Recently I had the chance to chat with Tina Turnbow, makeup artist to the stars and backstage staple at NY Fashion Week. Move over Pat McGrath!
When did you fall in love with makeup?
As a little girl I used to sit down, and watch my mother put on her makeup… I can still remember following her routine every morning. By 13, I kept a sketchbook of women’s faces. I was just so fascinated by them. From there, I went on to study art, but came back to makeup – and I was able to apply everything I had learned in art to women’s faces.
What was your favorite decade, as far as makeup is concerned? Why?
I love the way that women experimented with color in the 80s, but I love the natural beauty of the 70s. Luminous skin, eyes that pop, and organic-looking eyebrows. I take a lot from that decade, even in what I do today.
Which celebrities have you worked with in the past, and do you work with anyone regularly?
I have been able to work with some great faces over the years. More recently I have been working a lot with Mariska Hargitay, Jacinda Barrett, Amanda Peet, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Vera Farmiga, Jordana Brewster, Ivanka Trump, Joan Allen, Mary Louise Parker, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Marcia Cross.
When brainstorming with a client on a look for an awards show, what’s the most requested look?
Women always want to look like themselves – just at their most beautiful. Sometimes they want to look more glamorous, sometimes more ethereal – it is usually a combination of a reflection of the event and their dress. A strong eye is a favorite, though… be it simple with full lashes or the classic “smoky eye.”
What are your top five beauty tips?
(1) First thing, the skin is your canvas. Take care of your skin, and your makeup will look so much more beautiful!
(2) Always “prime” your face with moisturizer. Nothing can ruin a beautiful face or makeup job faster than flaking skin or dry spots… especially when you add foundation or powder to the mix.
(3) Next, find a mascara that works for you. I love glossy, glossy black mascaras that make the eyes pop. Two coats usually does it – much more, and you can end up with clumps. Always swipe from the base to the tip for full, even coats.
(4) Concealer seems to be mysterious to women. Used sparingly, it can do such wonderful things, from making your eyes look wide-awake to covering skin discolorations or blemishes. Find a good match to your skin tone, and use a flat blush to blend for flawless coverage.
(5) Eyeliner can also be tricky. Find a firm brush that narrows at the tip so you can get into the lash line. Using a wet/dry shadow formula, wet the tip of the brush, and tap it in the powder shaking of excess powder. Use the brush to add color directly into the lash line. You will create incredible depth and fullness in your lashes. I find this works better for pencil-phobes. Wipe away any excess color.
What’s the one thing women can do to look younger?
Drink a lot of water! Keep your skin hydrated, and get enough sleep! But, because no one is perfect and everyone has their fair share of stress, use a good concealer around the inner and outer corner of the eyes… I really like Delux Beauty Concealer – it has such a creamy consistency. Some women neglect the outer corners – and this can make you look tired, even if you aren’t!
How can someone look great in an instant?
I like a good multi-tasker. Of course, I always try to use mascara and then add a bit of lip/cheek color. Palettes are often the easiest way to do this. But if you are to use one product, an all-in-one cream product can work on eyes, lips, and cheeks. I created Cherry Glow with Three Custom Color Specialists. It works for a lip or cheek stain – and the color is really versatile.
What items should every woman have in her makeup bag and why?
Every woman should own a good moisturizer, spot concealer, all over color (Ramy Pure Radiance Pressed Powder is my favorite for a pressed powder – it just blends seamlessly), glossy mascara, and a pretty natural lip color. NARS lip glosses have great color, and aren’t super sticky. NARS lip gloss in Orgasm is just as easily wearable as their blush by the same name. And I love love love Chelsea Girl. Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream is another good one to have – It’s great for shine, to hydrate dull skin, to work into dry hair, on your cuticles… It’s the ultimate all in one product.
What are your favorite drugstore brands? Favorite department store/salon brands?
I think that Fresh makes a great face powder, and L’Occitane’s Immortelle Elixir really softens the skin. Neutrogena and Burt’s Bees make great everyday lip color. I Love Burt’s Bees lip balm in rhubarb for no fuss and a hint on color. Maybelline makes the best classic, standby mascara. L’Oreal Hip offers that some great bold pigmented shadows for drama on a budget.
What’s the biggest mistake women make when doing their makeup?
Overuse of bronzer. This is something that I see year-round. In the spring and winter, women try to give their face a “glow” and end up with an odd line around the jaw line. There are some great products out there that achieve a glow without use of a bronzer. If women are very pale, sometimes use of a tinted moisturizer a half shade darker can achieve this. Or NARS The Multiple Multi-Purpose stick can be great to highlight cheeks and eyes – it really warms the face up! DuWop’s Bronzerush combines the perfect warming bronzer with a great pink blush… so you can get the glow without looking to orange.
What should a woman NEVER leave home without – or without doing?
Moisturize! Philosophy Hope in a Jar is a good weight for everyday. Making skin glow does so much for the other features. But after moisturizing, I say brush eyebrows into place and coat on some mascara. Defining the eyes instantly makes anyone look more pulled together AND awake.
What’s the easiest way to transform your look from day-to-night? What products are needed?
Night looks are more natural than ever. Women are focusing on great, glowing skin – which is easy to retouch with a hydrating mist like John Master’s Organics Lavender Hydrating Mist and a dusting of loose powder. Black and gray aren’t necessarily the colors of choice anymore. So get creative with dark plums, deep blues, nature-inspired greens and browns. These colors are more romantic and approachable. – Glamour Makeup isn’t for everyone and a pretty peaches and cream complexion with subtle shimmer is very current, and works just as well for simple evening elegance.
Any tips for women who want to imitate a look you’ve created for one of your celeb clients?
Pay attention to a celebrity’s face shape. Often, that dictates how I define eyes, lips, or cheeks. Decide on a favorite feature so that you can figure out how to adapt the celebrity’s makeup to your face. Another important thing to remember, celebrities often wear more makeup for red carpet events than in their everyday lives. So, for a dramatic eye look, it makes sense to save it for an evening out. Though the situation can go so far in dictating how you wear the look, even a heavily rimmed eye can be toned-down for work. Use something less drastic than black – say a charcoal or brown shadow used to rim the eyes. DuWop’s Smoke Eye Palette in Plum Wine offers a great shade that is softer than black.
Can you recommend any products that promote healthy skin for all skin-types?
I love Somme Institute’s products – their transport pads are great for everyday use. They exfoliate, but they’re still gentle. Astara’s Nourishing Vitamin Mask really rejuvenates dull, dry skin. I love this if you travel a lot, or you have been particularly hard on your skin!
Which lines have the best products in your opinion?
I don’t think that anyone should buy exclusively from one line. There are so many fun and innovative products out there! I like to test new things – that’s one of my favorite parts of my job getting my little packages from Beauty.com with new items to play with…
Lastly, what in your makeup bag?
A Juice Beauty lip plumper, Fresh’s Victoire Palette (great colors!), Cherry Glow cheek and lip stain by Three Custom Color, NARS lip gloss in Turkish Delight, Jouer Amaryllis all over color, Sue Devitt pencil in Kenya, and Awake stardom escalate mascara because it has such an innovative brush. Oh, and Vincent Longo Perfect Canvas loose powder in golden sienna (#3) with Delux Beauty cream concealer.
Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam.com, Glam Blush, GlamBlush, Beauty, Beauty.com, Tina Turnbow, Fashion Week
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