Directors at Ulta Dish Trends, Products & Who Won 'The Face'

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On Tuesday, February 12 at 8PM, Nigel Barker, the dashing man behind the camera along with Naomi, Coco and Karolina will start drilling and whipping 24-turned-12 faces into shape to become the face of Chicago-based Ulta Beauty. This is Oxygen's new reality show, 'The Face'. Anxious of the show to begin airing and with a knowledge of Ulta's trajectory of growth over the last few years, we have a few questions burning holes in our pockets. And who better to answer those questions than Ulta's own director of trend development, Molly Sloat and director of PR, Carrie Lannon.

Racked: What are some of the beauty tips featured in the show?
Molly: ULTA Beauty makeup artists on the show used primers and setting sprays to ensure contestants maintained a flawless finish and long wearability with very little touch ups. Day looks were quickly transformed into night looks with a few simple changes like smudging liner all around the eyes for a sultry smokey eye with layers of long lashes & a deeper lip. For a bridal challenge, makeup artists scaled back the looks for an understated glamour. A simple pulled- back deconstructed bun was mixed with neutral shades, clean lines and shimmery highlights on the face for an effortless, ethereal, "all-eyes-on- me" glow.

R: Are there any new products launching on the show or that will coincide with the show?
Molly: ULTA Beauty has some new color launches in spring we are excited to see come in. For the eyes we have developed a unique fiber mascara- this lengthens the lashes for days - and is sure to make anyone look like a supermodel. You can pair this with one of our 10 shades of Matte Eyeshadow which continues to be a trend (in nail and in shadows). I am probably the most excited about our Lip Butters, these silky smooth balms have just the right amount of hydrating and color – you don't need a mirror to apply, just a quick swipe and off you go.

R: Tell me about the process of choosing the winner. What emotional qualities did she have to possess?
Carrie: Participating in a reality show is not easy. There are no scripts and the contestants are living in front of a camera while enduring a fast-paced and unpredictable schedule. So the contestants who made it to the final few had all demonstrated a certain strength of character. That is what we were looking for – someone who could stand up to a rigorous schedule without losing her cool. As well, we needed someone who photographed well, who would be gracious at personal appearances and in general represent the friendly and beautiful image that is ULTA Beauty.

R: Can you describe the face that won the competition?
Carrie: That is one secret that I cannot even hint at! But I can tell you that the caliber of contestants made choosing a winner challenging. But in the end, Molly and I felt very good about the model we chose.

R: Will the winner be making any appearances at Chicago area ULTA stores or salons?
Carrie: The winner will make personal appearances and, though her schedule has not been confirmed, I would not be surprised if her schedule included Chicago

R: What do you expect the next big beauty trend to be based on how business is going over at ULTA?
Molly: This spring will be all about playing with color – we love the look of layering blues and greens on top of one another to get the season's hottest turquoise "aquatic" eye. Bright, coral fresh lips are definitely in with varying levels of sheen- many brands have infused lip products with balms and hydrating stains to perform double duty- a long lasting rich color with SPF barrier. Hair treatments are also big for spring – special tools are being developed with protectants and conditioners built in, so you don't have to worry about damaging your hair while you style it.

R: We're seeing a lot in the world of makeup evolve for women of color. Are there new products launching in this vein that ULTA will be carrying?
Molly: Many brands we carry at ULTA, such as Revlon, Urban Decay, L'Oreal and Bare Minerals, have recently expanded the range of shades in their foundation lines to cater to a wider variety of women with different skin tones. Two newer color collections that are great for all skin tones are the Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette and the Bare Escentuals Remix Trend Collection. The new Redken Curvaceous hair care line launching in February includes haircare and styling products specially formulated to bring out the best for every curl type. We have also seen growth in popularity of products from brands Deva Curl and Carol's Daughter – both which focus on caring for natural curly hair.

R: Game face, Poker face, Stink face or Smiley face? Why?
Carrie: Smiley face everytime. Nice wins the day.
· All 'The Face' Coverage [Racked]
· All Ulta Coverage [Racked]
· The Face [Oxygen]
· Ulta Beauty [Official Site]