Backstage with Dior

Total look: Dior

Before the Dior show by Maria Grazia Chiuri took place this season during Paris Fashion Week, I got the opportunity to go backstage and meet the makeup genius behind Dior Makeup, Peter Philips. If you've ever been backstage you know how crazy this can be, how many things goes on at the same time and how many people run around among models, press and photographers. In the midst of this craziness I got to sit down together with Peter to discuss what he had in mind for the show and a few other topics.

By the way, people always say "don't meet the people you admire because you might be disappointed" but this was most definitely not the case when meeting Peter – I've never met someone sweeter. Want to know what we chatted about? Ok, this is what I can remember after suffering a small chock after meeting one of my idols:

Can you tell me anything about the look that you're creating for the show?

Peter: It's actually a very natural look, which is almost like "the day after" kind of look. You know that leftover makeup that you don't really see when you wake up, but then when you wipe your eyes with a q-tip there's still some there. For the skin I used the Dior Forever Perfect Cushion foundation. Gentle, subtile eyebrows created with a pen for a very natural look. For lips we used the Sugar Scrub and the Lip Glow for a soft and glowy effect and for lashes the new Diorshow Pump and Volume mascara. The girls are wearing berets for the show and the collection is quite dark so we need to be thoughtful about the makeup look since it comes a big statement with almost anything that we do; if we would do a dark lip for example it would all of a sudden become quite gothic, if we would do a smokey eye it would become something else, and with an eyeliner a bit retro.

How would you describe the ultimate Dior girl?

Peter: There are so many words for this but she always love herself as a woman. 

If you had two pick one or two Dior products that you could not live without, which products would it be?

Peter: For now it's for sure the new Diorshow Pump and Volume mascara and the Sugar Scrub. 

Is there a makeup trend out there that you wish never became popular?

Peter: For me they're all kind of amazing but it just depends on how you wear it yourself, you have to make it your own. I could maybe say too much shading and highlighting but when it's well done it can look amazing as well but when it's badly applied, when it's too much or too little it can look less good... 

If there's anything every woman should think about when applying our makeup what would it be?

Peter: Balance it out. Some girls need more, some girls don't need more. Make sure you've put on enough makeup and make sure you haven't put on too much makeup. Try out new things, test products, you can make mistakes and learn from those mistakes and remember to evolve. Your makeup should always evolve with your face because what looks good on you when your 20 years old might not look as good on you when your 40 years old. Sometimes girls get too used to a certain look. That's the fun part of makeup as well, you can do so many different things with it.

Video footage by: Ylenia Cuéllar – Music by: "Holding back" SG Lewis ft. Gallant