Benny Hancock, Makeup Artist / Men's Grooming

Benny Hancock is a global industry pro make-up artist who has spent over a decade painting the faces of celebrities, supermodels, and VIPs. Benny is a leading authority on high performance makeup and having spent years working closely with men’s skin, he appreciates how men’s skin differs to women’s and the look men want to achieve. His work has been praised by fashion and grooming insiders and featured in some of the world’s leading style publications. Founded on the belief that make-up for men should enhance rather than conceal, Benny has developed high-tech, wearable formulations using superior ingredients to achieve the most natural finish. The result? Lightweight yet hard-wearing products with invisible yet enhancing coverage; it’s the ultimate no makeup makeup look for men.

In this episode of the MenswearStyle Podcast we interview Makeup Artist Benny Hancock about his new cosmetic line aimed at men. It was over a decade ago when he trained as a makeup artist at Pinewood Studios, and today along with his new product line he has a Virtual Mirror tool which uses AI so men can test and try products for the best colour-match using the camera on your Smartphone or computer. Our host Peter Brooker and Benny also talk about how men's makeup is becoming more popular, how makeup has been used on actors in films for decades, the process of bringing the brand from concept to market, and how the rise of Zoom meetings is stimulating demand.

Whilst we have your attention, be sure to sign up to our daily MenswearStyle newsletter here. We promise to only send you the good stuff.

Hockerty
Custom tailored men's clothing. The fastest online tailor at a fair price.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Transcript

Unknown: 0:12

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the mentor style podcast. I'm your host Pete broker and on this episode I'm going to talk to Benny Hancock, CEO and creative director of Benny Hancock for men. to peel off a little info here of the Benny Hancock website. The website by the way, you can find that Benny hancock.com Benny Hancock is a global industry pro makeup artist who has spent over a decade painting the faces of celebrities, supermodels and VIPs. Benny is a leading authority on high performance makeup and having spent years working closely with men skin. He appreciates how men's skin differs to women's and the look men want to achieve. So really enjoy talking to Ben he talks about his training days down at Pinewood Studios. You can imagine where that conversation went. What the common misconceptions are surrounding cosmetics designed for men and we also managed to crowbar in a chat about Bruce Willis and diehard so fascinating guy. I think you'll enjoy that before that though. Let me tell you about haca T, proud sponsor of today's show. haka T is the e commerce leader in May to measure clothing for men Suits, Shirts, trousers, blazer outerwear, each customer can create his own clothes by choosing from a wide range of styles and fabrics. Their 3d online designer is the perfect tool to visualise clothing in real time. Each garment is made exclusively in Shanghai and hooked these workshops benefiting from a long time tradition of tailoring and great fabric quality. Hockey is a very, is very proud to offer that recognised expertise at an affordable price while guaranteeing working conditions that respect employees and the environment. And the menswear style podcast audience can get 10% discount on their first order simply use the code be LG men's wear Hawk t.uk so that code is B LG men's wear at haka t.uk, that's a website by the way. So I had a look on their website. It's amazing some of the blazers and some of the outerwear and you can chop and choose all your different designs. It's very much a kind of bespoke tailor your own style. I checked out the code. The code works at the checkout page. So that code once again it's B LG menswear and the website hockey t.uk. Alright, so don't forget to check out the show notes menswear style.co uk and the social at men's wear style. Crikey. It's a lot of info, right. All right, I get it. But all the latest fashion news and that editor Craig, he's done an awesome article on how to choose the ultimate road trip vehicle. You're thinking of exploring the great United Kingdom not wanting to risk booking any flights right now while it might be time to do some research on what to look for if you're in the market for a new motor. So check out that article and many many, many more on the website. menswear. style.co UK. Alright, I've nearly forgot. If you want to tell us about your brand and your journey you want to be on the show. You can email us at info at menswear. style.co.uk Okay. Let's get into it. This is a good one. Hope you enjoy it. Here is that interview with Benny Hancock, CEO and creative director of Benny Hancock for men. Well, it's my great pleasure to introduce Benny Hancock, CEO and creative director of Benny Hancock for men and male makeup and grooming line designed just for men. Belly haters