Kathy Aragon is a professional makeup artist and hair stylist represented by Timothy Priano Artists in New York. At this year’s The Makeup Show 2009 NYC, Kathy presented her personal techniques for a fresh face in her workshop, Camera Ready Makeup.

I sat down with Kathy and got the 411 on her inspirations to her personal advice for starting a career in makeup!

Victoria: What or Who inspired you to pursue a career in makeup?

Kathy: My mother owns a salon and, to be involved in the family business, I studied to be an aesthetician.

Victoria: At what point did you decide this would be your career path?

Kathy: I found that cosmetic lines carried in salons did not meet my needs as a makeup artist. I developed a line of cosmetics for the pro-artist and set up photo-shoots to showcase the products. By setting up my own photo-shoots, I quickly realized that I liked the art of doing makeup more than retail. I focused on makeup artistry and did not further develop the cosmetic line.

Victoria: As makeup artists, we all have people who are our mentors, who is your makeup mentor and why? And do you have a makeup artist that inspires you?

Kathy: I have so many! Suzanne Patterson for her personal guidance from the beginning of my career along with Michael DeVellis and James Vincent for showing me I can do more than I thought I could do. Michael invited me to present at The Makeup Show and I was nervous about public speaking. They guided me step-by-step so that I could present the information I wanted to share with other artists!… Alexandru Abagiu inspires me.

Victoria: Through your career, you have worked with many celebrities and traveled to a number of places in the world—what has been the highlight of your career?

Kathy: Working with The Powder Group and hosting my first makeup workshop on Camera Ready Makeup at The Makeup Show NYC 2009.

Victoria: In terms of makeup applications, what is your signature style?

Kathy: Fresh, clean, youthful skin. Once the skin is perfected, everything else falls into place.

Victoria: What are your favorite “must have” products in your kit?

Kathy: Face Atelier Foundation, Benefit High Beam, Nars Duo Copacabana /St. Barts, and OCC Lip Tar for staining the lips.

Victoria: Do you have a “secret weapon” product you can share with us?

Kathy: 3 Custom Color Clarifying Pencil

Victoria: Your workshop at The Makeup Show NYC 2009 is on Camera Ready Makeup. What key points are you covering at this workshop?

Kathy: Detailing, detailing, detailing! Mainly focus on detailing for blending, coverage, lashes, and lips for photography.

Victoria: What are you looking forward to checking out at this year’s Makeup Show?

Kathy: Embryolisse Moisturizer because you can use it as both a moisturizer and foundation primer, and the new Lip Tar colors from OCC

Victoria: For those who are interested in a career in makeup, what advice do you have?

Kathy: Search out and contact a makeup mentor. See if you can assist a professional working makeup artist. There are also great organizations, such as The Powder Group, who are a wonderful support system and offer the best information on the business from working pros.

For more on Kathy Aragon’s work in Makeup and Hair, visit her website http://www.kathyaragon.com

Found at The Makeup Show NYC 2009 and in Sephora locations now, Smashbox’s Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder is the first anti-aging powder. The advanced formula has the science of skin care as it contains pure gold, 48 minerals, and 11 amino acids. This powder also has a patented hydration system that continuously revitalizes skin for a bright, more radiant complexion that lasts all day!

Clinical studies have shown that after 10 minutes of wear time with Halo, there is a 33% decrease in the appearance of wrinkles around eyes. After only 6 weeks of daily use, you may experience a 67% decrease in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles overall. An absolutely amazing daily finishing powder hands down!

Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder comes in 4 shades, Fair, Light, Medium, and Dark. You can wear this product by itself or over foundation for a flawless, light finish. The compact has a twist shaver that emits the perfect amount of fresh powder every time! Just twist, gently swirl your brush, and apply to the face.

For more information visit Smashbox: Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder

Available at Sephora locations nationwide or online

Although the summer season officially begins June 21st, Memorial Day weekend traditionally kicks off beach season. In New York our temps were up to nearly 90 by last Friday and the sun really came out to play. Without sunscreen even my medium-tone skin was turning pink in under 30 minutes!

Of course, now that college semesters are ending and kids are going to be home from school, it is also vacation season. This can mean sunny destinations and increased time spent outdoors. While most dermatologists recommend year-round sunscreen, summer is the time when people suffer the worst sunburns. Even one bad sunburn can increase your risk for developing skin cancer in the future, which can be mild or fatal.

Sun exposure can also irreparably damage your skin in other ways, such as premature aging, wrinkles, severe burns, and other skin conditions. Even the sexiest tan is not worth wrinkles down the line (pun intended), and it’s certainly not worse risking your healthy or your life.

Even though those who are fair-skinned and the very young are at a higher risk for severe burns, everyone should use sunscreen! It isn’t just for the fair-skinned. People of any age or race can suffer burns as well as develop skin cancer.

Here are some of my favorites:

Clinique Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 40

This lightly tinted high-level daily sun protection comes in a sheer, weightless formula. It’s great alone or as a makeup primer. I have super sensitive skin, so I love Clinique’s products. This one is oil free so it’s great for any skin type. It offers SPF 40 protection from the sun’s UVA/UVB rays. I wore this everyday in Turks and Caicos last August and it worked great protecting my skin from sunburn. It also contains antioxidants and helps protect against environmental irritants.

Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Lotion, 50 SPF, Ultra Sweat-Proof

In the warmer months, I spend a lot of time outdoors. I love to exercise outdoors and this is perfect for when I am running, biking, skating, or swimming. Coppertone Sport Lotion is a high performance, ultra sweat-proof sunscreen that bonds to your skin on contact. It won’t run into your eyes and sting them. The breathable, ultra dry formula doesn’t leave a greasy residue that could adversely affect your grip while being active. This formula is also oil free, hypoallergenic, waterproof, and PABA-free and provides UVA/UVB protection. It’s also available anywhere from SPF 15 to SPF 70+ and in spray-on versions.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer® Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 55, 70 & 85

This ultra-sheer dermatologist-tested formula contains Helioplex® technology, the latest breakthrough in UV protection. Helioplex® delivers unbeatable UVA protection. It works better to help prevent damaging UVA rays from penetrating deep under skin’s surface. Its Dry-Touch technology absorbs excess sunscreen oils, leaving a clean, lightweight, non-shiny finish. This one is waterproof, sweat-proof, PABA-free and on-comedogenic which means it won’t clog your pores.

Coppertone NutraShield™, Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 30 – SPF 70

This one is now on sale at Drugstore.com. I absolutely love this product. Coppertone® NutraShield™ with Dual Defense™ combines superior, photostable UVA/UVB sun protection plus nourishing antioxidants to help neutralize free radicals that contribute to the visible signs of aging. The ultra-sheer formula moisturizes your skin yet won’t clog pores so it’s perfect for everyday use. It retains SPF after 80 minutes of activity in the water or sweating. There’s also a version specifically for your face.

Don’t forget to wear lip-gloss or balm with SPF in it. There are some with an SPF up to 70, which is great because the skin on your lips is thin and extra sensitive. Other areas to remember are scars, your ears (especially the top), your scalp and hairline – especially where you part your hair, under your arms and behind your knees, the tops of your feet and even the bottoms of your feet!

The Clinique Sun SPF 45 Targeted Protection Stick is great for protection against the aging and burning effects of UVA and UVB rays for fragile areas like the skin around your eyes, your lips, nose, earlobes, as well scars. Enhanced UVA defense helps guard against premature aging.