Gina Brooke, is not nearly as recognizable or as famous as some of her clients. However, the strikingly beautiful make-up artist and She Uemura’s artistic director, shuttles around the world for photo shoots, preps her celebrity clients for the red carpet, and, of course, creates the most stunning lashes for the Japanese cosmetic company.
Lately she has been collaborating once again with Madonna. Brooke has worked with the superstar for the past decade, creating the makeup for each tour, including the current one, MDNA.
Here, Brooke takes time out from the road to talk creativity, cult products, and cosmetics that can pass the on-stage sweat test.
How do you work with Madonna to come up with makeup looks?
It is definitely collaboration. She has an idea; I have ideas. Then we combined the two along with hair and styling. It’s a collaboration between the hair stylist and makeup artist — and Madonna, of course. She always has an idea of which direction she wants to go in. Usually on certain jobs you walk in and go, “OK, this is my idea.” She is like, “No, this is my idea, and then you guys give me what you’ve got.”
What is the process of creating the makeup look for Madonna’s show?
I listen to the music to get a feel for the show and [stylist] Arianne Phillips presents sketches of each outfit. I watch the show for about a week and then make storyboards. Ultimately, Madonna chooses what she likes best.
How has Madonna’s approach to beauty evolved over the last 10 years?
Madonna usually has an idea of what she wants to look like, but hires people around her to facilitate it. It’s a collaboration between wardrobe, makeup and hair.
How long does it take you to do her makeup?
Andy Lecompte and I do hair and makeup at the same time, which takes 45 minutes.
How many touch-ups do you do over the course of a show?
There will be about six touch-ups, which is the most I’ve had to do.
What is the best trick for getting the makeup to stay on and how do you keep it sweat proof?
The best way is to prep the skin properly. Madonna uses Intraceuticals, which is a treatment for dehydrated skin. Then I use a primer, which helps the makeup stay put. During this particular show, I heard Make Up For Ever was making an Aqua Rouge lip line. Everything is sweat proof and waterproof. This is how my collaboration with them came about.
How has Madonna’s face changed and how does that impact what you do?
Everyone’s face changes from loss of hyaluronic acid. I love to work with creams because they’re absorbent and look like second skin.
What do you carry in your kit?
I can’t live without Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil. I love Clé de Peau concealer. I create my own lashes, so a curler is a must. Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Rouge eye shadow literally doesn’t move. I like to use a highlighter to contour the face because it makes the person look younger. And red lipstick, always!
You created a special shade of Aqua Rouge Waterproof Liquid Lip Color called Iconic just for Madonna. Tell us about it.
Every tour, I make her something special. I’ve created mink lashes, diamond lashes and rose gold eye shadow made from real gold. We always enhance her eyes, so for this I wanted to enhance her lips. This show has a very 1930s Parisian feel and enhancing the lips was a necessity.
