If beauty was a religion, Kevyn Aucoin’s Making Faces would surely be its Bible – the sacred text that offers guidance, delineates right from wrong, is dog-eared beyond recognition and serves as a reference point for everything to come after it. For many, both professionals and otherwise, its ground zero for makeup – a turning point in how (and why) people use it to enhance and alter the way they look and feel. To say it changed the course of an industry would truly be putting it lightly.
The late artist is arguably one of the most decorated in his field. His attitude to makeup was fresh and exciting – it was a means to transform and make women feel naturally beautiful. His clientele included everyone who was anyone: Cindy Crawford, Audrey Hepburn, Naomi Cambell, Linda Evangelista, Liza Minelli, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cher, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Elizabeth Taylor, Christy Turlington. His signature was sculpted, polished and defined – he added depth, light and shade like no one else. He was the creator of modern contouring – a method since adopted by its patron saint, Kim Kardashian Went.
From magazine covers to iconic editorials, if it was a high profile beauty shoot in the 90s, chances are it was Kevyn. Here, we’re celebrating 16 of his most iconic looks – from a Marilyn-esque Naomi to baby-faced Nicole.
See the gallery below.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.