Makeup by Michaela Mckendry

@caterpillar__film is out in cinemas today so I thought I’d share some beautiful stills by @rebeccamcmillanphotography of the work I did on it! One of my favourite looks has to be @anais.shand as Cassie in the early 2000s party scene, featuring the classic Y2K grunge combo: eyebrows shaved pencil thin and smudgy black liner 🖤 Most of the background party girls had a similar look, with thanks to @amandakisonamakeup and @sambell.makeup for coming in to help @micheleperrymakeup @nataleefishermakeupandhair and I to get everyone party ready. Early reviews note that if you grew up in Wellington in the early 2000s this party scene will put you right back there! Think Euphoria but this Cassie and her group are kiwi and much less insane. So grateful to have had this opportunity in NZ cinema, go get your moms and nans and go to the movies 🐛 #caterpillar #nzfilm #newzealandfilm #filmmakeup #moviemakeup

The rare occasion I do full glam on myself: last weeks premiere of @caterpillar__film 🎬 I had the pleasure of assisting @micheleperrymakeup and @nataleefishermakeupandhair throughout this film, particularly working on @anais.shand as Cassie and many of the supporting cast. This truly is such a special film exploring 3 generations of incredible females, the joys, the heartache, triumphs and losses of each in different stages of life. In cinemas now, I urge you to take the women in your life to see it, @chelsieflorence and the crew poured so much into this story and I’d love to hear what you think of it! 🐛🤍 #featurefilm #filmmakeup #filmmakeupartist #moviemakeup #caterpillar

The look + the products I used to create it! This bride requested: glowing skin, eyebrow transformation (she had very sparse natural brows), dark under eye correction, seamless blending (no visible lines) and bronzed peachy tones for the colour palette. Save this look for inspo for your next makeup appointment 🤍 The face base: @mehronmakeup @mykitco @lagirlcosmetics @tartecosmetics @tower28beauty @morphebrushes The cheeks: @morphe2 @madebymitchell @xobeautyshop The eyes + brows: @milanicosmetics @anastasiabeverlyhills @toofaced

As the year comes to a close I’m doing my annual reflections on my career as a makeup artist and feeling so grateful that younger me never gave up, never listened to the doubt, and kept pushing. This career has brought me to so many amazing places, meeting incredible people and being a part of the most inspiring creative projects. There are so many challenges that come with being in this industry, but I truly wouldn’t change it for the world!! It’s so so important to continue to do what you love 🤍 #inyour20s #nzmakeupartist #nzmua #makeupnz #makeupartist

On behalf of show for @ahuaaotearoa 🖤 I’m often asked what my favourite looks to create are and I have to say this is a new favourite example: dewy skin, dramatic glam grunge eyes, and an editorial lip. Missing doing runways already!! Models: @elee.squires @norman.liaina_ Makeup design: @dominique_jeffries Makeup director: @jessmacraemua Clothing designer: @wideskymine Hair: @yegg.does.hair Photographers: @yukiwadafotografie @sharon_xie2015 #nzfw #nzfashion #nzmua #nzmakeupartist #makeupnz

Boxing Gym Wearing @rhodanunn Photos @molly_doyle_kr Styled @rhodanunn @emmajmuir Makeup @michaelas.makeup Hair @malibu.rilee Photo Assist @paigejessiephoto Models @_adriana_calabrese_ @aalainapitt @liv_ferg @vaishaleebhana @hollyann_______ @locketmia

My favourite New Zealand Fashion Week makeup look I applied? Layered glitter party girl eyes 🪩 Sparkling from across the room ✨ Designed and directed by @kiekies__ Key beauty products: @bodyfxnz good glitter @raaieskincare cocoon ceramide cream @maryse_studio luminous finish dew @rcmamakeup VK 11 foundation palette @anastasiabeverlyhills brow freeze gel #nzfw #newzealandfashionweek #fashionweek #nzmua #nzmakeupartist #fw

Behind the scenes at New Zealand Fashion Week ✨ 6 shows. Countless stunning looks. So many insanely talented people. Truthfully, opportunities like this can feel super intimidating. Even after 5+ years in the industry, that imposter feeling still creeps in sometimes — especially in such a competitive industry. But this week? I felt nothing but valued. @kiekies__ led the most beautiful, kind, and skilled team of artists with grace and vision, alongside the ever-generous @editbeautybymichelle . Their leadership created the kind of backstage environment every creative dreams of — collaborative, calm, and full of respect. To every MUA, every model, every crew member: your kindness meant the world. I’ll never forget it. 🖤 I’m always pushing to grow as an artist — even when that growth feels scary. My first NZFW experience left me feeling inspired, and so excited for what’s next in my creative journey!! #NZFW #BackstageBeauty #MUA #FashionWeekDiaries #nzmua #nzmakeupartist #fashionweek

