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Published on October 9, 2007

 He's used to preening Hollywood stars, but Thai makeup artist Nick Barose gets "almost angry" when his countrymen - or women - ask him if Western facial features are more beautiful than Asian.

"Beauty isn't something that's set. There's no such a thing as a flawless beauty, unless it's been sculpted in stone," says Barose. "It's about being yourself and making the good features you already have stand out."

Barose knows what he's talking about. His brushes have caressed the faces of some of the most famous female icons in Tinseltown, including Mischa Barton, Kirsten Dunst, Sandra Bullock, Anne Hathaway, Scarlett Johansson and Kim Cattrall. Back home, even the prettiest Thai actress might feel a little insecure in his presence.

Barose grew up in Thailand with two sisters and a gaggle of female cousins. Playing with dolls was their preferred form of entertainment but Barose went a step further by dressing up his sisters. Along with this early introduction to makeup he developed a love for Thai arts and literature, organising and directing a performance of the Ramakien. 

 Having caught the showbiz bug Barose set his sights on the fashion world, but in 1989 Thailand wasn't exactly booming in the haute couture department. So the 17-year-old decided to leave home shores to study landscape architecture at the Parson School of Design in New York. But in the Big Apple it wasn't long before his passion for fashion resurfaced.

With some luck and a little help from a friend, Barose got his big break: assisting famous makeup artist Kevyn Aucoin, creator of looks for Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman. Fashion magazines like Elle and Vogue got wind of the young Thai's work and it wasn't long before he had his first solo mission, making up a young Christina Aguilera.

Hearing his name more and more, agents began calling Barose on behalf of celebrity clients with imminent dates for the red carpet. So began his life shuttling by plane between New York and Los Angeles, visiting stars in their homes.

"A makeup artist knows everything about the celebrities they work with," says Barose. "You get to see them at four in the morning when they're hardly awake. You're with them in their cars while they're talking to boyfriends."

Cruelly, Barose refuses to let us in on the latest gossip - his lips have been zipped firmly shut by confidentiality contracts. He did share the irritation he's felt in the presence of certain "china doll" performers though.

"A lot of actresses feel a pressure to be beautiful all the time, and so avoid taking on challenging scripts," he says, adding that they often fall into one of two categories: "looks but no talent, or talent but no looks".

Someone who stands out for Barose though is Marion Cotillard, who portrayed the life of French chanteuse and national icon Edith Piaf in "La Vie en Rose" recently.

"She plays someone older than herself, but is still able to be beautiful," he says, adding that he is hoping to work with her in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Though he's reached the top, Barose still craves variety from his job. Creating flawless complexions for established stars or popular TV series is no longer a challenge - to him it's just "doing the same old makeup every single day". These days he's more interested in working with new actresses or with independent films.

This year, Barose is bringing his playful way with makeup to Thai woman with a book, "Nick Barose Beauty: Thai Beauty Hollywood-style".

"Most women don't have the confidence - cosmetics intimidate them. With this book I want to give them the freedom to experiment with makeup so they realise how easy it is."

Barose feels that most makeup books on the market scare women away by concentrating on a set of rules,               but his guide gives inspiration for creating everything from the Rock Chick to the Cleopatra look. His one warning is not go overboard copying celebrity looks.

"I see women walking by my house with "Beyonce has arrived!" written all over their faces, but for celebrity looks I want people to tone it down a bit."

He compares the art of makeup to cooking: If your first effort it is too spicy, ease up on the seasoning; if it's too bland, spice things up a bit.

Makeup, he emphasises, has to accentuate what's already their - the features that give you your individuality and personality. Barose cites Kirsten Dunst's thin lips and cute fashion sense, Cameron Diaz' full red lips, and Katie Holmes with her downward-slanting eyes.

"Being a makeup artist is an easy job. It's not as if you're curing cancer, but it is a fun tool for making women look good," he says.

At the moment Barose is being kept busy with a new job as a consultant for a big cosmetics brand in the States. He hopes to visit Thailand more often in the future, though, working for fashion mags and thinking up of more ideas for makeup books.

 Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

 The Nation