Confession time. If I had just a nickel to my name, I would spend it on a new lipstick. The retail counters and kiosks that house all the brands of cosmetics are like sirens luring me to dash myself against the chrome and glass.
Melissa in makeup, photo by April MacIntyre ©M&C
Knowing this, you can imagine my insane joy at the invitation once again to visit Melanie Mills and her team of pros in her disco ball-decked out Valhalla for makeup junkies - “Dancing with the Stars” tricked out custom makeup trailer on the CBS television city studios lot.
I was there the day prior to Steve-O’s elimination.
The Emmy award-winning "Dancing with the Stars" makeup team gave me Carte Blanche to investigate everyone’s station, checking out the goods used up close.
Their makeup department often times works over 16 hours days, and is headed by Melanie Mills, joined by her "A" team: Patty Ramsey Bertoli, Zena Shteysel, Angela Moos and Nadege Schoenfeld.
The Team
These women are hardcore pros and creative geniuses in what they accomplish daily, taking mostly average looking attractive people and turning them into goddesses and gods, adorned with richly bronzed skin and perfect finishing touches.
The self-tanning and accessory products used to smooth and perfect the contestants’ skin have been honed and customized by Mills herself, who is now a creative director with St. Tropez.
Melanie will be introducing “Mel’s Mix”, which is a product that bronzes you a deep rich and authentic looking tan, not the dreaded shade of Lohan orange.
St. Tropez
Her “Mel’s Mix” tube of bronzing leg makeup is now a permanent addition to my repetoire, never have my legs looked so good; the color is believable and the formula she has perfected hides any little imperfections without transfer once dried.
The entire DWTS makeup process begins with this step one body tanning. You saw what it did for Ty when he finally gave in and succumbed to the tanning spray down! His dancing improved and the bonus was his ripped muscular frame was made more evident by the glare of his white skin being toned down a few notches.
Derek, photo by April MacIntyre ©M&C
Weekly, Mel and her team find out the music and dance routines, and work closely with the wardrobe department, receiving sketches and designing each pro and celebrities' “look” and color palette to compliment the whole picture.
Makeup bay, photo by April MacIntyre ©M&C
The shout out for product begins with the makeup foundations that I made note of on everyone’s bay; especially visible were Chanel Vitalumiére foundations, "Walnut" being Lil Kim's shade, and Amazing Concealer by Amazing Cosmetics also used as a base foundation for her.
Amazing Concelaer
Chanel VitaLumiere was spotted in several of the pro's set stations, with "Tawny Beige" and Matte Lumiere in Shade 100 "Soft Ivory" and 130; Blanc de Chanel in Pearl White was in use too. Chanel's Pro Lumiere foundation was also used frequently, shades 30, 40, 76 and "Cool Beige."
Armani Foundation
Newcomer Giorgio Armani foundation was in high rotation, with numbers 8, 9 and 3 seen in several makeup bays.
Laura Mercier foundation powder #7 used on the pros like Edyta and Cheryl too, along with Visiora shade MV 005, and once again, Giorgio Armani's crème foundation in shade #8 and #9. Laura Mercier's Foundation Powder #7 and Kryolan's Shimmering Event Foundation in "Pearl" were go-to staples for the team.
Lil Kim, photo by April MacIntyre ©M&C
Christian Dior Teint Diorlift Extreme was in the house, as was Diorskin Forever Shade 050, as Lancôme’s Aqua Fusion Teinte was used heavily on all the men.
Aqua Fusion
Pro makeup line RCMA (Research Council of Makeup Artists) was used in shade "Olive 2" along with every artist having their palette of thick foundation bases that are mixed with a special thinner.
Laura Mercier dominated the concealers, with Secret Camouflage in shades 'SC-6," 'SC-5" and “SC-4” being the most popular.
Secret Camouflage
Tarte Tipsy
Color was a kaleidoscope of brands; starting with the cheeks, Mel and her team loved the cream and gel rouge like the brand Tarte, all the artist’s favorite quick cheek color, and it was used on Shawn Johnson that day in the shade of "Tipsy" and "Infinite Glow," underneath Tarte's "Clean Slate" primer.