today. Yeah, good. Good. Thanks. How are you? Yeah, I'm really good. You were just telling me a fair that you got Eric on instal. So I'm very very envious. Yeah, I've had to turn it off for this podcast. It is too noisy. It's gonna sweat away. I'm about to start sweating. Very, tell us please, who you are and what it is you do. So my name is Benny Hancock and I am a makeup artist. I've been a makeup artist for over a decade. And I decided to recently develop cosmetic line design just for men. The fella is such a huge demographic left out because there's so many women's brands out there. And I felt like it was time that we catered for men a little more because a lot of grooming brands and things like that, as opposed to just make up. Yes, I want to put all my knowledge to good use from all the years experience. I've had reformulations and things and develop my own life. Okay. And a little bit about your history. How did you how did you get into the market into makeup into the industry? I suppose. Yeah. Yeah. So I started out I was training at Pinewood film studios. No way. Yeah, I was training there, which is wild apart from what I'm doing now because it's a completely different worlds are the fashion and the beauty and an editorial sort of markets. But yeah, I trained there. And I was there for a couple of years. And then I sort of went on to sort of assist a lot of big maker pies through through London and things and sort of three friends I used to hang out with in southeast London and stuff. So the fashion crowds, and I just sort of grew from there. And then off the back of that I moved to America for quite a few years. So I was in Los Angeles, and work with a lot of celebrities, which is a whole different world. Again, so yeah, I've I've sort of done the rounds a little bit. Now I'm back in London. Well, I had a whole host of questions written out about how he managed to get the business off the ground, you know, how are you dealing with a pandemic, but I'm just gonna do about two hours on Pinewood and then we'll move on. So I mean, I'm a huge bond fan. I mean, you know, Pinewood is the home of bond, maybe you can just tell us a little bit about your time working at Pinewood It was not, it wasn't working, it was training. So it was like, it's a makeup. It's like a makeup and prosthetics course. So basically, it's very intense. And you're there full time, like 12 hours a day. So it wasn't actually working on the actual project as such, however, because you're in Pinewood Studios, and is working with talent that works with x men and things like that, so some of the prosthetic artists I work with, are working on massive movies like that. So I got to meet some of them artists, but you would be walking around and you'd see the OnStar just sort of walking around, which was very interesting. And but yeah, it was more learning, the basics of made car, TV, television, movie continuity, all them nitty gritty things that people don't realise goes into it. That's nuts. And so Was there any films in particularly mentioned x men there? Are there any ones that stood out for you when you were working there, or just training them? They that was them, that was the only one that was really going on? Mainly when I was there that I knew of? Because it's huge. It's huge, and they've got restricted areas and things like that. So you can only go there, I would love to have had the pleasure to have gone on set, put it that way. I went down to Pinewood for a bond event. They do like these Pinewood events, and they kind of get the bond actors in and you know, do loads of book signings and do a screening. And but yeah, you're right. The rigours and strictures in a place like that. They don't allow you to just kind of walk around the ground, and they'll push you away if you get to. Oh, right. Yeah, no, you just have to keep the distance, but it's face fair enough. You know, they, they want to keep it a surprise in the script and things and not have things leak. So I understand. Yeah, no, it's totally understandable. I remember when I, there was a speech going on on stage between the two very well known directors, I should say, I won't name who they were. And I didn't quite know the rules and the layout of the land. So I got my phone out and was taking pictures. And then I could see other people like with their phones out, and they were, they were just I'm just gonna record, say, 2030 seconds of this, I think it'd be interesting for I don't know, YouTube someday. Yeah. And the people at my dinner table just gave me the stink eye, the minute I turned around. So imagine I'm right at the front, by the way. So all I'm doing is looking at the, I'm not looking at anyone else. Turn around, and but the interviews done and put the phone down, everyone's looked at me, like I've just kind of Oh, man, horrible. And then security came and deleted it all off your phone. And the whole entertainment industry is mad in that sense. But you have to respect it, because the movies is one one element, but then sort of, I've worked with music artists and things like that, as well. So with that my world is