When you’re responsible for a face like Cindy Crawford’s, you must be a makeup artist that knows her stuff! We had the opportunity to snag five questions with Brigitte Reiss-Andersen, a seasoned beauty-industry pro with more than 250 magazine covers under her belt. Find out how she conquers the seemingly impossible feat of making an already breathtaking Cindy Crawford even more breathtaking, and benefit from her decades of expertise with a few insider tips!
Q: As a pro, you know all the tricks! But what’s one thing we can do on our own, at-home to prep our skin for flawless photographs like Cindy’s?
A: Great skin always looks hydrated and radiant. A trusted trick is to steam your face regularly to get rid of dry and dull complexion. If you can throw in a little mild scrub to get rid of little imperfections you’ll be well on your way to fabulousness. On a daily basis you need a great moisturizer like Meaningful Beauty Antioxidant Day Crème to nourish your skin. By taking care good care of your skin it will look flawless in pictures, just like Cindy’s.
Q: Let’s say an airline lost your luggage, your makeup kit included! Can you tell me three products you’d be absolutely devastated about not having, and why?
A: An airline actually did lose my luggage once. I was flying to New Orleans for a big campaign with seven models! It was the biggest nightmare! I found out quickly that anything related to skin makeup was the hardest thing to replace. So here we go. I would be devastated if I didn’t have:
- My brush kit — I have collected this selection of art-supply, mass market, fancy and exotic brushes for years. Like a top chef who depends on his knifes to accomplish great work, I rely on my brushes to help me realize my vision.
- My favorite foundation — You can create any look you want from nude to fashionably strong if the skin looks flawless and luminous. If the skin base looks thick and chalky, the makeup will look old fashion and heavy. So the color and quality of foundation is paramount.
- My concealers — I have a palette of industrial strength concealers that would not be easy to replace.
Q: If you could only recommend one product from Meaningful Beauty, which one would it be?
A: I like the Deep Cleansing Masque a lot. I’m French and using masques is just part of my inherited regular beauty routine. What I like about them is how “new” the skin feels after use. Since I travel so much, I always have a masque in my toiletry bag as well as in my makeup kit for client emergencies. This one offers the advantage of being light, refreshing for the skin and cleansing all at the same time. J’adore!
Q: When you’re prepping Cindy for makeup, what’s the first step you take? Do you apply a specific serum or moisturizer prior to foundation?
A: I first clean the face with a cotton pad and rose water to take off sunscreen or any other products she may be wearing. I don’t expect Cindy to come to the studio without protecting and hydrating her skin. Then I apply the Anti-Oxidant Day Crème as a moisturizer. It’s perfectly balanced so it soothes the skin but is not too rich to apply makeup on top. Then for a little turbo power I’ll add a few drops of Glowing Serum. It makes her skin smooth, luminous and ready for makeup!
Q: One of the most common complaints I hear about skincare is that aging eyes are hard to hide. Can you share a tip or trick that we can try that will perk our eyes up with quickness?
A: A great trick to perk up the eyes and the gaze in a mature face is to focus on the eyelashes. That can be done in three quick steps:
- A quick application of dark brown, midnight blue or thunder grey pencil right within the upper lashes. Black tends to be a bit harsh. If pencils don’t stay on well on you, replace the pencil with a matte eye shadow and a small pointy brush. Same idea though, like a pencil, right within the lash line.
- Curl your lashes with an eyelash curler. Can’t get away from that one. It creates an instant anti-gravity effect. Be careful not to pinch the skin. If it’s easier try placing a makeup mirror almost under your chin and then look into it. You’ll have a better angle to put the curler in place. Squeeze carefully at first, but then put some strength into it! Count to three seconds. Release.
- Apply black mascara. Choose one with a small brush so you can reach each and every lash. If you need extra thickness, brush them first with a layer of loose powder and proceed with the mascara.
