Spring 2009 Beauty Trends: Backstage at Chris Benz

SHOW: Chris Benz
MAKEUP: Ayoko for NARS
BEAUTY BOTTOM-LINE: Girl on the brink. Fresh, sorbet-inspired shades, dewy skin and exuberant sparkles.

THE LOOK: Designer Chris Benz loves to draw inspiration from the big screen--this past fall it was The Royal Tenenbaums, and for spring he gives a fashion nod to the stylish 1971 detective thriller Klute. Just like Klute's female lead, Bree Daniels, described in the trailer as a "girl on the brink" the look was innocence spliced with subversion. "We're creating innocent revolutionaries," said Ayoko, NARS' International Makeup Director. "Like Chris' clothing, it's soft, fresh and ingenue, with a little something...a little edge." Ayoko used sorbet shades of peach, cantelope and yellow, layered with loads of gorgeous sparkles that give "the skin of a 17 year old." Using all new products from NARS' spring 2009 line, she layered lids with a thick coat of glistening golden shadow. Skin was touched up with foundation but no powder for a very dewy finish, and cheeks were warmed on the apples with peachy pink cream blush and topped off with golden peach blush infused with fine sparkles. Ayoko recommends applying sparkly blush with a big brush and rolling the brush over the skin to really work in the sparkles. "This will refine the golden flecks to give skin an allover sheen, versus a conventional glittery look." Lips got a layer of cantoulope gloss, and "no mascara, no brows," noted Ayoko. "It's very different from last season's trends."

GET IT: NARS Firming Foundation, (SNEAK PEEK! All other products are new for spring '09!) NARS Single Shadow in Night Sun, NARS Dual Multiple in Orgasm and Sex on the Beach, NARS Duo Blush in Hungry Heat (layered on top of Orgasm).