completely different. So they're all for red carpets, social media, it's very different to to that world as well. So you have to sort of jump in between the teeth. Very, very unusual. So we'll get on to the range in a minute. But I wonder what, like the day to day life and the running of the business is like for you now. I mean, do you kind of know what's coming down the week or the month or day to day? How's it work? To be honest with you, because we're an online business. And we're fairly new. Actually. I mean, I'm happy to say it's been really good for us in a way because everyone's been at home, everyone's been having a look and wanting to try things out. And we recently just launched a virtual trial mirror, which basically is the state of the art technology and AI. So basically, you can try the actual products on from your smartphone or laptop camera in the live view. So you can actually virtually try them on see how the product looks on you or colour match of shade from the comfort of your own home. So it's literally just launched recently and it's gone down a storm. So in that sense, we've just been very forward thinking and trying to progress Dressing mood with what's happening. And it's actually been really good for us. Thank God, you know? Yeah. Because I know for a lot of people, it's been very tough. Yeah, no, it looks great, by the way. So I mean, the website people should be checking out Benny hancock.com. And the virtual try on mirror. I guess if you gave it a go, I haven't. I have another challenge. Yeah, I'm on it. Now. I don't know if I can do while I talk to you. I don't need to remember to have good lighting. That's the key. Okay. So is this is this technology that you've developed? Or software that you've just stumbled across? How did it work? No, it's quite a big technology. A lot of cosmetic brands are using a lot L'Oreal's and people like that I've got it on their site. But yeah, it's something we've developed. Took a little little bit of time, but we've developed it with our products. And yeah, I think it's fantastic. And so many guys compliment how easy it is to find their shake. Because you know, normally, if you go to makeup counter, you have to sort of colour match or ask for advice and things like that. Whereas now you don't have to do that with this. And I also feel like with guys, this is such a new thing that if they're little bit uneasy about makeup and the idea of it or a bit shy about it, they can do it from the comfort of their own home and not feel too conscious, you know, nice. How do you feel about combating that kind of, I don't know if we call it shyness or stigma. I don't know how you kind of package that. But how do you feel like you can get guys out of their shell to talk about men's cosmetics? I think To be honest, I think it's already happening. I think we it's such an emerging market. And it's every day it's changing. I think we something like this, what we have developed is yet again, made it even easier, because I think the hardest thing to do is to get guys to try something. Yeah. Especially in this sense. I think once a guy's tried something, I guarantee with my formulations, obviously I'm going to say, but they go into like the way they look because it's enhancing their appearance. So it's just that first initial trying it and then once someone's tried it then their confidence is there and then they they're happy about it. I mean I know loads of guys that have been using the girlfriend's makeup for I don't know how long and borrowing it from their makeup bag and using it up and things like that. And their girlfriend gets annoyed because they've run out of concealer and yeah, so it's nothing new guys have been using makeup for forever and like even back to what we're saying about the movies guys are when they come to movies, even the action movies like diehard with Bruce Willis or something he's got makeup on, not people you wouldn't necessarily associate makeup with or guys would wouldn't have before. It's always been there. red carpets, guys where it's it's nothing new. It's just now I feel like there's such a turn and it's becoming very mainstream. Buying is such a good thing. And I think why shouldn't guys be able to look good and, and enhance their parents? By the way that is nuts to think of? I guess if you put like the most masculine image you can think of in the dictionary it would be Bruce Willis in a bloodied vest hanging out nice grape a window with it. Exactly right. That's all makeup. And then were made. Yeah. And then you can trust that until somebody is wearing makeup there. And like every dude in the planet will go No, You Shut your face. It's what makes them it. That's what I think it's more of a not in a patronising way, but it's more of a educational thing I think it for for people to understand or actually know that it's been there the whole time. And it's okay if you if you have a spot or blemish or you've had a heavy night and got dark under eye circles, you don't necessarily want to be going somewhere looking like that. You want to make yourself look quite fresh and