Raychel Wade

For this collection, I knew I wanted to draw on that feeling of stepping in from a cold winter’s day and the beauty that comes from rosy cheeks.  Sitting by a fire, wrapped in a winter white cashmere sweater and sipping some hot cocoa (spiked with schnapps, natch).  This is how I always start.  With an image in my head.  I collect them, mull over them and create a presentation board that conveys what is bouncing around in my mind.  These are some that evoke the feeling I was aiming for…

Because I have worked with La Prairie for a couple of years I know what the existing colour collection has, what it needs and what the customers are asking for.  I first decide WHAT I want in the collection– Do I want a powder blush?  Or maybe a cream one?  Do I want to it have shimmer?  And would that fit with the overall theme I am trying to create?  Once that is decided, I fiddle with the actual shades.  This is a trial and error and works much like a puzzle.  Maybe I really want a certain colour but it doesn’t fit with the others in the quad.  They each become my little babies and it’s surprisingly hard to eliminate one if it just doesn’t work for the season.

I put this all together with names, presentation boards and present it to the company.  The get samples back from our factory for me to look at, give notes and tweak the texture and shades for a second go-around.A short eight months (yes it doesn’t happen over night!) and you can walk up to the counters and take the goodies home!

As a makeup artist I know how important it is to make it WEARABLE.  I put tremendous thought into making sure these colours will work on just about everyone regardless of their skin tone and coloring.