Elite Artist Community
How do you use color around the eye?
I love to use color in many different ways. A question I get a lot is "how can I break out of my basic browns?" Simply add a pop of color! A teal eyeliner with a chocolate brown shadow looks stunning! Blending a touch of vibrant purple, green, and bronze can add a hint of color while still looking subtle and natural. I like to be creative with color depending on the shoot, the project, and of course my subject. With anything I do, there has to be something organic and real about it. I've never been into surreal beauty looks. I tend to be mostly inspired by looks that I've seen in films and theater productions. For instance, who can forget Elizabeth Taylor's peacock blue eyeshadow in Cleopatra or Cher's mustard eyeshadow in The Witches of Eastwick or Julianne Moore's 60s mod eye makeup in The Single Man.
Highlight the upper bow of the lip and add a touch of shimmer gloss to the bottom center of your lower lip for an instant fuller pout.
Always curl your lashes with a lash curler before applying mascara. For hard to curl lashes, hold the curler under a warm hair dryer for a few seconds then proceed to curl. Try to get the lash curler as close as possible to the base of your lashes, press down gently then slightly release and press down again. Do this a few times then apply mascara.
Apply a powder blush with a slightly damp blush brush to create a sheer wash of color to the apple of your cheeks.
In Conversation with Troy Jensen...
What advice would you give someone looking to become a professional makeup artist?
My advice to aspiring makeup artists is that you must:
1. Find what inspires you while developing your own aesthetic, style, and technique
2. Find your favorite, go-to products
3. Make up as many different faces as possible; different ages, ethnicities and skin tones
4. Take pictures of your work to see the finished look
5. Keep your kit and beauty tools organized and clean
5. Contact modeling agencies and ask to be put on their testing list, so you can get great faces for your portfolio.
What is the biggest mistake you see people making with cosmetics?
I would say getting into a beauty rut is a big mistake a lot of women make. They get attached to certain colors and a certain look and it becomes their everyday mask. They forget to have fun with trends, color, and shine. If you're conservative try a smoky eye and a sexy beige lip. If you do every day glam, try a more natural look; a sheer base, tinted cheek and lip color and minimal eyeshadow.
What three items would you want with you on a desert island?
Amazing shelter, plenty of food and a toothbrush.
What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Lying in bed with a bucket of KFC watching the telly!
Where is your favorite place to relax?
I like to be at home with my five dogs: Mylo, Darla, Teo, Bella, and Mi Mi.
Do you have a makeup secret to help women look younger?
Avoid using too much powder; opt for blotting sheets instead to remove excess shine. To add a radiant glow apply a cream or liquid highlighter to the top of the cheek, down the center of the nose, the upper bow of the lip, and the inner corners of the eyes near the tear duct. Then, apply your foundation. This gives your face a radiant glow through the makeup, giving the appearance of a younger complexion.
What are your favorite CARGO products?
OneBase, blu_ray Pressed Powder, Big Bronzer, SuedeBlush, Essential Eye Shadow Palette, LashActivator mascara, and the Lip Gloss Quad in Casablanca.
Are there any CARGO products you think everyone should own?
SuedeBlush in Montebello. It has an array of sweet peach, sheer raspberry, and golden bronze. It will compliment any skin tone.
What is the funniest thing that's ever happened to you on the job?
I cannot answer that on the grounds that it will incriminate me. LOL
Bio
Makeup artist and photographer Troy Jensen is known for his remarkable roster of celebrity clients as well as his intense passion for illuminating the beauty in each of his clients’ faces. Troy’s background in art and music contributes to the overall effect of raw glamour so consistent in his work. A self-described former street kid, Troy got his start in the industry over twenty years ago while socializing with members of the burgeoning art and punk scene in Los Angeles. He neither worked in a salon nor apprenticed for another artist; instead, he found his inspiration in the strong, feminine icons of retro-Hollywood, women such as Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, Ava Gardner, Sophia Loren, and Audrey Hepburn. Troy devised his own aesthetic, and created a signature look that he still applies today and which is characterized by bold colors that never overwhelm the face or appear unnatural. An intensely creative person, Troy brings his love of design, art, and music to each job he performs.
Contact Troy
www.troyjensenonline.com, as well as my blog: http://blog.troyjensenonline.com, Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/troyjensenbeauty?ref=search and Twitter @itstroyjensen
