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

Recently, one of our readers Mayra had a Beauty Expert question:

I am getting married this October in hot Mexico. I have acne prone, oily skin. What foundations do you recommend I purchase to wear for the big day? Any other makeup tips?  Thank you!

Dear Mayra,

Summer makeup in general can be difficult to deal with– even for normal skin types. When dealing with oily skin and makeup that needs to wear all day, the first thing to do is properly prep your skin. Prepping your skin with an oil control moisturizer and a matte foundation primer will help your skin hold makeup all day with minimal touch-ups.

Check out these products:

1. First Apply:
Natural Born Cosmetics Anti Shine Serum

2. Then lay a foundation primer over:
Natural Born Cosmetics Foundation Primer

For foundation, try Makeup Forever’s HD Invisible Cover Foundation and Loose Powder. This foundation glides on seamlessly and has beautiful coverage that is virtually undetectable. Best part is that this product is formulated for hi-definition television and is built to withstand hot temps!

To maintain a matte skin finish throughout your day, touch-up using oil blot paper. Nurturing Force Continuous Roll Blotting Paper is great to remove oil from your skin rather than moving it around. Take a piece of the paper and press in areas that are shiny to remove oil.

Mayra, by properly prepping your skin for makeup your look will last through hot temp. Hugs, kisses, and congratulations!

Best Wishes!

Victoria (BBB’s Celebrity Makeup Artist)

Did you know that our skin can reveal hidden truths about our feminine character? It is a fact that other women begin to form strong opinions about us by simply observing the condition of our skin.

While facial cleansing, it is easy for us to overlook the delicate sections of our face where the disgusting build up become comfortable in the creases of the nose and chin causing unsightly whiteheads, and even soreness and infection! Ewh! So gather your q-tips, soft wash cloths, your cleanser, and any other facial products that you regularly use.

After splashing your face with lukewarm water, apply a small dab of your cleanser in the crease of the chin and in the outer creases of the nose and allow to soak for about 3 minutes. Next, take a q-tip and swab those stubborn creases back and forth for a minute or so, (a q-tip only allows minimal pressure, so you don’t have to worry about being too harsh to your face) then lather as usual. Apply this pre-treatment each time you wash your face and you see the difference in about a week.

In this stressful generation, investing an extra moment or two to improve the complexion of our skin can make the difference in the kind of first impression that is formed by others. More importantly, it can help to reveal the true feminine confidence and self-esteem that is truly inside each of us.

The metallic trend is definitely at the top of our to do list this Fall. We’re both dying over the wearable colors that so many brands have on the table for the season ahead. We emphasize the word wearable because neither of us wants to be that woman at the preschool drop off with the really overdone makeup. You know the one we mean…too much eye shadow, too much lip stick, too much of everything…at like 8am. Not good. Not good at all.

One way to keep the look subtle and do-able for day is to pick one part of your face to apply the trend. Maybe wear a cute metallic color on your eyes, but then do a natural looking lip and cheek. Or try a fabulous lip color and then go lighter (think nude colors) with your eyes, maybe adding a cute sweep of blush for a finish.
But for us…either way…it has to be fast. We generally have zero time to get ready in the mornings with our little ones tearing up the house.

So here’s a quick five minute look that we love, starting with eyes and ending with lips:

A lot of the new eye shadow colors being offered by Bobbi Brown, for Fall 2008, are to die for gorgeous. They are the epitome of wearable in their sheer-but-buildable metallic splendor. Choose one of the lighter tones (like our fave Golden Peach) and apply with a fluffy eye shadow brush, from the lash line to the crease. We like to just add a sweep of mascara to the upper lashes and call it a day on the eyes.

For blush, we would probably keep within the same tones, but go for something that doesn’t have a lot of shimmer…Clinique Soft-Pressed Powder Blusher in Honey Blush will give cheeks a nice pop of color and not compete with the peachy eye.

Finish off the look, with some L’Oreal Paris Bare Naturale Gentle Lip Conditioner in Soft Peach on your pout. It’s a perfect way to top off your weekday metallic look.

Throw your hair in a low pony tail and you are done. Fabulous!

With love (always),
Jennifer and Christine
http://beautyinreallife.blogspot.com