alive. You know. So it's there's nothing wrong with it. And I think is you know, so many grooming things, I think grooming set the tone for it beds and beard oils and things like that, and it's opened the door for more beauty products and things like that. And now it's gotten to make up a knife and it's doing really well. So I think it's just a matter of time before it gets bigger and bigger and bigger. And bolder. It's no coincidence that when you see red carpet events we see guys on film will tell you that they look great. I mean because chances are they spent an hour or so possibly more in a makeup chair getting everything to look right. It's not just someone ironing their shirts, you know and tailoring their their waistcoats or whatnot. It's the whole package isn't it? So it's a whole package deal. I mean, you can't roll out of bed unless you're literally not even from the looking amazing. Like so they literally enhancing themselves to look the best version of themselves. But the thing with red carpet, I will say it's different to like what we're offering. They have quite a heavy base and heavy makeup on. So they were quite a lot of products because on camera and things. It doesn't show up as much but you look better when you you were more in them senses. However, what I've done with these products is I've designed formulations that are very lightweight, and very natural. So basically, they're all designed to enhance you. So you look the best version of yourself and they don't change you, and you don't feel conscious that you're wearing things. It's all designed just to enhance you to look the best version of you and not make you feel conscious that are what he looks like he's got loads of makeup on. It's not. That's not what I wanted to do. I wanted to enhance it. So it's very natural. You know, it's almost like, and I'll bring this background in a second is almost like a really good boob job. A good boob job is you don't you look at them and you go, right, I don't know if they're real or fake. And that is the idea of a good bujo it's not that to have a boob job. And not the purpose of it is to have huge boobs. Everyone goes well, they look fantastic. They obviously fake it. Anyway. I get I get where you're going. Betty, can you tell me how so you've got the idea for the brand? How hard was this to get off the ground? And what was it like getting it from concept to market? Do you know why it took a long time, it took two to three years to develop. I mean every formulation, every part of it bespoke have designed every everything from scratch, there's nothing, you know, bought off the shelf and just packaged with the labels, nothing, nothing like that. I've worked with my labs and things to develop formulations that I like I've tested everything, and then all the components and things I wanted to work with and make sure I felt like they represented my personality and and what I like because the most important thing for me was to develop a brand that I believe in and that I would use and I do use. So that's why it was very important to do that. But it wasn't too difficult. It's just a lot of work. Yeah, it's like it's a lot of work and a lot of legal things, you know, because it's people's skin, you have to make sure you have all the rigorous testing and things like that. I'm proud to say everything's cruelty free. I haven't done any animal testing and things like that, which I'm really happy about. So yeah, in that sense. It's Yeah, yeah, no, and that's a huge thing now especially with brands having to be so transparent about how it all comes to be and so are the labs in the UK Are you kind of travelling all over the world? How's How did that work? All the formulations are manufactured in the UK Yeah, right okay. And and so when you have like the idea and then you have the the package and the finished goods with perhaps two or three years down the road, how do we get this off the ground then you have to build the commerce site, you have to get PR teams involved? Yeah, it's a whole process you're kind of juggling a million things at once you got a little bit crazy and there was a period in time where I had so much going on in my head that I didn't know which way to turn but when you come out the other end it's quite a nice feeling and but yeah, it's once you get to a certain point is PR ng just basically getting brand awareness really because at the end of the day you can have an amazing brand you just want people to know about it and that's the key really and and so people should be also checking out your social pages Benny Hancock for men on there now and yet do you do tutorials as well can you tell people how to actually apply this stuff because a lot of guys I guess will just be following the lead from their girlfriends or respective partners. Yeah complete on the website and the each product there's a video of myself sharing how I probably the product we've tips and tricks and then we've got a how to Section showing full start to finish guide on how to use all the products in the order I've word so it's very easy to follow. And we've catered