7 Latina and Latino Beauty Pros Transforming the Face of the Industry
By: Mabel Martinez
The beauty industry has always been behind the curve on embracing diversity — from brands not creating a variety of foundations for all skin tones, to models having to supply their own makeup because of the lack of resources at runway shows. It doesn’t stop there, as there are still hairstylists who aren’t equipped to work with different hair textures. While these problems still persist, the industry is gradually evolving to become more inclusive.
Yahoo Beauty is shining a spotlight on seven Latina and Latino beauty experts who are shaking things up. Having worked backstage during Fashion Week, on the sets of television shows, and with red-carpet stunners like Kerry Washington and Zoe Saldana, these makeup artists and hairstylists mastered the art of working on all complexions and hair types. Read on for their best tips and tricks and to learn where they see a shift in the paradigm of diversity in the beauty world.
Marco Peña
Celebrity hairstylist, makeup artist, and Tresemmé Latin ambassador
Client Roster: Shakira, Zoe Saldana, Roselyn Sanchez
Top beauty tips:
Wrap an ice cube in a cloth and massage it over your face before applying your makeup. The ice will close your pores and also make your foundation application easier.
To combat greasy hair, slice a lemon, mix half of it with black tea. Leave it on your hair for five minutes and rinse thoroughly.
For healthier hair, use a pre-shampoo, which will soften the cuticles and protect the hair when you’re washing it. Strong friction between your hair follicles as you massage it could lead to damage.
The products he swears by:
Clarins Booster Energy ($39, Sephora.com). “It’s marvelous for tired skin because it brightens and gives you a fresh face.”
“I love the Tresemmé Perfectly Undone Sea Salt Spray” ($5, Target.com). “With it, I can give the hair some fullness because I want to get the beach-waves look, and it works with straight hair to get those waves.”
Clarins Beauty Flash Balm ($47, Sephora.com). “You can put this on [as a primer] before [applying] your base and it [works like] your second skin.”
Thoughts on diversity in the beauty industry:
“What was considered as flaws in the past, we call them ‘qualities’ today, like, seeing model Winnie Harlow with vitiligo walking down the runway is proof of that.”
The makeup mistakes he wishes people would stop making:
Applying your base in a darker shade than your natural skin tone, thinking that it’s going to cover up more. Also, not blending in your foundation from your chin down to your neck.
Stephanie Flor
Clinique colour pro artist and founder of Around the World Beauty
Client Roster: Jasmine Villegas, Natalie Martinez, Eve
Top beauty tips:
Put eye cream in [the] refrigerator for double benefits and to tighten the eye area instantly.
Work skin care into the skin with a tapping motion to circulate the blood and get the skin looking its best before makeup.
Focus on enhancing the brows, as they frame the face.
The products she swears by:
Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum ($59.50, Clinique.com). “Helps with all skin concerns, and my biggest issues are dark spots. I’ve never found a product that actually helps minimize lines and wrinkles while evening the skin tone.”
Skindinavia’s Makeup Finishing Spray ($29, Skindinavia.com). “Makes my job easier knowing this product exists. I know regardless of the heat the makeup will stay in place for my clients.”
“Lashes, lashes, lashes! No look is ever complete without a few individuals. My good friend, Mari Shten, is about to change the industry with her new lash line launching in 2017.”
Thoughts on diversity in the beauty industry:
“I believe we’re living in a beautiful time of women embracing their differences and not only being beautiful but also [using] their voice. I’ve never been more proud of being Latina.”
The makeup mistakes she wishes people would stop making:
“People focusing too much on the makeup and not the skin. It’s all about the skin, ladies, so put on extra SPF, don’t skip the primer, moisturize, and make sure to work it into the skin for at least five minutes. Skincare should be a bigger priority than anything else. When the skin is in its best condition, the makeup looks better, lasts longer, and overall you appear healthier. The other mistake is being afraid of color. I was recently in Paris, and I just love the way women are not afraid of color. A red lip is the norm there, and it’s part of the Parisian way to beauty. For great lip colors, I’m currently obsessing over Clinique’s Pop Liquid Matte Lip Colour and Primer.
Luis Casco
Project Runway lead makeup artist and global beauty ambassador for Mary Kay
Client Roster: Heidi Klum and Kathy Ireland
Top beauty tips:
Take a selfie and check to see what your makeup does for your look. You can always just delete it, but it’s a great way to go the extra step and see what people see.
Use the best brushes you can find and always keep a clean one on hand to use for blending. It’s all about blending when it comes to makeup, and if you use one brush to apply color and a clean one to buff it out, the application will look so much better!
The products he swears by:
Sunscreen. “I like the Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ Wetforce For Face ($36, Sephora.com). The ‘wetforce’ technology keeps you protected, even under water, so you have no reason to get too much sun, even at the beach.”
A weekly at-home peel or microderm using the Mary Kay TimeWise Repair Revealing Radiance Facial Peel ($65, MaryKay.com). “It’s like mini facials that you can actually do at home, as long as you use them sparingly and once or twice per week. It gives your skin an extra boost for that I-woke-up-like-this look.”
“The Mary Kay Brow Gel ($10, MaryKay.com) is really a must-have [and] I use it on everyone [including] men and women. It keeps unruly eyebrows in place without leaving them too shiny or wet looking.”
Thoughts on diversity in the beauty industry:
“When I started doing makeup 20-plus years ago, foundations and colors were mostly made to cater to Caucasian women. It was so difficult to find products for anyone whose skin wasn’t light. I remember being backstage at shows and having to mix lipstick as pigment with a foundation to make it work on a model’s skin.”
The makeup mistake he wishes people would stop making:
“Looking the same all the time and being scared to try something new. Makeup can be quite transformative, and if done correctly can really make you look and feel better. You are not wearing the same outfit you wore five-plus years ago, so why should you wear the same makeup?”
Claudia Betancur
Celebrity makeup artist and L’Oréal Paris ambassador
Client Roster: Thalia, Sofia Carson, Adamari López
Top beauty tips:
When applying foundation, use a large-sized brush for an even and easy application. Remember to always bring the foundation down the neck to prevent it from looking like a mask.
When applying mascara, put a mirror under your chin, this way your eyes will be slightly closed and it will avoid smearing on the eyelids.
The products she swears by:
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray ($17, available at drugstores). “Ideal to seal the finished look, as it perfectly sets makeup into the skin and makes it last all day.”
Beautyblender Micro.Mini.Pro ($18, Sephora.com). “The perfect tool to apply concealer [under the eyes] because that’s a delicate area that tends to crack. By using this tool, the product adheres to the skin with a smooth texture.”
L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Powder Glow Illuminator ($13, available at drugstores). “The ideal formula to provide skin with a natural glow. When light bounces off of the skin, it looks natural instead of like glitter.”
Thoughts on diversity in the beauty industry:
“These past couple of years, there has been an evolution in terms of products and the intimacy of social networks, people have become closer to makeup and have lost fear of it a little bit.”
The makeup mistake she wishes people would stop making:
“One of the mistakes that do I not want anyone to make is the misapplication of foundation. When your face is a different shade than your neck, you lose what the makeup is for. We need to remember to make sure that the face and neck match.”
Andrew Sotomayor
Celebrity makeup artist
Client Roster: Jourdan Dunn, Melissa George, Sasheer Zamata, Our Lady J
Top beauty tips:
Trace a black gel eyeliner across the lash line, blend, and smudge a dark brown or plum shadow over it. This two-step technique softens the color, smoothes out the line, and makes it easy to line your eyes, even if you don’t have perfect brush technique.
Draw out the lips to add fullness. However, to create a pout that’s also believable, it’s all about the shape of your lower lip. Use a lip liner, lipstick, or full color lip paint to trace your lower lip in the center and more naturally in the outer corners. Instead of the overly drawn, all-over “football” look that can appear droopy, with this trick you have lips that are full and look like a soft smile.
The products he swears by:
La Mer Perfecting Treatment ($240, Cremedelamer.com). “I used all summer for beauty editorials, videos, and on Our Lady J at the Emmy Awards. It’s an all-in-one treatment and primer that glides on smoothly and reduces the look of redness, so I don’t have to layer on as much foundation.”
“I first tried the Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner ($8, available at drugstores) backstage at New York Fashion Week, and it’s become a must-have product in my kit. It’s jet black, glides on smoothly, and once you set it with shadows it stays put.”
“I’m obsessed with Hard Candy’s Velvet Mousse ($6, Walmart.com). This formula [is] super pigmented, creamy, and matte.”
Thoughts on diversity in the beauty industry:
“As far as earning the trust of women of color, I’ve seen a lot of beauty brands play a short game. I’ve seen brands introduce darker shades of foundation only to discontinue them if they didn’t sell as well as their beige shades right away.”
The makeup mistake he wishes people would stop making:
“Contouring with the wrong color, [which] makes makeup look heavy and artificial. A bronzer or darker shade of foundation that’s too orange or red won’t mimic the real shadows cheekbones give you [and] it just gives away your technique. Instead, use dusty shades of taupe on lighter skin tones and neutral shades of espresso brown on darker skin tones.”
“My current favorite for contouring is the Kiko Milano Strobe and Sculpt Cream Contour Palette ($19, KikoCosmetics.com), which has a neutral shade of cream contour on one side and a strobing cream highlighter on the other side. Not only does it create the look of real cheekbones, it’s easy enough to blend with fingers or a brush.”
Carola Gonzalez
Celebrity makeup artist
Client Roster: Kerry Washington, Uzo Aduba, Adria Arjona
Top beauty tips:
Always have a small Q-tip handy with makeup remover when applying makeup. Whatever mistake you make, dip the Q-tip in makeup remover and go over the area you need to fix. Especially liquid eyeliner, smeared mascara, or dark eye shadow that has fallen around the eye area. Wait until makeup remover dries and reapply makeup.
For voluminous lashes, apply more than one coat of mascara, between three and five coats to make eyes pop. Have a clean mascara wand handy and swipe through lashes after each mascara application to remove any excess or clumps. Repeat steps until you reach desired volume.
Always carry blotting sheets in your purse. Blot the shine away without having to layer on more makeup. They’re more convenient to carry in your purse than a compact powder.
The products she swears by:
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel ($19, available at drugstores). “I use it to prep the skin before makeup application. It’s light, contains hyaluronic acid, hydrates, doesn’t alter makeup application, and gives a radiant glow to the skin.”
Chanel Dimensions Mascara ($32, Chanel.com). “Has a great applicator, which deposits the perfect amount of mascara on lashes. It’s not messy, separates lashes, lengthens them, and adds volume, all at the same time. I love the end results.”
Sisley Photo-Touche Illusion D’Eté Bronzer ($115, Sisley-Paris.com). “A great shade for a bronzer. [It’s] not too orange, not too brown, compliments light to medium skin tones, [and] blends easily on skin.”
Thoughts on diversity in the beauty industry:
“Even though there are a lot of makeup brands available on the market, I feel [like] it’s still hard to find the right shade of foundation and concealer for every skin tone.”
The makeup mistakes she wishes people would stop making:
“Using a concealer that is too light under the eye area, which can make the area look almost white.”
“Eye shadow that hasn’t been blended and you can see color separation and harsh lines on makeup.”
Gabriel Samra
Celebrity makeup artist and hairstylist, lead stylist for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games
Client Roster: Maite Perroni, Jacky Bracamontes, Ana Brenda Contreras
Top beauty tips:
To encourage hair growth, massage your scalp regularly by rubbing it with a natural bristle brush. People are afraid to rub their scalp because they don’t want more hair to fall out, which is a misconception. Massaging boosts blood flow to the hair follicles, helping with hair growth.
For a quick, voluminous style, spray dry shampoo through second or third-day hair and blow dry on the cool air setting to achieve lots of volume. Then pull hair into a messy French twist and rake through the top of the hair with your fingers for more separation.
The products he swears by:
Pantene Pro-V Dry Shampoo ($5, available at drugstores). “This product cleanses, removes oils, and refreshes your hairstyle. Plus, it helps create great volume!”
“Covergirl’s LashBlast Volume Mascara ($8, available at drugstores) is one of my all-time favorites. Not only does the wand really help separate each lash, but [it] lengthens the lashes, creating mega-volume.”
Beautyblender’s Original Beautyblender ($20, Sephora.com). “Who doesn’t love this magical little pink cosmetic sponge applicator? This sponge is always in my makeup kit. It makes applying makeup easy with streak-free blending, and it’s so versatile. I use it to apply primers, foundations, setting powders, etc.”
Thoughts on diversity in the beauty industry:
“Although there is still work to be done to truly showcase all the amazing diverse people in this country, the beauty industry has made strides in acknowledging that not every person looks or wants to look the same. Each day, there are more and more products catering to the specific needs of culturally diverse people.”
The makeup mistakes he wishes people would stop making:
“Putting [on] foundation before eye makeup. I personally like applying all eye makeup first, then clean up around the eye, and apply foundation and concealer.”
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