Face Forward

Amazon.com
"Makeup should be fun, not fascist," celebrity makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin avers in Face Forward, his third book. One of the most adored stylists among fashionistas, entertainment divas, and high-society jet setters, Southern-born Aucoin arrived on the New York fashion scene in the early '80s, a period he ridicules for its '50s-era conservatism and McCarthyist us-against-them values. His career since has been motivated by the feel-good ideals of acceptance, diversity, and self-love, and the vain world of beauty has eagerly participated in his vision. While one may puzzle on how it is he finds fulfillment in an industry known for its superficiality and elitism, Aucoin's words are nonetheless infectious and the touches of his brushes inspired.

Conceived as an exploration of the past, present, and future of beauty, Face Forward is an ingenious showcase of the transformative, creative possibilities of makeup, with portraits of everyone from Julia Roberts to Sharon Stone, Martha Stewart to his mother, Thelma. His crafted visages range from minimal-application makeovers of friends to elaborate re-creations of such Hollywood icons as Audrey Hepburn (Calista Flockhart), James Dean (Gwyneth Paltrow), and Veronica Lake (shockingly, Martha Stewart) and such pop-culture personalities as Cher (socialite Alexandra von Furstenberg) and Siouxsie Sioux (Winona Ryder). The final pages present his ideas for looks to come, such as "Explorer," Mary J. Blige covered in eggplant body makeup with a rainbow of metallic eye shadows over her eyes and thickly glossed red lips; "Floralia," a freckled Lucy Liu resembling a sprite from A Midsummer's Night Dream; and "Venusian de Milo," Sharon Stone as an orange-haired, one-breast-baring sci-fi femme fatale. Throughout, Aucoin augments an already colorful book with step-by-step instruction, chatty commentary on each look and model, and riffs on such topics as friendship, politics (he repeatedly applauds the Clinton Administration for embracing diversity in the '90s), and the environment.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
The bestselling author of Making Faces and everybody's best friend returns with another lavish makeup book. In Face Forward, Kevyn Aucoin employs all of his pals to show how makeup can give everyone a variety of different "faces."

This extravagant book stars talents such as Amy Sedaris and Mary J. Blige; glamour divas Elizabeth Hurley, Sharon Stone, and Madonna; as well as strivers Winona Ryder and Jewel. The "Everywoman" isn't neglected either. Aucoin's lush pages give attention to a Bergdorf's sales associate and his colleague's mother, proving beauty is not just for Hollywood.

Most fun in this book is the section entitled "Dimensions," wherein familiar faces are transformed into memorable visages from the past. There are quite a few extraordinary ones, and upon even closer inspection of these pages, one is still bewildered by Aucoin's dexterity with his makeup brush. Most notable of those transformations are: Susan Sarandon as Bette Davis; Amber Valetta as both Clark Gable and Carole Lombard; Martha Stewart as Veronica Lake; Gena Rowlands as Ava Gardner; Gwyneth Paltrow as James Dean; Gina Gershon as Sophia Loren; Hilary Swank as Raquel Welch; Sedaris as Angie Dickinson; and Alex Peruzzi as Linda Evangelista.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Once again Kevyn Aucoin astonishes with his incredible transformations of famous and ordinary people alike. In this new book, he demonstrates how anyone can have a variety of different "faces." Working with a whole new cast of famous faces, he turns Celine Dion, Julianne Moore, Sharon Stone, Susan Sarandon, Jennifer Lopez, and many others into their most beautiful, glamorous, and intriguing selves. For each and every face, he provides step-by-step instructions and illustrations that will make them easy to reproduce at home. With this gorgeous and practical book, anyone can face forward to the new millennium with confidence and style.* Making Faces has sold 350,000 copies in hardcover and 83,000 copies in paperback. * Kevyn Aucoin is indisputably the best-known makeup artist today. He writes a monthly column for Allure. * Just like Making Faces, Face Forward will be a gorgeously produced book with jaw-dropping photographs by Kevyn Aucoin himself.

SYNOPSIS

Once again Kevyn Aucoin astonishes with his incredible transformations of famous and ordinary people alike. In this new book, he demonstrates how anyone can have a variety of different faces. Working with a whole new cast of famous faces, he turns Celine Dion, Julianne Moore, Sharon Stone, Susan Sarandon and many others into their most beautiful, glamorous, and intriguing selves. For each and every face, he provides step-by-step instructions and illustrations that will make them easy to reproduce at home. With this gorgeous and practical book, anyone can face forward to the new millennium with confidence and style. Making Faces has sold 350,000 copies in hardcover and 83,000 copies in paperback. Kevyn Aucoin is indisputably the best-known makeup artist today. He writes a monthly column for Allure and is the make-up consultant at beauty.com. Just like Making Faces, Face Forward will be a gorgeously produced book with jaw-dropping photographs by Kevyn Aucoin himself.

FROM THE CRITICS

Clarissa Cruz - Entertainment Weekly