What I Learned from Scott Barnes
Scott Barnes is an incredible artist, whose chosen form of expression is makeup. Although Scott has worked with a variety of Hollywood talent over the years, including Kate Hudson, Beyonce, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Celine Dion, it’s his work with Jennifer Lopez that birthed the monochromatic look featuring bronzed skin and pale lips. Although he first started working with JLo 15 or so years ago, its amazing that this look, coined as “The Glow”, is still requested and sought after by many women when they sit down in a makeup artist’s chair. I was thrilled to hear Scott speak at a makeup conference I attended in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. He was charming, entertaining, a bit of braggart (but who wouldn’t be with his talent!), and still amazingly accessible.
“How you choose to present yourself is a direct correlation to how you feel inside.” - Scott Barnes
The guy is nothing if not loquacious. And yes, he did choose an already amazing looking “young thing” as his on-stage model. But still, the work he did was flawless. He’s very well known for his contouring abilities and that is mainly what we focused on while there. Now ladies, the first question I ask when conducting a makeup lesson with someone is “How long are you willing to commit to putting on your makeup in the morning.” The answer I always get is “10 minutes and I don’t want to use a lot of product”. So let’s be clear that a 10 minute face does NOT include “Scott Barnes-style” contouring. And it DOES include a LOT of different products. But that’s okay. Because when you want some real contouring and you want a look like JLo (“lit from within”), well, then you know where to come!
Here are a few interesting tid-bits that I learned from Scott:
he uses at least three products to contour the face (not including foundation applied afterwards)
he uses makeup brushes that are 15 years old, but he expertly cleans them every day (well he doesn’t, but his assistant does)
his favorite tight-lining pencil is “Maybelline Expert Eyes in Velvet Black”, but before applying it, he heats the tip with a lighter (don’t worry…I’m testing that one out for all of you….per ushe, I’m taking one for the team)
he and JLo used to fight a lot about how much makeup she wore. His look for her was the “minimal” look she is known for (ha! ha! yup, he calls it a minimal look!)
he doesn’t like primer
he doesn’t like makeup sponges
he uses the point of the mascara wand vertically to coat each individual lash and he also coats the top of the lashes as well
Well, I could go on and on. But remember, just like like when you become a first time parent and you dutifully read all the books on parenting and attend all the guidance classes and education lectures, it doesn’t take long to get thoroughly and incredibly confused. So just like there is no “one right way” to parent, so there is not “one right way” to apply makeup. The best way is the one that works for you.
I am excited to report that I will be attending a two day workshop with Scott Barnes in April. I can’t wait!
