oxygen.com.my

At a recent beauty show held in Bangkok, members of the media got to preview the upcoming Fall/Winter Czarinna collection by Swedish brand Make Up Store and writer Nabila Nasir managed to sneak a few questions to the founder and CEO, Mika Liias. She was delighted to discover his social awareness, his love for diversity and his commitment in creating an alternative world of colours.

How involved are you in the formulations and developing the tools and packaging of Make Up Store?

I am very involved in creating the colour palettes, as well as everything else. I do research from all my travels around the world, try to take in what ever that I see from women I meet and infuse that diversity into Make Up Store products when I talk to our manufacturers.

What do people ask you most about beauty and what is it about beauty that you cannot stress enough, even if you have said it a thousand times?

People like to ask me women’s common mistakes when applying make up. And I can’t stress enough that all these women, they are not wrong, they just don’t know how. That is why Make Up Store strives to be a teaching brand. We want to be able to give the knowledge to women about make up, not just sell it to them. Also, I would advise women to be more open minded and not be afraid to experiment. Learn the techniques. It’s free. Go to several make up counters and ask questions. Never be satisfied with just one answer.

Environmentally and socially, what are the ethics of the brand?

Our products are made in the same process and thought that are put into pharmaceutical pills. We are very sensitive to the needs of women. So our products, the Microshadows for example, can also be used by women with sensitive eyes and those who wear contact lenses. Our colours don’t lie. What you see on the product is what you get against your skin. We don’t do animal testing. In Sweden, we pay for the recycling of our packaging. Of course we want to do much more in the future. Everything is still in planning; they should be able to firm up by next year. We will have more in store by next Spring. I can’t reveal any more than that. Just wait.

Who is your favorite international beauty icon and why?

I would have to say, Madonna. She has a very strong personality, she is constantly reinventing herself, she redefined the word “beauty” altogether. She has opened many doors for women and she is also a shrewd business person. All those time people think she is crazy, but all the while she was playing with them.

What is your favourite part of the job?

This part is clichéd, but it’s true. I love meeting people from all over the world, people of different cultures. Seeing the way their cities work and the way they live. It gives me inspiration to make the brand better for everyone and not just people from my own country and culture.

Aging gracefully or Botox?

Let’s face it; we all don’t want to be old. But I love to see older people. I think lines are wonderful. They signify all the experience people have gone through in their lives. If it is so important to them, then people must start taking care of their skin from young. But it is not my place to tell people what they should or shouldn’t do. This is just my personal opinion.