Linda Kelly, On Location Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist

Linda has been a professional makeup artist for over 20 years and during that time has performed thousands of makeovers on clients of all ages. Throughout her career she has been a major performer with top fashion cosmetics lines such as Chanel, Yves Saint-Laurent, Givenchy, Borghese, Lanc?e, Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden ...

Makeup Artist Q&A

Q: Are there any guidelines to determine if old skin creams are still effective? (Posted Oct, 2005)

A: I don’t recommend keeping any skin cream past 6-8 months once it’s been opened. All creams should be kept in a cool place and never exposed to heat. That may cause them to spoil. Of course you should be able to smell if the cream is really bad and see signs of separation. It is a good idea to use a clean spatula or cotton swab to “dip?into any product that is liquid or cream to prevent bacteria from entering the product.

Q: Is there a way to prevent my lip liner from making that obvious ring around my lips?

A: Use a lip brush to blend the liner slightly around the lip line. There may be times when you want to fill in the entire lip with a lip pencil for a fuller coverage.

Q: I want to look glowy ‑- not greasy ‑- this summer. How do I get a sexy hue?

A: There are many foundations and tinted moisturizers for different skin types which include mica in their products for a subtle “glow. You can also get an oil free tint or foundation and use mica powder (powder with a slight shimmer) to give the glow.

Q: How can I stop my base from fading?

A: Use the proper moisturizer and foundation for your skin type and wait a few minutes for it to “dry?before applying powder to set. If you are oily, use a “stay put? foundation that is oil free. Using a powder puff to apply the setting powder with a “patting?technique and “dusting?with a powder brush after will help your staying power. Carry blotting tissues to remove oil during the day if you are oily. I should also mention here a tip for the powder compacts for touch up ?keep the puff turned upside down to prevent oils on the application side of the puff from entering the compact.
 

Q: How can I make my small eyes appear larger? (Posted July, 2005)

A: You can slightly elongate small eyes by extending your eye shadow and eye liner. Also use lots of mascara on the outer corners to draw eyes outward.

Q: My mascara always clumps, what can I do to stop this?

A: To help with clumping mascara always “wipe?off excess mascara from wand on the inside of the mascara tube before applying. Apply first to the base of the lashes and slowly and steadily “comb?through the lashes. Purchase an eyelash comb to separate lashes before they dry.

Q: How can I keep my eyeliner in place during the hot summer months?

A: Always cover pencil eyeliner with powder eye shadow to prevent smearing or smudging. You can also look for waterproof or smudge resistant products. I have found that the Mac PowerPoint pencils work well and Estee Lauder has some long wearing pencils as well.

Q: How can I sharpen my lip and eye liner pencils without breaking them?

A: Always keep pencils in a cool place, never keep in a hot car or with you at the beach. You can put the pencils in the refrigerator for 10 minutes before sharpening to help keep them firm. And make sure you have a GOOD pencil sharpener. Pencil sharpeners can become dull and don’t work as well if they are old or the blade is not kept clean.

Q: I have deep set oriental-type eyes with no upper lid showing, how can I do my makeup to make them look their best? (Posted June, 2005)

A: After priming the eyelid with an eye shadow base, use a light color shadow over the entire lid. Next apply eyeliner close to the roots of the eye lashes and smudge. Apply the darkest color (black, grey, or brown) over the eyeliner and blend upwards so the shadow gradually gets softer towards the crease. Don’t go past the crease. The “crease?is located just under the orbital bone. Next apply a medium color such as soft rose or peach in the crease blending to just above the crease. This gives a smoky eye look creating depth. The intensity of the colors you use determines whether the look is natural or dramatic.

Q: Is there a sweat-proof makeup?

A: Many cosmetic companies make a liquid makeup that is sweat-proof. Look for words like “stay put, stay-in-place, smudge proof, sport and water resistant?on the label. Many cosmetic companies will gladly let you sample the makeup before purchasing. You can also try dual finish powders which are applied with a dry puff. I specialize in airbrushed makeup and the formulas I use are sweat-proof but unfortunately airbrushed makeup is a specialty makeup not readily available for consumer use.

Q: How do I apply makeup so it stays when I dance (even if I sweat)?

A: This question is similar to the previous one in that you need to look for words that actually describe the makeup as sweat proof. An oil free liquid makeup applied with a sponge or brush and then allowed to dry completely and follow with a dual finish powder can last through humid conditions. Carry blotting papers to absorb sweat and oil without removing the makeup.

Q: Do you have any recommendations for learning about makeup?

A: There are many good books on the market for learning makeup application and they feature great before and after pictures. Most magazines also have makeup tips and advice and show makeover pictures. Allure magazine covers new products on the market and also has “how to?advice. You can also take a trip to any cosmetic counter and the consultants will gladly show you how to use their products to achieve different looks. Ultimately it will take practicing on your own face and friends faces (if they will let you) to learn what works and what doesn’t.