Calming creativity with 3INA
On the first weekend after Brexit-gate, what did I do? Did I go into meltdown mode and trigger my own self-destruct Article 50 button? Non! Did I say ‘fuck it’ and spend all my plunging pounds at the Selfridges sale? Nein! Instead, I headed east to a lovely creative workshop for some calming collaging and make-up therapy.
The event took place at Shoreditch House, its own microcosm of creative calm, where beauty brand 3INA was introducing its kaleidoscope colours to invited guests. I’ve done some work with 3INA (it’s pronounced ‘Mina’) but haven’t fully embraced its products. Its USP is colour and creativity – a non-prescriptive approach to beauty that’s mimicked by other new brands including Make Beauty and Milk Makeup. The products come in an extensive colour palette, are well-pigmented and formulated for easy application. So I naturally gravitated to the cream eyeshadows and tawny blushers, although we also had a go at trying out the 3INA summer trends that were demo-ed.
First though, the warm-up. Who knew that cutting and pasting our mini collages could be a precursor to opening up our minds and stepping out of our comfort zones? But the practice of cutting and sticking definitely releases something in whatever part of the brain puts up barriers. Collaging while watching a make-up tutorial is a very soothing way to spend an afternoon (who needs vlogs?) and my assigned partner Jen turned out to be equally as colour-safe as me when it comes to make-up.
However we were gently coaxed by the 3INA team to embrace our inner ‘Maker’, so on went the turquoise eye shadow, applied wet with a brush as vivid opaque liner to illustrate summer’s Cyber Punk beauty trend. OK, we did go slightly off-piste, sidestepping the other trends (Cosmic Love Child and Sunshine Raver) and instead diving freestyle into the pots and palettes in front of us. My hero was The Cream Eyeshadow. A close match for Chanel’s Illusion d’Ombre (but a bit creamier), I’ve been using this in shade 314 for a really easy, slightly 60s smoky eye (apply to clean finger, blend into lid, build).
Predictably, by the time the workshop finished, you couldn’t prise us away from the deeper statement colours. For 3INA this is exactly what they’re aiming for with their ‘Makeshop’ events. Taking advantage of the move towards experiential retail and a more playful approach to make-up, it will host more of these workshops, both at Shoreditch House and in its James Street Covent Garden store. Watch this space for details…
WORDS AND IMAGES: Disneyrollergirl/Navaz Batliwalla
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