Text, Vivian G. Kelly
“Before” and “After” images, Richard Spiegel
Images of the Rock & Republic spring 2009 show, Dan Lecca courtesy of Mercedes Benz
Image of Linda Kaufman, from myspace.com
A few weeks ago, we spent our lunch hour with LINDA KAUFMAN, a freelance makeup artist, who was demo-ing Rock & Republic’s new makeup line.
We hadn’t heard of it until Linda told us she would be at Bloomingdale’s Soho, educating shoppers about the brand. When we arrived, we were in for a BIG surprise – the line is huge, and we hope that we’ll be seeing some wide scale advertising to promote this cool new line that’s sure to hit with teens and twenty-somethings who want to look like a rock star.
WHAT WORKS:
The luxurious packaging, even the cardboard containers are shiny
THE NAMES: Jet set anyone?
Villa, Private Jet, penthouse, chenille, cashmere, satin.
PRIMER
These are named after all our favorite fashion icon:
Eve, Audrey, Sophia, Cleopatra, Jezebel.
They’re also all tinted with SPF 20, caffeine stimulates the circulation.
*Tip: Always go with something a tiny bit warmer if in doubt and goes on well with a sponge, brush, or your fingers.
It goes on almost with a powdery finish – one less step, since you don’t need a traditional foundation and powder when you use this.
What you do need, though is an ILLUMINATOR like “TRICKERY” or “JEZEBEL”. These have the tiniest of reflective particles that are visible only in broad sunlight. The effect is best used to highlight your cheekbones. Go easy with this one.
THE EYESHADOWS
This is your holiday gifting idea.
The best part is the made for gifting packaging. You only need to give one and it’s a fine gift in its chrome-lidded top with the R&R insignia on black patent leather.
Your friend will probably get hooked and want some more to add to her compact table.
Price: 1 eye shadow retails for $28.
MOUSSE BLUSH
This feels moist but not wet.
We liked “Quickie and “Conquest” – in the peach family
LIPGLOSS
Linda used the super pigment-y lip-gloss [unusual for a gloss, which means you can use a very little amount for day. You can apply it “normally” and achieve an editorial candy apple look.
OUR PICK: “Drama queen”, a dusty rose with some gold flecks in it. This color is strong enough to wear on days you just want to wear mascara, a lip-gloss, and nothing else.
THE BRUSHES –
They’re selling the brushes from $27 - $65.
*Linda says that you should buy a brush by how it FEELS. Some of her best are actually synthetic.
ROCK & REPUBLIC MAKEUP THAT MADE IT INTO LINDA’S PROFESSIONAL KIT TO GO ON LOCATION
-The lip glosses, “for their amazing pigment
-Eyeshadow in “lawsuit” which is a green with all brown – brings out your eyes no matter which color they are.
-The powder blushes – because they’re pigment-y with fun colors, like “kinky”, X-rated”.
- The PRIMER: “Audrey” for light skins, “SOPHIA” for darker skins
HOW IT WORE
Linda finished applying the makeup by 1pm and stayed put until 8:30PM when we took it all off.
The biggest surprise – the eyeshadow didn’t fade, at all.
At this time, the line is available at Bloomingdales & Henri Bendel