Elite Artist Community
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What is the best way to apply eye pencil?
The most important thing to remember when applying any type of eyeliner is to make sure it is as close to the lashline as possible. You don't want any gaps between your lashes and the pigment. When using eye pencil, apply along the lashline and smudge with a small brush to fill it in and smooth it out.
I’m meticulous about choosing the right foundation and the application process. Foundation should mimic the texture of real skin and if you see it sitting on the skin, it hasn’t been applied properly. Skin care and skin prep play a big part in the foundation process too, because if you don’t have the proper canvas to start with, you can forget the rest.
Make sure you are applying your make-up in the proper lighting! That holds true for the professionals and the general public.
Films: The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Runaways, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, The Final Destination, Into the Wild, Welcome to the Riley's
In Conversation with Robin Mathews...
What inspired you to become a makeup artist?
I started in the business as an actor, and fell in love with the process of helping actors completely transform into different-looking characters by sculpting their features.
What advice would you give someone looking to become a professional makeup artist?
Don’t give up. It takes time to get to the top in this business. Try to work for as many people as you can and learn everything you can from every job you do. You can learn as much from the bad jobs as you can from the good ones. That’s how you formulate what kind of makeup artist you want to be. Don’t close your mind off to new ideas or different ways of doing things. Problem solving on the fly is the key to being a success in the movie industry. Also, have confidence in your ability. If there is something I don’t know how to do, I will study it with an obsessive-like compulsion until I know everything about it, and can accomplish the task. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your peers. For every person out there whom will not give you a hand or advice, there is someone who will.
Be tenacious!
What is the biggest mistake you see people making with cosmetics?
Foundation that doesn’t match their skin tone; using the wrong formula for their skin; or not applying it properly. Eyebrows seem to be pretty easy to screw up as well. Also, getting stuck in a rut with a beauty routine.
What three items would you want with you on a desert island?
Unlimited sunblock, my laptop with internet access of course, and my dog Mouse.
What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Spending a day off reading, relaxing, and catching up on movies.
Where is your favorite place to relax?
Any private vacation spot on the water.
Do you have a makeup secret to help women look younger?
Exfoliation! No matter what your skin type, everyone should exfoliate on a regular basis. Consistently removing that dead layer of skin does wonders. There are many types to choose from, from physical exfoliation to chemical exfoliation. Find the most suitable one for your skin type, and stick with it.
What is your favorite CARGO product?
The blu_ray Blush. I also find many uses for the Reverse Lip Liner.
What is the funniest thing that's ever happened to you on the job?
The film industry can be very stressful, so I find it imperative for my life to revolve around humor. Every day at work is a day filled with laughing and funny things. Seriously, everyday.
Bio
Robin has been a Makeup Department Head for fifteen years on both big budget and independent films. Her professional story begins in 1994, when after graduating from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles; she realized her talents in makeup while working as an actor. Most makeup artists specialize in either Beauty or Makeup Effects, but Robin prides herself on being an expert in both fields. With an impressive body of work to go along with her many accomplishments, Robin is sought after and trusted by the most beautiful young talents in Hollywood as well as seasoned Academy Award winners and nominees, to design looks that are true to their characters both on and off camera.
Kristen Stewart is a common denominator in many of Robin’s projects. The relationship began after Robin worked with Kristen on Into the Wild and Welcome to the Riley's, when Kristen asked Robin to help her revamp the look of her character Bella for New Moon (and later Eclipse). Says Robin: “It was an honor to be part of a film and story that is dearly loved by so many people ... I knew I had many expectations to live up to with the makeup design.”
Having given hundreds of interviews about her work in publications including Allure, InStyle, Elle, Glamour, Italian Vogue, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Nylon, Seventeen, Self, The Los Angeles Times, and Make-Up Artist Magazine, Robin has become one of the most sought after voices of authority in the industry.
