In Conversation with International Make Up Artist Kate O'Reilly, By Nadia Forde
From red carpets to photo shoots, makeup artist Kate O’Reilly’s thing is glowy, natural-looking, can’t-put-your-finger-on-it radiance. A regular behind the scenes at Paris Fashion Week, Kate has worked her magic for Dior, Alexander McQueen, and Armani.
Over a cup of tea, Kate (as always) gives me some incredible beauty and wellness tips, along with unforgettable stories about growing up in Dublin and then finding herself landing smack-dab in the middle of the fashion world.
N - Kate, thanks for having this chat with me.
K - Of course.
N - I'm trying to place when we first met each other because I can't.
K - You were 17.
N - 17!!! Jaysus.
K - It was on a shoot... Yeah. God… a child.
N - Children!! We were children. But we always come back together. Even when you did my makeup for my wedding, I knew you could just read my mind. So, take me back to where the idea of makeup artistry started. Your parents were always quite creative, weren't they?
K - My parents nurtured an early interest in art in a very subtle way - through museum visits or foreign films. My mom was really into silent movie stars in the 70s. She kind of copied their look. There are all these photos of my mom looking like a silent movie star in the 70s.
N - I love that.
K - So I have memories of copying her makeup and then having to wash it off
because this was before social media, so there was nowhere to take a picture of it.
Then my mom had this American friend who had seen Kevin Aucoin on Oprah, and
she sent me his book from America.
N - Of course. He’s legendary.
K - In the 90s, I got my hands on some MAC products before MAC was even in
Europe - dark purples and browns - which I wore into school one day.
N - (laughs) Did you get in trouble?
K - My music teacher commented that I looked ‘very sophisticated’. (both laugh)
N - Something I always noticed with you is that you love film; you reference a lot of
film makeup all the time. In the past, we’ve looked at Italian films, like Fellini, Claudia
Cardinale and Monica Vitti style. Any other art?
K - When I was a kid I found Irish artist, Jim Fitzpatrick, his art depicts these
goddesses with big knotted hair. They were like really sexy 70s goddesses. I read
that he was inspired by Alphonse Mucha, a Czech artist, who did these really ornate
Art Nouveau women with patterns in the background.
N - Oh yes. Beautiful.
K - That’s something that kind of stuck with me in my discovery of makeup - these
illustrations of women.
N - I think, like me, you love the story behind the art. And ‘why’ something was
created and the meaning behind it.
K - Have you watched ‘Jodorowsky's Dune’? It’s a great story about how a filmmaker
aimed to make Dune, but his ambitious ideas and artistic concepts influenced many
future filmmakers and works within the science fiction genre, including the aesthetics
of “Star Wars”and "Blade Runner.”
N - Oh, I’ll add it to the list! I like that philosophy of all work, seen and unseen, leads
to the next work. Now, back to your journey. You’re working in Dublin and...
K - I was traveling from Ireland every season to Paris, Milan, and London, it was a
really steep learning curve. Eventually I moved to London and then Paris, where I
worked as a first assistant. It was an incredible experience. I traveled all over the
world and learned a lot.
N - So, talk me through the skin prep you would use during Paris Fashion Week.
K - It’s quite rushed. If there is a particular colour or texture being used at a show,
you’ll be given a sample to work with, so you only need the most basic things such
as skincare, base, brows and some choice items that you know people will request.
It’s a mix of waiting, chatting and manically working upside down on your hands and
knees. It’s the most intense environment, but the longer I do shows, the better I know
my colleagues, and we’ve become like a well-oiled machine. One time, I had a
model arrive from one show in full glitter and had to remove and reapply a whole
look while they dressed her. But I try to get some skin prep in. Micellar water to
cleanse - nothing compares and a face oil like Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical
Serum. I love gua sha because it stimulates blood flow, bringing a beautiful
freshness to the skin instantly. And for dried lips, I take an eczema cream like
Double Base, slather it on the lips, and remove it after a few minutes. I find it works
better than an exfoliant.
N - So, you have the model prepped and ready, then what?
K - The lineup. You have to try to carry every conceivable item for all skin tones in
your set bag and fit into a tiny space where the models are lined up in their clothes
for the show. Then you fight against a sea of people who don’t want you there so you
can fix running eyes, smeared lips, and exposed pimples. After 8 years, it still feels
like plunging into battle.
N - Best catering in a show?
K - Burberry. Top marks from me.
N - Fair play, Burberry.
K - Jennifer Saunders was backstage interviewing people for Vogue, and she looked
me dead in the eyes and talked to me. It was incredible. In the midst of the
madness…she stopped and held my hands. She saw into my soul. She was trying to
have a camera moment with me, but I was too star-struck to speak. I was like, oh,
am I meant to speak, or does she want to just riff?
N - (laughs) How amazing. I love when you meet someone, and they are just as
brilliant, if not better, than you see on screen.
N - Do you still start your base around concealer rather than foundation? And is
Bobbi Brown still your favourite?
K - Light peach for under the eyes.
N - Light peach, so good.
K - Yes, sometimes I don’t even use foundation. I focus on what needs to be covered
with concealer first. I like the look of real skin to show through. Models look after their
skin; it’s their job, so I might just be treating tiredness and puffiness on the day. Start
with the concealer and build up from there. It’s easier to add more than to take away.
N - Is skin prep for a red carpet different?
K - Very. The gift of time. The process is far more luxurious - face masks, gua sha,
lip treatment, and I always tidy up the brows. Also, clients will focus on diet, laser
treatments, etc. prior to an event.
N - Any cryo? I always end up needing to ice my face, especially if I’ve had an early
call time.
K - Yes. And SPF if we’re shooting outside all day. One of the last jobs I did as a first
assistant was the cover of Vanity Fair. We had five or six amazing models in
Naples, and the makeup style was really like they'd been on the beach all day. SPF
was a must, but we needed it to not look chalky or leave residue under the makeup.
We ended up using a translucent SPF balm from a Korean brand. It looked really
beautiful. They looked so good. It feels soothing to the skin compared to a cream.
N - What products are you loving at the moment?
K - Victoria Beckham eyeliners are great. Anastasia eyebrow pen - super fine for
realistic strokes. And I always prefer a cream bronzer over a powder; it means you
can still see the skin's texture - far more natural and subtle. Have you tried Weleda
Skin Food's new serum?
N - No, but I adore Skin Food.
K - You’ll love it.
N - So, what do you do to switch off? Your favourite wellness hacks.
K - I practice Yoga Nidra. It helps me quiet my mind and reconnect. I really value my
time with my family. I live close to my sister and niece, and there is nothing like those
cuddles from my niece.
N - The best.
K - I’ve also been reading a lot about the Rhythm of the Seasons, where you lean
into the time of year. Autumn is harvest, so it’s a time to take stock of the past year
and get ready to hibernate for winter! Spring for ideas and connection. Summer for
celebration.
N - That’s a gorgeous way to end. To ebb and flow.
What really hit home for me during my chat with Kate is how passionately she
champions natural beauty while also weaving in storytelling. Kate makes self-care as
important as our skincare routine. She’s not just a makeup magician for her clients;
she’s inspiring anyone who’s trying to figure out their own version of beauty. As she
moves through the ever-changing world of fashion, Kate reminds us that our true
glow comes from within, encouraging all of us to embrace our quirks and let our
unique shine light up the world…now off to buy that VB eyeliner!