Nars Orgasm
DuWop cheek venom in "Sidewinder" was also used; on deck were Laura Mercier's Mineral Cheek Powders in "Amberstone" and "Coral", "Revolution" and Nars' powder and crème blush "Orgasm", "South Beach" and "Goldmember" crème were popular too.
Cargo Laguna
Clinique’s oldie but goodie, “Colour Rub” was used; Lorac's "Pink" was used over MAC's “Strobe” liquid lotion; "Madly Magenta" and "Petticoat," Makeup Forever's "Flash Color" #38752 was on Lil Kim that day, as was Skin Illustrator in "Copper" and "Alchemy."
Makeup bay, photo by April MacIntyre ©M&C
Bed Head's 'Chocolate Raspberry" and the Cargo powder blush in "Laguna" and "Catalina", and Cargo eye palettes were among the heavily used items on Shawn, Melissa, Lil Kim and the Pros.
Julie Hewitt's Cheekie
All over color was handled by Stila in the shade #01 Bronzing Powder. The brand Julie Hewitt was also favored and Hewitt’s Hue colors (Hue Violet was on Melissa that day) and Shimmy line in "Goldie," 'Clea" and "Pinkie." Julie Hewitt's Cheekie in the shade "Vampie" for lips and cheeks was a hot item too. (Julie Hewitt was the makeup line that supplied a great deal of color for Scarlett Johannson’s makeup artist Heba Thorisdottir for the “The Black Dahlia” film, her lipsticks especially).
Ardell lashes
Eyelashes again were again dominated by Ardell, with #114 used on Lil Kim the day I was there, as well as #40, #316 and #118. The favorite adhesive for the lashes was “Duo".
Tarte Curler
Another tip from Mel: The Tarte brand “Picture Perfect” eyelash curler was the best she had ever used.
Ziba body art
For all the bendable body Art you saw on Melissa the whole season, the Body Art Ornaments were made by Ziba and available at www.zibabeauty.com . The adhesive used for the body art (mostly to cover Melissa's lower back tattoo) was by Telesis.
The array of pure pigments, which includes glitters, pigment crèmes and reflect crèmes used were all by MAC and Makeup Forever.
MAC pigments
Urban Decay supplied the very popular Glitter Eyeliner and Eye gel in "Heavy Metal."
Urban Decay Glitter liners
Used that day were all the Stila eye shadow palettes, and Bobbie Brown’s “Brights” eyeshadows, “Bonfire” eyeshadow and “Night Sky” long wear eyeshadow palette, Urban Decay crème eyeshadow in "Mushroom" and deluxe eyeshadow in "Adore" also were popular, and Julie Hewitt's crème eyeshadow in "Newsprint Blue" was used on Melissa that night.
Julie Hewitt's Mandy palettte
Julie Hewitt’s “Mandy” palette was a hit too.
Nars supplied crème eyeshadows in “Petula,” “El Dorado,” “Granada” and “Decameron”, Lancôme’s Quad Eyeshadow kit in Rose Pale, Fuschia, Rose Mauve were used that day. Julie Hewitt’s “Twilight” palette and Bed Head’s palette of eyeshadow with “Copper,” “Peach,” Natural,” “Black,” and “Brown” were in use.
Julie Hewitt's Twilight
Smashbox’s “Fusion” eyeshadow, MAC's Symmetry powder shadow and Neon Pigments are in high rotation in the trailer too. DuWop "Smoke" eye kits including "Navy Seal" were used quite a bit. Christian Dior's Mousse Eyeshadow in "Eye Show", and eyeshadow #275 "Metallic Blue" and #005 "Smoking Black" was in everyone's kit too.
Melanie had a request for Cargo, “please bring “Nepal” eyeshadow BACK!”
Nails and toes were painted with OPI polish, the most popular color that day was "Bubble Bath."
OPI Bubble Bath
Brows were still being dominated by the still excellent Benefit "Browzings" kits in "Light," "Medium" and "Dark," as well as Lancôme brow pencils. Perfect Brow by Brenda Christian was seen too.
Benefit BrowZings
Those curious about the used “tools of the trade” will want to know the makeup brushes were dominated by Stila, MAC, Bobbi Brown, and Ve Neill’s brush line called “Ve’s Favorite brushes.”
