Laura Mercier cannot be called anything less than a world renowned makeup artist. Working with some of today's most beautiful people, Mercier quickly climbed the ladder of fame. Many magazines vie for her expertise- and we were lucky enough to learn about her beauty philosophy. Here, our exclusive interview with makeup artist Laura Mercier.
PM: Who are some of your celebrity clients? LM: My celebrity clients include Madonna, Susan Sarandon, Isabella Rossellini, Julia Roberts, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Meg Ryan, Annabella Sciorra, Lauren Hutton, and Gwyneth Paltrow.
PM: What is your philosophy on beauty? LM: I try to enhance the personality and beautify the face by either respecting or correcting some minor detail. For my owrk in photo shoots or videos, my motto is "anything goes". Makeup can be fantasy, be beautifying, be non-existent, or become an exercise of creativity.
PM: What is it that captivates you about the skin? LM: The most beautiful makeup artistry on the eyes and lips won't perform the same magic if your skin has been neglected underneath. Your skin reveals health, glow, and sensuality. It is the "canvas" of your painting.
PM: Is there any one or certain collection in the fashion industry that inspires you? LM: A few designers I find inspirational include John Galliano, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Jil Sander, Dolce & Gabbana, and Alberta Ferretti.
PM: Is there any face you would really like to work on? LM: For me, any face, famous or not, creates the same excitement, especially when you can help and teach someone to feel good about themselves through their image. PM: How would you distinguish yourself from other makeup artists? LM: Every makeup artist is different in the way that they see beauty and work technically, and I am equally different.
PM: Where do you get your inspiration? LM: I get my inspiration from everywhere and everything that surrounds me and helps me to create emotion. It can be a movie, children, the light of day, paintings, books, places, food, love, people, animals.
PM: Where do you find solace? LM: In the middle of nature in places such as Montana, by a lake, or in the forest, where I can hear no other sound.
PM: What are your passions outside of makeup and work? LM: My passions are painting, looking at old houses, searching for antiques, animals, books, and clothing.
PM: Are there any colors you'd recommend for everyone? LM: I would recommend "happy browns" like caramels, chocolates, and warm browns, as well as true greys fit about 95% of women, as 100% is impossible.
PM: What is the most common misconception women have? LM: Many women think they have to become somebody else to exist: that they must resemble all other women whose beauty they envy or admire, either a celebrity or simply an i deal in their head. Rather than focusing on what nature gave them, and appreciating and enhancing what's theirs, they apologize constantly about the way they look, about being too fat, or even promising they'll get plastic surgery soon as if to automatically stop the judgement people have reserved for them at first sight.
PM: Do you think makeup is essential in a woman's life? LM: I don't think anything is essential besides love, a roof above your head, and enough to eat. Psychologically of course, feeling good about oneself leads to self-respect and self-love, which are the seeds for achieving all possible things in life. Makeup enters this category.
PM: How would you consider yourself a princess? LM: Well I'd have to say I consider myself a princess in that I help other women feel like princesses with my beauty products. I believe every woman is a sort of "princess" inside, she just needs aide in bringing it out.
Laura Mercier's collections can be found in department stores and Mercier boutiques. She is a beauty contributor for this issue of Princess Magazine.
