Before make-up artist Mumu Lin’s hot-ticket Melbourne Fashion Week masterclasses sold out in a blink, she spent a quiet hour talking shop with the VoxFrockers.
Words: Alice Edgeley Photographs: Tilly Parsons
Mumu Lin didn’t begin her career in make-up; in fact, growing up in China she was very studious, didn’t wear makeup, or even own any.
Her parents took her education very seriously and so did Mumu, dutifully attending university to study economics. It wasn’t until she went to Japan to further her education that she started to notice makeup.
The girls in Japan inspired her; she could see that they were very precise and considered about how they applied their make-up. Older Japanese women too, were very elegant and this impressed Mumu. She wanted to learn how they achieved this.
While Mumu started her career in the corporate world she took night classes in make-up artistry and practiced on the weekends. Slowly, she built up her skills and her confidence until she felt ready to take the plunge and make beauty her full time career.
Mumu’s first big job was on a popular Chinese platform, the Ten O’Clock Club. She was tasked with recording an online make-up course. She understood how to teach people from scratch and articulate techniques in easy to follow steps.
Since that first big break, Mumu has worked in a wide range of roles within the make-up industry. And much like her many roles, Mumu’s style of makeup has changed over the years.
She started off mimicking the natural beauty techniques worn by everyday Japanese women and has progressed to include more playful and individual styles. Most importantly, Mumu wants people to enjoy the process; it doesn’t have to be complicated or daunting, it can be simple and fun too.
Finally, I asked Mumu to share her five most used products. She said some products on her list may be hard to find in Australia – so maybe a trip to Japan is on the cards? Or you can try W Cosmetics, a beauty retailer focused on bringing Japanese and Korean products to Australian beauty fiends.
Mumu’s list:
1. Addiction Primer: “It’s hydrating and blends seamlessly with the skin.”
2. &be Concealer: “The orange tone is perfect for covering dark circles, and it’s great for dry skin.”
3. Three Highlighter Duo: “This gives just the right amount of glow for a natural, radiant finish.”
4. Joycee Multi-Use Stick: “It’s a time-saver. You can use it as an eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick.”
5. Cle de Peau Eyeshadow Palette – Number 8, Warm Ocean Sunset: “The shades are sophisticated yet perfect for everyday wear.”
Meet the VoxFrockers
Alice Edgeley, journalist
Alice is a legendary fashion and costumes designer. After 30 years she’s now branching into a range of new fashion projects including this foray into journalism with the Voxfrock Rookie Crew. Alice cut her teeth in the studio of revolutionary British designer Christopher Kane. Since 2010, her eponymous label has been sought out by some of fashion’s most fabulous characters from London to New York, Paris to Melbourne, including DJs, performance artists, drag queens and music’s most flamboyant stars. Edgeley’s work across film, theatre and fashion is thoroughly grounded in the deep historical research she brings, not only to her designs, but to her astute analysis of contemporary clothing codes and trends.
Tilly Parsons, photographer/crew mentor
