M-A-C Cosmetics Merges Makeup Trends, Technique and Technology at New York Fashion Week A/W 2011

NEW YORK, February 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- If you're talking runway makeup, you're talking M-A-C! Each year, M-A-C participates in 23 Fashion Weeks around the world: New York, London, Milan, Paris, Sydney, Copenhagen, Athens, Moscow, Berlin, Delhi, Istanbul, Barcelona, Mexico City, Miami Swimwear, NY Bridal, Auckland, Toronto, Tokyo, Sao Paulo, Paris Couture, Milan Menswear and Paris Menswear. The total number of shows we do annually is approximately 850.

Beginning in New York, M-A-C's international team of over 275 makeup artists - joined by the most talented freelance artists from around the world - embark on a whirlwind tour that will take them through New York, London, Milan and Paris. The M-A-C PRO Teams work closely with legendary makeup artists such as Diane Kendal, Charlotte Tilbury, Val Garland, James Kaliardos, Lucia Pieroni and Polly Osmond. Our artists play key roles in creating the makeup looks on the most famous runways in the world and setting trends for the coming season.

Beginning February 10th, M-A-C's Pro Team of International makeup artists will open their kits and unleash their creativity, hitting the shows at Lincoln Center, M-A-C & Milk and numerous other venues with the most cutting edge makeup ideas, inspirations and techniques that will define the A/W 2011 season.

"M-A-C began supporting fashion shows 18 years ago with the goal of lending support to our #1 customer - the professional makeup artist - and to champion the fashion design community.

Years later, those goals have not changed. With over 90 shows to support in New York this season and more than 20 at Lincoln Center M-A-C is there, on the front lines, creating and setting the dominant makeup trends for that season." --John Demsey, Group President, The Estee Lauder Companies

M.A.C'S FASHION DESIGNER ROSTER CONTINUES TO GROW...

Working alongside New York's most influential designers and makeup artists, this season M-A-C Artists will be backstage at over 90 shows including Proenza Schouler, Altuzarra, Nicole Miller, Diane von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera, Badgley Mischka, Erin Fetherston, Sophie Théallet, Alexander Wang and Peter Som.

"M-A-C's backstage support of international fashion shows allows our Artists to work alongside the most renowned and esteemed makeup artists, helping to create the looks that will define the upcoming season. These vast experiences, knowledge and skills are brought back to M-A-C counters and, ultimately, the consumers." --Gordon Espinet, Senior Vice President, Global Artist Training, Development and Makeup Artistry, M-A-C Cosmetics.

M-A-C SENIOR ARTISTS TWEET WITH INSTANT BACKSTAGE BEAUTY UPDATES

If it's an up to the minute and bang-on trend then M-A-C Senior Artists are Tweeting about it. Returning with the fashion week buzz for our 6th season, think of the Tweets from our 35 Senior Artists as your fast track to backstage beauty trends - everything from quotes and trend updates to glimpses of the latest looks and lowdown on what products everyone's loving. M-A-C will give you an all-access pass to what's going down! Follow all the M-A-C Senior Artists by visiting www.macartiststweets.com, or by checking out the M-A-C Facebook Fan page (the #1 cosmetics fan page with over 1,500,000 fans).

NEW PRODUCTS ARE PUT THROUGH THEIR PACES BACKSTAGE

To create the season's key beauty trends, makeup artists need to have the best and newest products on hand - the latest finishes, formulations, shades and beauty innovations are all essential. Fashion shows around the world play a critical role in the M-A-C Product Development process. Artists use this unique opportunity to test-drive M-A-C's very latest product prototypes, sometimes years before they reach consumers, and put them to the test on the runways of New York, London, Milan, and Paris. If the texture, color, application or finish aren't up to scratch, Artists let M-A-C's Product Development team know what needs tweaking. The end result: the perfect formula that works equally in the hands of a professional makeup artist and the regular customer.