Beauty School with Carmindy

By Alexis Wolfer

We’re thrilled to debut this column with one of the industry’s best: Carmindy.

Her work has graced the editorial pages of the nation’s leading magazines (including Cosmopolitan, InStyle, O and Essence) and appeared on numerous commercial clients (such as Maybelline and Sephora). She is the author of the newly released Crazy Busy Beautiful: Beauty Secrets for Getting Gorgeous Fast, the co-creator of her own makeup line, Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy, and the lead makeup artist on TLC’s hit show What Not To Wear.  But it is Carmindy’s makeup mastery that has made her one of the top fashion makeup artists today.

And while few of us will actually be fortunate enough to have our faces painted pretty by her hands, makeup artists not only help us look our best, but also set the beauty trends we see both strutting the runways walking the sidewalks. They’re tastemakers, trendsetters and artists. They help us conceal pesky blemishes, select the best eye shadows and help boost our confidence. They school us in beauty and we listen (no dozing off here!).

Find the best eyeshadow for you!

We head to Beauty School with Carmindy where she fills us in…

I first knew I wanted to be in the beauty industry when… I was 15 years old. I was obsessed with Elle and Seventeen magazines and wanted to re-create the looks I saw on those pages. My mother was an artist and taught me to paint, so it was a natural progression.

If I weren’t a… makeup artist, I would be… a professional adventurer. Wait, is that a job?

If I could get my beautifying hands on one person it would be… where do I begin?

My beauty icon is… Michelle Pfieffer.

Currently I am inspired by… classic art and my friends blog chrissystyles.com where she uses art to inspire wardrobes.

My biggest beauty splurge is… La Mer.

My perfect pamper day would include… a massage, mani/pedi, swimming in the ocean and a pina colada.

Tight on time? Pamper in 15 minutes!

The next big thing in beauty will be… my iPhone App.

If I could paint the world one color, I’d paint it… silver sage.

My favorite beauty product under $10 is… my Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy Forever Stay Eyeliner in Jade.

If I could only use 3 beauty products for the rest of my life they would be… liquid foundation, black mascara and lipgloss.

Self-tan flawlessly!

Photography Credit: Peter Buckingham