Featured Make-Up Artist for March: Pro Artist Vanessa Comar
photo by Jessy Plume
With a resume that includes Fashion Shows, Photo Shoots, Red Carpet Events, Awards Shows, Music Videos, and the world Extreme Sports, Make-Up Artist Vanessa Comar has it covered when it comes to making people look good.
As this March’s Featured Make-Up Artist over the next few weeks you will learn some of Vanessa’s insider “Tricks of the Trade” beginning with this Q & A Session. Keep checking back as she reveals her favorite producs and provides some how to “step by step” advice including on how to get lips that are perfect plump.
TRAFFIK: Where are you from originally and where are you based now?
VC: Born in NY raised in Cali, live and work in LA
TRAFFIK: How did you get involved in doing makeup and why?
VC: Officially I’m sure it had something to do with Color Energy by Cristinia Bornstein, but I was already doing covers for the Santa Barbara Independent in 2001 for the fashion editions as well as styling the wardrobe as a fashion editor’s assistant.
After art school and during the launch of my own clothing line I returned to doing make-up/product development in 2004 for Tony & Tina Cosmetics (T&T), a company ironically based from NY.
I quickly became the Trend Consultant for Nordstrom’s regionally throughout the Southern California doors for T&T. Stila Cosmetics brought me out to LA in 2006 and I worked for them while attending the Art Institute majoring in Graphic Design.
It was a blast! Travel and lots of free product every season combined with training for the new “in look”
TRAffIK: What are some of the various projects/shoots you have done make-up for?
VC: Recently…
Red Carpet event w/Linda Cardellini
Lisa Kline Shoot
TWS Awards Show Hosts
Fuel TV Host
Rad Girls (www.radgirls.tv)
( from left to right: for Lisa Kline, TWS Awards photo by ZEX Sports, RAD Girls for Maxim.com – click on images to enlarge)
TRAffIK: What type of scenarios/situations (tv, commercial, fashionshow/runway, photo shoots, etc.) do you most like doing make-up for?
VC: Private Clients, Fashion Shows, Product Development
TRAffIK: What do you enjoy about doing make-up?
VC: It’s relaxing! And of course making people beautiful, FX or character make-up never caught on with me, it’s always been about fashion and beauty or demonstrating technique.
TRAffIK. Do you remember the first make-up item that you purchased or used? What was it?
VC: I really bought into skin care first, and then when MAC first came out, I was ALL OVER that!!!
TRAffIK: At what age did you start wearing make-up? What made you start?
VC: Well, I was kinda a tomboyish sorta girl and resisted until about junior high, but then fell in love with the whole thing.
TRAffIK: Are you able to tell what colors would work best on someone just by looking at them? How?
VC: There are really great ways to predict what will work on someone. I start with looking at eye color and skin tone.
TRAffIK: Is there a make-up look that you feel works for everyone?
VC: Anything you can put together in three steps is the perfect everyday look. Less is more, more or less.
TRAffIK: What is the biggest or most common mistake that you feel people make when it comes to make-up?
VC: Looking at magazines and trying to re-create a photo-shopped image
TRAffIK: What would your advice be for someone who has never worn make-up but wants to start?
VC: The best advice is to sit down with the pros near you. Either in a flagship store or a department store counter. Ask the manager who they recommend and sit down for an hour, it’s free.
TRAffIK: What do you feel makes a great make-up artist?
VC: Perseverance, confidence, and talent.
TRAffIK: What are some of the most common questions you get from women in regards to makeup?
VC: How do I do the smokey eye?
TRAffIK: Are there any people in your field that you look up to?
VC: Janice Dickinson’s make-up artist team, she always looks amazing!
TRAffIK: Are there any celebrities whose makeup you think always looks great?
VC: Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Beyonce
TRAffIK: Is there any celebrity (or multiple celebrities) whose makeup you would love to do? Why?
VC: Meghan Fox. Basically, people that can constantly re-invent themselves.
TRAffIK: How would you describe your personal make-up approach?
VC: Fresh appeal, bringing out individual beauty through features.
TRAffIK: What is your going out make-up process (either daily morning getting ready or nighttime)?
VC: I’m a total chameleon with my make-up and will almost never repeat the same look twice.
TRAffIK: Is there any product or beauty regimen that you swear by?
VC:
1. exfoliate
2. use lip conditioner daily
3.throw away old product!!! Anything more than 2 years old.
4. shape the brows
5. illuminate
TRAffIK: What is your favorite feature (eyes/lips/face) to do make-up for?
VC: Creating high cheekbones and full luscious lips
- Simone Loffer photo by Chris Carlo Make-up by Vanessa Comar
TRAffIK: How do you feel about permanent make-up?
VC: Brows look pretty good if done right. Not a fan of permanent eye or lip liner.
TRAffIK: How do you feel about plastic surgery?
VC: I would recommend upper eye lid surgery for more crease. There are so many things you can do these days, just make sure it fits your profile.
TRAffIK: For someone who is getting their make-up done by you, what kind of experience can they expect?
VC: More relaxing than intimidating with great results, I let the client be a part of the experience.
TRAffIK: If you weren’t a make-up artist what would you be?
VC: A unicorn
TRAffIK: What do you do to unwind?
VC: Bubble bath or hit the gym, or both
TRAffIK: What are some of your favorite places to shop for make-up?
what are they wearing?
Models (Tonya and Suzie) and Vanessa are all wearing Backstage