Some of my favourite beauty people V: Chris Devlin - Manager, Mecca Cosmetica, Auckland

Designer Tanya Carlson described him to me as her “best kept beauty secret”, whilst those in the know tout him as one of its most knowledgeable sources about all things skin – he’s Chris Devlin, Manager of that Auckland temple to beauty known as Mecca Cosmetica.
Born in Northern Ireland, he worked as a make up artist in London and then Barcelona for five years before being lured to New Zealand seven years ago by love, “and the next thing I knew I’d found myself in Hawkes Bay!” After a few years of the quiet life he was lured to Auckland and a job with M.A.C, working on Air New Zealand Fashion Week and as assistant manager in their Chancery Lane flagship store. Then when he saw Mecca was coming to New Zealand he jumped at the chance to apply for the manager’s position at their flagship store, “and I’ve never looked back. I think that make up artistry starts with great skin, and I love having the chance to work from the ground up with great beauty brands on a daily basis here in the store.” He explains that when a customer comes in asking for a makeover he starts with a close examination of their skin and daily routine, “and nine times out of ten that will change their appearance the most – beyond what lipstick or blush they use.”
With such a huge range of boutique brands in store he says that he and the staff undergo constant training on a fortnightly basis, and new staff on the floor aren’t allowed to advise on skincare until they have worked with the company for six months.
When asked if he has favourite brands from the multitude of highly desireables on offer he is adamant that “Zelens (created by Dr Marko Lens, an acclaimed plastic surgeon and international authority on skin cancer) is the way to go, for me anyway. In terms of make up I can’t go past Nars, with Prescriptives for foundation now that we have their Custom Blend system that can make a match for any skin tone”.
He says that the essential every woman must own is a good sunscreen, “preferably with an SPF 30 or over… I see so many customers with really bad sun damage who don’t know they have it because it has become the norm in New Zealand.” He also stresses that every woman needs a great blush and “anything from out ByTerry collection of highlighters and concealers – it creates the perfect ‘no make up’ make up look that so many women want to achieve.” The two brands that he just can’t keep on the shelves right now are UK beauty editor Kathy Phillips’ aromatherapy skincare range, This Works, and Nude, a luxury “green” brand created by eco-entrepeneur Bryan Meehan and investor and muse Ali Hewson, wife of U2’s Bono. The walking wealth of knowledge adds that New Zealand women have been “controlled by the world’s big beauty brands for too long and are really ready to try something unique at last”, and if you’re ready to embrace change too, then he’s the man for the job.
* This interview first appeared in my column in Ponsonby News*