Malick James Hilado muses on creating a beauty masterpiece
by Marielle Ong
For makeup artists, the visage is often considered a blank canvas to work their magic on. Malick James Hilado, on the other hand, has a specific sort of reverence for the faces he works with. “Behind every wonderful and successful workmanship is a great story to tell,” he says. Undoubtedly he has a lot of great stories up his sleeve. After graduating from college, Malick took lessons from School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA), attended workshops under MAC Cosmetics, and trained at Australian College of Hair Design and Beauty Manila. Eventually, he began the makeup artistry company that would be known as The Face Mantra, where he and his team take on various styles, from subtle and sweet to avant-garde fierceness. Malick is also known for his work with brides and here he reveals what it takes to look oh-so-on-point for the big day.
Bolder is better – When asked about what’s looking to trend in the immediate future, Malick says it is ladies making bolder beauty choices. “They will be more adventurous and creative when selecting colors and palettes, while makeup artists will be experimenting with more self expressive styling with regards to the clients’ individual characters,” he points out. Chalk it up to social media and high-concept looks becoming the norm. He emphasizes, however, that a bride’s priority is still to express herself on her big day.
A personal touch – It’s all about the eyes for Malick. “Matte and subtle glitter pigments are great materials to work with to make the eyes more expressive and beautiful,” he says. A quick look at The Face Mantra’s Facebook page proves as much. There is no shortage of tantalizing eyes carefully contoured and bedazzled, be it bridal or editorial. A full brow and soft coral lips usually add the finishing touches.
INSPIRATIONS FOR WEDDINGS & DEBUT MAGAZINE l VOLUME 7 ISSUE 13 l pp 38
Confidently nude – Of course, a lot of soon-to-weds also know to stick to the classics. One of the most requested looks from Malick still revolves around a light- or blush-colored palette that focuses on projecting a fresh and youthful face. The go-to is lightweight makeup that will make the skin look hydrated. “The best celebrity bride peg for this is Coleen Garcia,” Malick notes. “She wore minimal foundation, barely there eyeshadow, a few swipes of blush and lipstick. Nevertheless, she looked fabulously radiant—a shining example of the flawless, bridal glow.”
“Go to bed early. Hydrate skin and body with plenty of water. Stick to a skincare routine. Groom the brows at least two days before the big day to let stressed skin settle down.”
Prepping for some primping – His beauty schedule for big events is practical: Go to bed early. Hydrate skin and body with plenty of water. Stick to a skincare routine. Groom the brows at least two days before the big day to let stressed skin settle down. He also preps the skin with a cold face mask to tighten the pores for an overall smoother skin texture.
Beauty, everlasting – Rather than just focusing on makeup brands per se, Malick attributes the long-wearing look to carefully prepping the skin even before any makeup touches the face. “Choosing the right skincare products and having a curated routine will help the makeup last,” he explains. “Healthy skin equals a glowing look that lasts.” But for a little bit of help, he recommends stocking the clutch with a luminous loose powder, a matte lipstick (to prevent color transfer), and a pack of tissue. His work of art is now ready to face the world.
INSPIRATIONS FOR WEDDINGS & DEBUT MAGAZINE l VOLUME 7 ISSUE 13 l pp 38