Ve Neill's Brushes
Neill is a three-time Oscar winning makeup artist who works with Johnny Depp for all his films. She recently wrapped as makeup department head for “The Soloist.”
Also used were Mel's go-to blotter sponges, the uniquely shaped "Pink Beauty Blender" sponges that grab the excess product without marring the work.
Beauty Blender
Mel told me she wanted a "wet look" to Shawn Johnson's eye makeup that day, so she used extra lashes on Shawn, who was rocking #117 Ardell lashes, and her eyes were lined with Benefit's High Roller Pigment powder, and lined inside with MAC's "Black Track."
Shawn and Melanie, photo by April MacIntyre ©M&C
Shawn told me that losing David Alan Grier so early in the competition "was a shocker." Shawn said, "His energy was so wonderful, and he was such a sweetheart," when I asked who she missed so far in the competition. Johnson hails from West Des Moines, Iowa, and told me she looked forward to going back to gymnastics after the show.
More workhorses for Mel and her team were the Bobbi Brown Color Correctors in "Bisque," "Peach" and Dark Peach," Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer, and MAC Liquidlast liners, "Auto Orange," also MAC's fluid liners in "Macroviolet," "Waveline," and "Black Track," staple colors were Lancôme’s #2 Laqueliner eyeliner, and the Lancôme Art Liners in "Smoke."
A finishing touch staple was Makeup Forever's loose powders including "HD High Defining powder," "Diamond Powder" and Shu Uemura's assorted finishing powders
Makeup Forever HD Powder
Favorite no fail mascara? Mel swears by "Definicils" and "Effacils" mascara by Lancôme, as well as "Voluminous" by L'Oreal in Carbon Black. Also praised was Stila’s “Major Lash.” Melanie said, "Voluminous is the best waterproof mascara."
Voluminous mascara
Lips hands down had the biggest array of product. Starting with Lip Liners, I watched as Patty, Mel and her team used Smashbox's "Palm Beach" and "Cafe Latte," MAC's "Soar," Makeup Forever's entire liner palette, Bobbi Brown's lip palettes, Julie Hewitt's "07" and the gorgeous "Nude Noir" and DuWop's "Tear Drop." Side note: “Nude Noir” is one of those perfect medium depth nudey-pink beige lip liners you can color your mouth in and put a sheer gloss over, and people will stop you and ask what you are wearing.
The Lips were covered by DuWop’s “Venom” lip pout, Smashbox’s “Smashing Ruby,” “Pixel,” “Fame,” “Siren,” “35mm” and “Sugar Spice” Doubletake lipgloss worked overtime.
Lip Venom
Shawn Johnson was wearing Tarte lipgloss in “Darling” over MAC “Razzle Dazzle.” Melissa was rocking Laura Mercier’s “French CanCan” and all the Stila glosses were raved over by the entire team. Christian Dior lipsticks were seen, as were MAC and Makeup Forever.
Skincare was representing too, as many of the pros and stars had issues with minor breakouts and hydration. KohGenDo skincare and Epicuren products were all around, as were Angels Collagen Intensive Vials which Melanie swore by, and you can check out: angelsmakeup@aol.com
St. Tropez made skin preps for the self tanning process that Melanie and her team used, scrubs and moisturizers to get the skin just right to accept the self tanner.
Epicuren
Epicuren products used heavily were the Crystal Clear makeup remover, Protein Mist and Pure Aloe Vera Gel. KohGenDo’s products that were well received were the Cleansing Cream, Cleansing Spa Water, Oriental Plants Essence and Skin Lotion. Kiehls Abyssine Cream was popular, as was Sephora brand Body Butter in Coconut Crème. Bio Elements Eveyday Protector SPF 8 was another moisturizer in the rotation.
Jason Wee Man Acuna and Steve-O, photo by April MacIntyre ©M&C
Last week Ty was eliminated, his magic tan powers couldn’t keep him from the chop, but Gilles, Shawn and Melissa remain. Monday night sees them square off in the finals.
You now know what they are using to look so good; go forth and shop, and talk back below if you have any specific product questions for Melanie Mills and her team about DWTS makeup. I will get the answers for you directly, posting in the talkback section.
“Dancing with the Stars” airs Monday, May 18th on ABC.
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