't come much bigger than the legend that is Ve Neill. Not only has she won 3 (yes, 3!) Academy Awards (Beetlejuice, Mrs Doubtfire and Ed Wood), but she's also responsible for some of the most iconic makeup looks in film history. We're talking Robin Williams as Mrs Doubtfire, Bradley Cooper as Jackson Maine in A Star is Born, Johnny Depp as Edward Scissorhands and Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, to name just a few. With over 40 years experience in the industry, Ve has tried and tested more products than you can imagine. Which is why we sat down with her as she judged the global winner of NYX Professional Makeup's 2019 Face Awards, to find out her product holy grails. From the ones that have stood the test of time and remained in her kit for years, to the new discoveries she couldn't bear to be without. If you're looking for Oscar worthy makeup, you better add all of the below to your shopping basket immediately...
NYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Shadow Palette - Brights
Shop now Lookfantastic.com, £16
While most of us just use our eyeshadows on our eyelids, Ve uses them all over the face and body, as I witnessed during one of her incredible masterclasses. For extreme colour pay-off that can literally transform anyone into an actual alien, Ve rates NYX Professional Makeup shadow palettes.
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation
Shop now Gurumakeupemporium, £30
Seeing as all films are now shot in crystal clear 4k, as a makeup artist it's Ve's job to make sure you get lost in the character, not their foundation. For a base that is truly undetectable, Ve loves Make Up For Ever's Ultra HD Foundation: "It has good coverage, plus can thin it out and make it really sheer for men".
RCMA No-Colour Powder
Shop now Beautybay.com, £11.95
Shooting on location around the world, Ve is no stranger to missing products, but the one thing she couldn't live without, the one product she would send her assistant straight out to re-buy? RCMA's No-Colour Powder. A makeup artist (and YouTuber) favourite, Ve loves it because it doesn't alter the colour of any of her meticulously applied makeup underneath.
NYX Professional Makeup SFX Crème Colour
Shop now nyxcosmetics.co.uk, £11
The most used item is Ve's kit is her range of Face & Body Paints, which she uses to transform everyone from Thor, to Batman. Because of the sheer amount of product she uses, Ve loves NYX Professional Makeup's SFX Crème Colours, which come in 11 shades and are a bargain £11. Just remember to set them with loose powder, for a colourful base that lasts all day on set.
Ardell Duo Lash Adhesive in Dark
Shop now Beautybay.com, £5.75
The first rule of Oscar winning makeup artist club, never use the tiny tube of glue that comes with your false lashes. The second rule of Oscar winning makeup artist club, always use DUO's Eyelash Adhesive in 'Dark'. It dries black (clue is in the name) so you never have to ruin your lashes again with an annoying white blob that won't dry clear, thanks Ve.
Beautyblender
Shop now Beautybay.com, £17
Ve's top tip for any wannabe makeup artists? Blend, blend, blend and when you think you're done, blend some more. "You don't want anything to look phoney, or sit on top of the skin," she explains. This is why she loves working with cream products and her trusty Beautyblender.
Mini Handheld Fan
Shop now Amazon.co.uk, £9.99
Digging around in Ve's kit you find some pretty strange things, including a silver toy gun that she found on a film set 40 years ago and has kept in there ever since. One thing that might seem equally weird, but is actually incredibly practical, is her portable fan. Ve uses this to help dry her glue and prosthetics when she's in a rush to get to call time.
NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Multitasking Spray
Shop now Lookfantastic.com, £10
Dry skin is a makeup artist's worst nightmare, but when you're repeatedly applying heavy products - for Mrs Doubtfire Ve recreated Robin Williams makeup 53 times - there's very little you can do to avoid it. To help counter that, Ve applies a super hydrating moisturiser before she gets to work and liberally sprays a refreshing mist to stop things looking too cakey.
Kryolan TV Paint Stick
Shop now Kryolan.com, £17.20
With over 40 years experience, it's pretty impressive that Ve can still remember her most iconic products. To make Johnny Depp ghostly white in Edward Scissorhands she used Kryolan's TV Paint Stick in the shade 'Shibui', Mrs Doubtfire was defined by a classic rouge and you'll never watch Batman Forever the same again without thinking of Danny DeVito's mouthwash and food colouring spittle... nice.
Laura is a former writer for Cosmopolitan UK, covering everything beauty and fashion related and specialises in makeup, plus-size fashion and the world of YouTube. Her favourite pastime is reminding everyone of that one time she met Charlie Hunnam and Jason Momoa. Please don't ask to see the pictures...
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