Every time I’m asked to do a sexy men’s magazine cover like FHM, I always think twice before accepting it. It’s usually because I’m not familiar with the celebrity or I’m not as excited to do the job.
Though there are times when the idea of adding my touch to a certain face excites me.
Like Katrina Halili, the featured cover girl, the one in the photos.
Katrina was once the sexiest star of her time, bagging FHM’s sexiest woman of the year, twice in a row, which was only a few years back.
But it’s the idea of a comeback that excites me. As a make-up artist, this is a rare chance to do some magic. How do I make her look current? Classier? More alluring? Different? Exciting? So many adjectives came to my mind that when the project was offered to me, I said yes right away.
I am also happy that the celebrity specifically requested for me. That was the icing on the cake.
For aspiring make-up artists, doing magazine work means doing real work and not minding the talent fee. Sometimes I find it unfair that make-up artist are paid a pittance just because your name will be added to the billing on the byline. But anyways, when I get
excited for a project, money matters are no object. But on other magazine covers, I usually demand a fair price just to improve the industry and benefit the succeeding generation of make-up artists.
Going back to doing men’s sexy magazine covers, the trick here is to not to make your subject look vampy to the point of making her make-up look street-hawker like. No heavy liners, no smoky eyes. Subdue everything and make her look as polished as possible. 
No hard make-up, no blood red lips please. For me, a woman trying too much to look sexy is the quickest way to look cheap. Make-up is very important for a men’s magazine because make-up can spell the difference from being a hot mama to being a fabulously sexy hot mama.
inmymakeupchair 
