talkin’ with tessa virtue 

On the ice and off, Tessa Virtue knows the right shade of lipstick can be a game-changer. Having teamed up with M.A.C Cosmetics to create her very own hue, the Olympic gold medalist and entrepreneur takes the The T-Zone through the creative process, plus shares her makeup bag must-haves and the most important beauty lesson she’s learned to date.

Can you share a bit about the process of creating your lipstick shade?

“I started the process of creating this lipstick by creating an inspiration board, and it was pretty evident from the tones and the shades and the photos I had drawn with the aesthetic that it would be in the pink family. Then I got to start thinking about the packaging, and the box, and the feel of it. I knew I wanted to create a classic, everyday lipstick that would take permanent residence in my handbag and it has. It was also important to me that the formula was ultra-comfortable and that it would leave lips feeling hydrated and that’s why I decided to go with a more satin finish as appose to a more matte finish. The M.A.C chemist took the inspiration board and then created three different samples for me and I was then able to test-drive them and make a few small tweaks. The end result is truly my dream shade. I have worn it every single day since I received one of the samples. And I still have the sample that says ‘version two’ and it’s getting to the very, very end. I’m so grateful that the process was collaborative and fulfilling and inspiring and it really feels like I was able to make something that feels so authentic and so ‘me.’”

Why did you decide to stick to the pink family, rather than create a red or other statement colour?

"A red in my life is more of a special occasion or, as you said, a statement lip. For me, the three most worn lipsticks in my whole collection are Mehr, Syrup and Soar. I think Brave is thrown in there as well. They are all made by M.A.C and they are all in that same tonal family so I wanted the Tessa Virtue shade, which I’ve nicknamed ‘Tutu,’ to really be the perfect blend of those three lipsticks and I think it is.”

Is lipstick something that’s always been one of your go-to products? Do you have any memories around discovering lipstick when you were a young girl?

"As you know, lipstick can completely transform your look. I think back to when I was competing, the moment I put my lipstick on it helped me and allowed me to step into character. That was the final piece of the puzzle that gave me the confidence needed to embrace the performance. My everyday makeup routine is pretty limited but I would say I’ve always been drawn to mascara and lipstick, and maybe a bit of blush. Maybe because I’m so fair lipstick was an integral part of my beauty routine.”

How did you plan your beauty looks for ice dance performances?

“That sort of evolved, but I remember actually taking my costumes to the M.A.C counter and they would see the colouring and we would talk about characters and we would come up with this whole look. I would almost get a tutorial on how to build the look and that would guide the season for how my makeup would look in those characters. I won’t pretend to be widely proficient when it comes to doing my own hair and makeup and I have also had the distinct pleasure of working with some of Canada’s best artists, especially in recent years, and I’ve learned some tips along the way. But that was always a really fun part of the process for me and obviously skating is a subjective sport; it’s aesthetics, so I needed to be able to tell a story through my movement, through my technical ability but also through the way that I portrayed a certain character and makeup was at the centre of that. I also used it as part of my routine, it was sort of meditative. I found I could sit on the floor, almost stretching, have all my makeup out and I’d put some calming music on and that’s when I started to get into the competition and the performance mode. So, it was also a big element from a mental stand point in how I prepared myself.”

You’ve worked with M.A.C before, as part of the Originals campaign in May 2019. What does it mean for you to be here now creating a lipstick with them?

“It’s beyond my wildest dreams—truly. M.A.C is such a Canadian company, it’s reached such global iconic status that I think even Canadians forget that its roots are right here. [The company] has made so many people feel accepted. They embrace individuality, diversity and inclusion. I think the difference of when you show up at a M.A.C counter versus somewhere else is that they are truly trying to find what makes you ‘you’ and trying to highlight that. There’s not one beauty standard that M.A.C tries to appeal to. It’s for everyone, and everyone feels welcome. In an industry that is oh so fickle how beautiful is that? As a Canadian, it’s so representative of what it is we hope to and aspire to be as people. I think it’s really important to have companies that are on the world stage that are really representing us in that same way.”

You’ve said you learned how to do your makeup over the years and have worked with some great artists. What lesson has had the biggest impact on you?

“[Makeup artist] Sheri Stroh (@sheristroh) more than anyone else has taught me the importance of having a solid skincare routine and also letting your own skin show through and breathe. It’s a less is more approach and I know that she’s known for that glowy, dewy beautiful skin on a lot of the people she works with. Sometimes I even have to remind her to cover up blemishes that I might have and it’s true that she doesn’t even see them and she’s ok showing them and I think, wow, how refreshing is that? She has really changed my mind set. We’ve all been there as teenagers where we pile on the makeup, and as I get older I’m starting to strip that back and have some fun when I’m going out for events with expressing myself through makeup but also feeling comfortable with a less is more approach.”

Aside from lipstick, do you have any other M.A.C products that you reach for regularly?

"Prep + Prime Lip is key, especially just to hydrate and help lipstick last. I also line my lips with Soar Lip Pencil. I also never ever travel without Mineralize Blush in Dainty, it’s in my purse at all times. It’s a constant for me. The Studio Fix Powder Foundation also lives in my purse so those would be my staples, as well as a mascara. If I’m going into the eyeshadow realm, it’s Blackberry and Wedge. Unfortunately, I don’t have costumes now to take into the M.A.C counter so I’m stuck in a bit of a rut but those products have me covered.”

What will be the most exciting aspect of your lipstick hitting the beauty counter?

“I was trying the lipstick on different friends and it was so interesting to see how the shade looks so different on different skin tones and how we layered it or did a sheer application. I can’t wait to see people their hands on it! I feel like a little child at Christmas, actually I feel like Santa.”

Just like Virtue mentions, her new limited edition lipstick is the perfect addition to any makeup look. The neutral pink colour works on all skin tones, can be used as a my-lips-but-better everyday shade or to give another hue a rosy twist. Added bonus: the satin-textured lippie is encased in a glitzy gold bullet that’s not only chic but makes tracking it down in your cluttered purse a cinch.

M.A.C Maker / @tessavirtue17 Lipstick, $25