New Zealand Fashion Week: @harris_tapper private show makeup directed and designed by @kiekies__ and applied by me: A colourless perfect porcelain skin with greasy smokey hollowed out eyes for the perfect haunting look. This was my first ever @nzfashionwk show as a Makeup Artist, a dream I’ve worked towards since I was young. @kiekies__ taught me so much in just one night, and this was just the beginning of one of the most incredible weeks of my career to date. Feeling so honoured to have been selected to be a part of this team, meet so many incredibly talented creatives and learn so much from it all. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me to get to this point in my career, and to the amazing team of artists alongside me especially @editbeautybymichelle @kiekies__ who made everything run so smoothly with such support 🖤 Photography: @hollysarahburgess @willowhandy @matt.hurley @troiatkins Hair: @colleen__colleen @lauren__gunn #nzfw #fashionweek #newzealandfashionweek #nzfashion #newzealandfashion #nzmakeupartist #makeupnz #fashionmakeupartist

Last ĀHUA post cause I’ll never get tired of watching all the gorg team and their incredible mahi 💝 Truly a dream come true to design and direct makeup for my own little dollhouse in an unforgettable show 🎀 Unlike many runway looks which typically focus on a minimalistic approach, we challenged ourselves and created almost 20 full doll transformations including ball and socket joints in their limbs 🧸 I love to push my artistry out of my comfort zone and I can’t wait to do so much more like this with the most incredible creatives, heart is full!! Designer: @sherbet.lemon__ Production: @fifimademedoit @jordiepage @ahuaaotearoa Makeup Design: @michaelas.makeup @mualilyavajane Hair Design: @milana_smithh @yegg.does.hair @asteroid_hair HMU Director: @jessmacraemakeup #ĀHUASS25 #nzfw #newzealandfashion #newzealandfashionweek #nzmakeupartist #dollmakeup #runwaymakeup

Another round of Precious photos cause our makeup team did such a good job at bringing our design to the runway 🥹🎀 @mualilyavajane @maddybrunel @harleys.artistry @beautybyshelbyrose @dominique_jeffries thank you for your talents! And a big thank you to @__6anshee my bestie, an ĀHUA producer, and now my backstage touch up MUA couldn’t have done the final touches without you 💕 Finally a huge thanks to all the photographers tagged in these insanely beautiful photos !! Designer: @sherbet.lemon__ Production: @fifimademedoit @jordiepage @ahuaaotearoa Makeup Design: @michaelas.makeup @mualilyavajane Hair Design: @milana_smithh @yegg.does.hair @asteroid_hair HMU Director: @jessmacraemakeup #ĀHUASS25 #nzfw #newzealandfashion #newzealandfashionweek #nzmakeupartist #dollmakeup

Precious: My first show as a key design and direction artist. I am so incredibly proud of everyone in this team, the amazing @mualilyavajane for being my co head designer, designing with you was so much fun I adore what we came up with together, and there’s no one I would rather have painting all the doll sockets with me for hours to execute the vision! Our makeup team @maddybrunel @harleys.artistry @beautybyshelbyrose @dominique_jeffries you made our looks come to life with such skill I couldn’t be happier with your incredible execution of the makeup. @asteroid_hair @yegg.does.hair @milana_smithh and the hair team for designing super cute hair to complete the looks. All of our beautiful models for absolutely killing each and every look, pictured are two of the beautiful canvases I had the pleasure of painting @bouuudicca and @anastasiyakonstantine you killed on the runway!! @sherbet.lemon__ for trusting us all with the makeup for your show with all your stunning pieces, it was such an honour to be a part of your art. To @ahuaaotearoa and @jessmacraemakeup for giving myself and everyone else in the team this incredible opportunity to share our creations with the world in a moment I will truly never forget. And to everyone else involved and the audience who came to see it all come to life, thank you. 🍋💞💛💗 Designer: @sherbet.lemon__ Production: @fifimademedoit @jordiepage @ahuaaotearoa Makeup Design: @michaelas.makeup @mualilyavajane Hair Design: @milana_smithh @yegg.does.hair @asteroid_hair HMU Director: @jessmacraemakeup #ĀHUASS25 #runwaymakeup #dollmakeup #nzmua #nzfw #ahua