for that because I know it's a new thing so it was important to make sure that guys to understand you know because some guys will be like what is foundation or yeah or what how do I put that brown thing on so in that sense it's very helpful in a lot of guys do say it's really helpful so we're happy with it. Well as I was I was having lunch today with my girlfriend I said I'll be talking to you later on. And she was going through the range obviously she's naturally very excited about anything makeup. And he's got everything on here he's got the he's got the foundation face perfect. He's got the the bronzer the Brow Definer and I hadn't I've no idea I'm sorry. I have no idea what any of these things yeah, of course I didn't say that to her said yeah. Oh, yeah. When she said there's a bro definer on their foot. Is that are you mispronouncing that? Is that a bro define? She's, she's Russian. Well, listen, if we can call the Brow Definer abroad? I think so. Yeah. I said, I said is that a genius bit of marketing or is that you mispronouncing browserify? No, you might be onto something. away. Hashtag dobro define. So I mean, it must be me. So everything's new, the brands brand new, it must be a crazy time to release a brand in this climate house has the reaction been. And you know, it's been fantastic. And it's been honestly fantastic. Because I think like I said, a lot of people are at home, everyone's very bored. And they're wanting to try new things and entertain themselves. And also, another big thing is everyone's talking on zoom, where everyone's doing zoom meetings for hours on end, this new thing called zoom fatigue, they're calling it and basically, you don't want to be on zoom looking terrible. A lot of the guys are actually getting themselves ready for their zoom meetings and zoom calls. So in that sense, it's still, you know, like normal. No way, you know, you must have been under the dinner table at lunch, when I was talking to my girlfriend, she was saying the same thing, because, you know, guys more than ever, kind of now on screen, you know, taking more photos of themselves, it's become more of a kind of photo genic world if that if that's the phrase. It's not. Oh, yeah. Well, I know what you mean. Your mug is on everything these days. It's like zooming in May, my girlfriend thought that she would be able to put her feet up with regards to the makeup. And because she has to work from home. And that was fine for the first couple of weeks. But then they said, Oh, we've got to switch to visual. You know, we can't be doing zoom calls with audio anymore. No pyjamas? Yeah. You know, she was just having a great time. And now it's up, it's up another hour earlier than she wanted to be to, you know, apply all the makeup again. Ya know, it's interesting, that guys are also having to having to follow suit in a way, you know, they've got to do it as well. And also all the tips that you have on how to present yourself like you got to have about five or six Haynes manuals underneath the laptop, so it's not looking like straight up your nostrils? It's kind of Oh, yeah, completely good lighting. Yeah. Good lighting. How? What kind of lighting you got any tips? Have you got any good zoom meeting tips, please, very. I always try and have a window behind my laptop. And I always try to pitch this sounds crazy, but I always try and make sure it's between 10 to 11. Or after lunch tongs. I feel like it's too bright in the day. Oh, right. It's I like to even do early morning or mid to late afternoon. I feel like in the middle of the day, it's just too bright. And it washes you out and you'll make it look like you're just eyes and lip. bed. Because the bed gives you some structure. Yeah, your chin doesn't just drop off like Ronnie James. Well, that makes sense. I mean, even when you're outside if you do any photography outside, everyone knows like, the middle of the day is just, there's nothing Yeah, glaring. You're squinting. Exactly. It's it's not it's not a good time. It's it's sunrises and sunsets, as they say exactly the same thing. Well, listen, Benny, thanks so much for jumping on the podcast Benny hancock.com. For any recommend everyone checking it out. And also just that the how tos as well if you if you kind of need to get up to speed on how to apply certain products. All the videos are there. It's all clearly defined. And then you have to try on mirror as well. So I have a blast. Barry, thanks so much for your time. You can turn your air con back on now. Thank you. All right. Take care yourself. You too. Thank you very much. Thanks. Bye bye. How about that? Thank you, Benny. Thanks for turning off the air con, we literally sweat to bring you this content people. So make sure you're supporting the guys head over to Benny hancock.com and treat yourself or a loved one to some game changing cosmetics. In the meantime, thanks for tuning in. If you like what you're hearing, leave a review. Maybe there's a brand or a person you think would make a great guest. Put your suggestions in a comment on iTunes or wherever it is that you listen and until next time.