Exclusive: MUA Baltasar Gonzalez Pinel Shares Hacks For Flawless Makeup, Red Carpet Looks And More!
Take notes, ladies!
Creating makeup looks is no easy feat and most of us regular beauty enthusiasts did not have anyone to teach us makeup. We’ve all learnt and honed our makeup skills by watching videos and reading interviews of makeup artists. And if you’re still looking to learn more, look no further. In an exclusive conversation with Hauterrfly, makeup artist and MAC Cosmetics’ director of makeup artistry EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa, India and Russia) