First Look Fridays: Makeup Artist and Beauty Blogger Agostina Lombardo

Makeup artist. Beauty blogger. Agostina Lombardo. This fascinating gal somehow finds time to do both jobs! I had the pleasure of meeting her at the Total Beauty Summit back in May, and I was so impressed by her credentials and her long, storied past as a celebrity makeup artist in Los Angeles. This past year saw her as the makeup artist for Ellen Degeneres, which of course got everyone at the Summit so excited! Agostina is represented by the Cloutier Agency in LA, and she also runs the super-fabulous blog Makeup2Beauty. Raised in St. Louis, Agostina attended Webster College and has since lived in Chicago, Paris, Milan and now LA. Keep reading to find out more about this amazing woman!

How did you first become interested in makeup, and what led you to become a makeup artist?
My first introduction to makeup artistry was in college, in the dance/theater department. I was used as a model to show the dance department how to use makeup -- I think I was more interested in the makeup session than they were, LOL. Then I discovered Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Elle magazines and I fell in love with fashion -- I had found my passion. And knew this was the path I needed to go on, so I became a makeup artist.

Have you worked with any makeup artists that inspired you? What did they teach you?
When I first started as a makeup artist I had the pleasure to work with Linda Cantello and Anne-Marie Bartholew. Linda Cantello was a Vogue makeup artist and taught me how to think outside the box using color. Anne-Marie Bartholew was a French Elle makeup artist who taught me about beauty makeup and what it takes to be a professional. I've also learned a lot from the models and actresses I have worked with like Iman, who early in my career showed me how to do makeup properly for women of color. And Faye Dunaway, whose tips and tricks help me to refine my application for women over 40.

What are some of the shoots and shows you've worked on that have stood out as highlights in your career?
Highlights in my career have been my first job with Harper's Bazaar. I was given the cover, 6 pages of celebrities and 4 pages of beauty. After this issue hit the stands, my agent received calls from American Vogue and Italian Vogue for work. This sparked my major career in fashion, giving me the opportunity to work with some of the most famous photographers and biggest supermodels of our time. The next major highlight in my career was when I first started to work with celebrities like Nicole Kidman, Jodie Foster and Meg Ryan for fashion magazines, covers and editorials. This launched my career in the celebrity world that I still work in today.

Why did you decide to start your blog?
I started writing Makeup2Beauty because as a professional makeup artist I'm always being asked questions regarding beauty. I felt women needed to hear advice from a pro who wasn't biased, and from someone who truly had their finger on the pulse of today's beauty.

I love the name of your blog! How did you come up with it?
I wanted a name that was simple and to the point -- something that was easier to remember than Agostina, LOL. And Makeup2Beauty just seemed to fit the direction of my blog.

What have been some of the highlights of having your blog?
1) When my readers tell me how much the information I've given them has helped them out.
2) And meeting wonderful people like yourself. (Editor's note: Awwwww! Thanks, Agostina!)

What are the products and brands you simply can't live without in your makeup case?
This answer is subject to change, but right now I'd have to say:
1) Bobbi Brown Correctors and Concealers
2) Shu Uemura Nobara Creams
3) Dior loose powders
4) Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundations

What are your top 3 makeup tips?
1) Moisturize before applying concealer/foundation -- this will help it to not look dry and cakey. Then after applying moisturizer, wait 20 minutes or so before applying concealer and/or foundation -- this way your makeup isn't absorbed into your skin.
2) To cover really dark circles, use a salmon-colored concealer, not a yellow-colored concealer.
3) To get your eyeshadow to last, apply face powder on your lids first before applying powder eyeshadows.

Playing with products must be fun -- but what are some things you do for fun outside of blogging and being a makeup artist?
I love going to art museums, listening to good music, visiting with friends and family and going to the movies.

Are there any other beauty blogs you read regularly? What are some that you like and why?
1) Lipstick Powder N Paint -- It was the first beauty blog I had ever read, so I like to check in from time to time.
2) Beauty's Spot -- I enjoy how Laurie presents her post.
3) Makeup Junkie -- I like how Joy writes from the viewpoint of a makeup artist and a writer.
4) The Beauty of Life -- I like how it's always fresh and with original content. And you always have the best ideas, with excellent copy!

Thanks so much to Agostina Lombardo for this absolutely fabulous interview. Now be sure to head over to Makeup2Beauty immediately -- and be on the lookout for her makeup artistry on the red carpet and editorials!