When Mickey Contractor gives you make-up advice

Meet the jury of Vogue Beauty Awards 2015—beauty industry experts who are on every A-list celebrity's speed dial—as they reveal secrets, bust myths, and share a whole load of knowledge with you. In this series of interviews, the judges share insights from their respective areas of expertise.

Mickey Contractor, Make-up artist

He's usually traveling the world creating looks for fashion weeks and Bollywood movies. The make-up maestro Mickey Contractor is also on every bride's wish list—to ensure they look their best on their wedding day. Fair warning for when you meet him: he will know if you’re wearing the wrong shade of foundation.

Vogue gets Contractor to shed some of his expert insights on beauty and his interpretation of '70s make-up, while he decides which shade of lipstick wins the crown this year.

Two beauty icons from the '70s that you relate to

Helen and Zeenat Aman

Three beauty looks no woman should ever be caught dead in

The '70s frosted eye make-up, and those frosted icy lipsticks.

A ‘70s trends to follow this season?

I think one should bring back the Bouffant.

One beauty element that comes to mind when you think of the ‘70s

I think those long eyeliners. I think it’s very ‘60s and ‘70s.

One '70s song or band that you loved listening to

'70s - I can’t think of anyone better than R. D Burman! All of his beautiful music, I’ve grown up listening to it.

Three words that define your beauty statement

Keep it simple.

Your idea of beauty

My idea of beauty is simplicity, elegance, something that is flattering and not necessarily over the top. To put it in a nutshell, my idea of beauty is, feminine, beautiful and something that is classic.

What do you think of the Vogue Beauty Awards?

I think very highly of the Vogue Beauty Awards, that’s probably why I'm here again, 6^th year running. Also it’s a bit tedious, if I might say so. Going through that many products isn’t easy, and as you know I go through each and every product that is displayed on the table. It’s important to be fair to the companies that put in so much effort in coming up with innovative products and colours. Apart from that, I think it's a great way to spend a day, just playing with brands that sometimes I may not even be aware of and also figuring out that the beauty business has really moved ahead.