Sam Visser’s voice picks up as he talks to me aboutAllureimages of the1990s.
I was dazzled by them.
But wait, I interject: “Were you alive in the ’90s?”
“For one month!
It was my portal in,” laughs Visser.
And he’s digested them into a mesmerizing analog aesthetic for a digital generation.
“This is definitely not a light layer of foundation,” says Visser. “We wanted it to be full-on, with shadows around the cheeks, nose, and temples to really bring forward the features — but not change them at all.“Roberto Cavalli top. Boucheron earrings. To create a similar makeup look: Ambient Lighting Blush in Ethereal Glow, Curator Metallic Smoke Palette, and Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss in Canvas by Hourglass.
Visser’s every makeup move is careful and precise but never stuffy.
“This is definitely not a light layer of foundation,” says Visser.
“Roberto Cavalli top.
“The idea was you’re at a party and someone else is wearing glitter and it gets on you when you get close to them,” explains Visser. “I just poured glitter onto my palm and rubbed it on her, like a body passing by.“Palace Skateboards top and jeans. Patricia von Musulin earrings and necklaces. Tiffany & Co. earrings and necklaces. To create a similar makeup look: Technakhol Liner in Graphblack, Love Me Liquid Lipcolour in Been There, Plump That, and Pigment Mini MAC in Ruby by MAC.
“I just poured glitter onto my palm and rubbed it on her, like a body passing by.
“Palace Skateboards top and jeans.
Patricia von Musulin earrings and necklaces.
“We’ve been taught to use so much glow to bring light forward,” says Visser. “But matte textures bring light forward too, just in a different way.“Michael Kors Collection dress. Boucheron earrings. To create a similar makeup look: Caviar Stick Eye Color in Beam, Blush Color Infusion in Passionfruit, and Lip Glacé in Macaron by Laura Mercier.
Tiffany & Co. earrings and necklaces.
Visser’s first on-set makeup experience was on a David LaChapelle shoot.
He was soon able to pack up his locker, and finished high school through independent study.
“I wanted the women in this shoot to see how their faces could transform with makeup and feel in charge — strong, sexy, free,” says Visser.ERL sweater. Anna Bolina dress. Andreas Kornthaler for Vivienne Westwood earrings. To create a similar makeup look: Epic Wear Liner Sticks in Black Metal, Sweet Cheeks Creamy Powder Blush Matte in Risky Business, and Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Cherry Skies by Nyx Professional Makeup.
We’ve been taught to use so much glow to bring light forward, says Visser.
“But matte textures bring light forward too, just in a different way.
“Michael Kors Collection dress.
“Everyone’s been wanting to watch something, and feel inspired by something,” he says.
“We couldn’t plan [projects] so it was like, ‘lets justmakesomething.’
Social media has been [a place of] creativity.”
“I want [my work] to feel almost like an episode ofTheTwilight Zone,” says Visser.
“Someone from the past is now in the future.
Andreas Kornthaler for Vivienne Westwood earrings.
Fashion stylist: Alexander Picon.
Makeup: Sam Visser.
Hair: Evanie Frausto.
Manicure: Ashlie Johnson.
On-set producer: Mara Weinstein.
Models: Alex Consani and Victoria Massey.
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