Face Forward

"I brought this book thinking it was one i've previously seen through a friend only to realise it wasn't the same one. ( i wanted Making faces). Its ok if you want to learn how to make up faces to look like other people but as far as techniques go, i would recommend getting Making Faces first. "
~ Written on 2008-08-16

"I bought this book following on from Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin which I love. Having read some of the reviews beforehand, I was dismissive of the 'air brushing' and went ahead and got this book anyway. Whilst the content is of interest, the other reviewers are correct, when you come across an airbrushed photograph - and there are quite a few - you can really tell it. There are also some photos which I found quite disturbing - Gena Rowlands as Madame Butterfly being perhaps the most so. Whilst I enjoyed his script in Making Faces, I found the 'so and so is such a great person...' comments became a bit wearing after the first few pages in this book. That said, Kevyn Aucoin was a fantastic makeup artist and whilst I think this book isn't as good as Making Faces, it is, nonetheless, fascinating to flick through."
~ Written on 2006-12-15

"I read about Aucoin in a glossy magazine and thought I had to get one of his books on makeup. From the reviews in Amazon, this one looked the best option. And it has pros and cons, that's why I can't give it more than 3 stars.
First, the good news. It's beautifully edited, with big size pictures (even if yes, they're digitally or airbrush-ly enhanced)and clear explanations, step-by-step dos, etc. I liked the fact than Aucoin doesn't give any specifical brands -which I hate to see in magazines, as it's always very expensive brands they recommend and you get the feeling that you can't achieve the look unless you spend a fortune. Also, you can copy or develop a certain part (eyes, skin, and so on) of every picture. It's a very nice book for starters, but when you've read half the book the steps are beginning to repeat themselves a bit.
On the other hand, what I didn't like at all was all the "personal" stuff: Mr Aucoin telling us about how wonderful every woman -and some men- in the book are. It's just boring. He must have been a wonderful human being and all that, but when I buy an expensive book on make up by a professional artist, I want to read about make up, not about how he met so-and-so. I think it's the American stuff about "being yourself" and "look within" and so on, which they never actually use on real people and real life. For me all the small talk and gossip it's just booooring, and I think the book would improve if they had keep all the personal histories apart.
Thus said, I liked the book in the whole but maybe you can find better books by this same author, more about make up and less about his friends. Unless you really enjoy to know the stories behind the faces -if you do this book is for you."
~ Written on 2004-01-08

"I was very upset to hear that the author of this book, Kevyn Aucoin, had died. He was a makeup genius and is such a loss for the makeup world. His images where so enchanting. I loved the variety of photographs such as the unique but totally different portraits of Karen Elson as Elizabeth I with startling white skin and Mary J. Blige's Skin covered in beautiful eggplant black foundation.

This book is essential to any makeup fanatic like me. And everyone just has to fall in love with the show stopping picture of a famous actress made up as James Dean."
~ Written on 2003-03-29

"Face Forward is his most recent publication, after "The Art Of make up" and "Making Faces". He has a huge celebrity following and you can see why. His work is dramatic but subtle at the same time; he works with each individuals face and some of the transformations are breathtaking. He dosent do the "lets do our best to be subtle and let blemishes show through", no he gives everyone the full whack, and they look amazing. And why not? Face Forward is split into two halves, the first is dealing with some basics, such as shading and contouring, basic make up brushes and cosmetics which are handy. He does not name specific brands, there is no plugging in this book, he tells you that cheap can be and often is as good as expensive. The first section he shows women and one man (his partner!)with what make up suits them, and like I said some of these transformations are amazing. He chooses women he meets on the street, they are not all young and model like, they are a mix of black, white, asian, old, young etc. The looks he creates are not done with trendy colours only, they are the kind of looks you can imagine doing on yourself.

The second half consists of dramatic make overs on celebrity friends such as Tina Turner, Calista Flockhart, Winona Ryder and so on. They are transformed into other superstars, Audrey Hepburn, Cleopatra and so on. These pictures are fab for inspiration, if your going to a party, yes you could try and replicate them fully, but personally, I can imagine plucking the lips from one image, the eyes from another. Thats one of the best things about this book; it is not a step by step guide, because they never work perfectly; rather it inspires you to create your own looks.

Also on the plus side is the beautiful photography; Sharon Stone as a angel in particular, but you can see the thought and work that has gone into creating this book. it isn't over burdened with text, which I think is a no no, after all if your writing a make up book, it should be full of images! Also Aucoin really adds the personal touch by placing photographs of his travels and adventures. He mentions a lot of his own personal thoughts into the book, mainly about the superficialness of the beauty and fashion industry and prejudices plcaed on himself and others. He recognises the irony of him working in the beauty industry, and by using models of different ages and races, he is trying to open new outlets for minorities.

Sadly, Kevin Aucoin died in May this year at the age of 40, which is a shame because I think he would've written many more brilliant books and probably created a spanking range of cosmetics too. He does have another two books out however, so I suggest other beauty addicties purchase them now!"
~ Written on 2002-08-22