Natasha Severino is an Australian make up artist who’s honed her skills under the watchful eyes of some of the greats like Pat McGrath, Val Garland and Lucia Pieroni. She’s versatile and as at home backstage at fashion week as she is on a luxury editorial shoot. She’s served as an ambassador for YSL and Shiseido and has recently moved to LA where she’s signed to a new agent and regularly highlights the faces of fashion and beauty icons she grew up admiring like Amber Valletta, Erin Wasson and Liberty Ross.
As the distinction between model, reality star, social media star, actor and musician continues to blur, Natasha concedes that there’s no better place for her to be working right now. LA is the home to so many of these popular figures and, frankly, they all need their make up done.
As the former make-up director of MBFW in Sydney, Natasha identifies Romance Was Born’s 2009 iconic Doilies and Pearls, Oysters and Shellsshowas the moment she harnessed her creative powers and established her distinctive aesthetic.
Known for her effective use of bright colour, Natasha is just as likely to add a simple highlight for effect and it is sometimes this restraint that’s her trademark. We spoke to Natasha in LA about some insider beauty tips and what’s in her kit.
How has the way you work changed in the six years since the Romance Was Born show?
It’s grown and evolved so much over the past 6 years. I think the reason for this is that I still really enjoy assisting on the ready to wear shows, it refines my technique and I always come back with some piece of knowledge that I didn’t have before.
How’re you enjoying LA? How would you describe the kind of makeup that you’re doing over there?
LA’s great, I love it so much. My look is very strong editorially and as LA is traditionally known as more of a celebrity-driven town, coming here, a lot of people suggested I might do better in New York. The fact is that in the past three years the industry here has changed so much. All the big campaigns have been shot here, all the big editorials have been shot here. If you want to look at big endorsements, people are looking towards celebrities and the celebrities live here. I think there will be a massive change in how people view LA as an editorial and fashion hub. There’s a great art culture that’s starting to bring a lot of diversity to the town as well.
How is the makeup in LA? Do you find people wear makeup well there generally?
There’s so many great subcultures here like rockabillies, punks and Californian babes. They’re very particular in their style and take great care with styling their clothing, their hair and everything.
I saw you worked with Courtney Love recently? Tell us about that.
She was an absolute sweetheart. Very guarded but you can understand why that might be.
Did you experiment with your own makeup growing up? Did you have any crazy experimental phases?
NO. I’m so blind that I can’t see anything without my glasses making experimenting with make up on myself a near impossibility.
If you could own just one item of makeup, what would you choose?
Red lips. My signature is Lady Danger MAC.
What five products do you always have with you on a shoot?
Clairasonic, La Mer skincare, Dermalogica 50+ Solar Booster, MAC Gloss, Goe Oil and Shu Uemera eyelash curlers.
What are the craziest products you’ve ever used?
Special effects make up is pretty crazy to use. I find black light (neon) make up quite crazy too.
What was the last thing you bought?
Mascara, I feel like I’m constantly buying new mascaras.
What would you recommend for a good mascara?
There’re so many. I’m obsessed with Sisley and Givenchy mascaras. Chanel mascaras are great as is the Babydoll by Yves Saint Laurent and Haute and Naughty by MAC is a great 2 in 1. Lancome does great mascaras too.
Which five pieces of makeup do you use the most?
Cle de Peau Fondation, Laura Mercier Camouflage Concealer, YSL Touche Eclat, MAC Eyebrow gel and MAC Taupe.
What advice would you give to us novices re applying our make up?
Keep it beautiful.
I like wearing blue eyeliner. What’s your take on it?
Oh my god. Got for it, girl. The more electric the better. You can go for subtlety with a navy blue that brings out the colour in your eyes otherwise. I enjoy working with colour and texture so much, there’s always some sort of glitter explosion at some point during the day when you’re working with me.
Awesome. I love it.
I like to push the envelope but then I also have another side where I really love making people look beautiful. Just a really amazing version of themselves.
How is technology and developments in make up generally changing your job?
For me, the technology has changed most in terms of skin care, which is great. I am all about the treatment of the skin before I apply any makeup. Whether I use a light source or Clarisonic to polish the skin. I look to get the skin up to an optimum state of hydration and clarity. And if it’s a bit puffy, how do we tone that down? For me, the real technology is in skin care we can use at home – the machines that you’d traditionally go to a beauty therapist for like LED lights that really stimulate the collagen and surface of the skin to make it plump and fresh.
It’s nice to see the skin.
Not everyone has 45 minutes to devote to a treatment before they whack on foundation though.
Where do you want to take your makeup?
My ultimate goal is to be a creative director of a cosmetic brand. Ultimately, to be able to help create products. I have an idea of what I would like to create, but I don’t necessarily want my own range.
Are those jobs few and far between?
You definitely need to have the right portfolio, both within the creative realm and also a celebrity realm. It’s about building your relationships. Everything’s relationship building.
Lastly, is there one trend that you can foresee is gonna be big in the near future?
I feel like jewels and small ornaments on the face is gonna go from runway to real way. I feel like it might be something people will really own on the street.
Credits
Text Briony Wright
Photography Ben Pier