Dana Dougherty Reinke
Ever wonder who decided purple eyeshadow is hot this season?
Photo Courtesy Maybelline New York
Meet Troy Surratt, the beauty know-it-all putting coral gloss in your spring makeup bag.
Celebrity makeup artist Troy Surratt has tended to the famous faces of Hilary Duff, Charlize Theron and Mandy Moore, but he is probably most famous for his behind-the-scenes role of beauty colour forecaster. After high school, Surratt became a makeup artist for Lancôme, then switched his focus to fashion design, studying at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. But like any good beauty junkie, the products kept calling his name, and Surratt eventually listened.
While you are pondering your spring beauty essentials, Surratt already knows what shade of eyeliner you’ll be wearing come fall. Why? Because part of his fabulous job is working with cosmetic giant Maybelline New York and its team of professional trendspotters, who he regularly jets off with on inspirational shopping trips around the world searching for the next big thing.
Surratt says on these shopping sprees he picks up everything that strikes his fancy—from origami paper and fresh flowers to makeup and books. Back at Maybelline New York headquarters, Surratt’s odds and sods are then mixed and matched with colour chips to form the broad colour concept destined to become your favourite beauty must-have.
His inspiration for Maybelline New York’s spring Urban Orchid collection came from recent travels to Japan and his love of all things floral. As the title suggests, the Urban Orchid collection features petal-soft colours and smooth, silky textures sophisticated and versatile enough to be worn day or night. “The colours are modern and edgy but still have the fragility of a flower,” he notes.
What beauty surprises are in store for fall? You’ll just have to wait and see…Surratt’s lips are sealed!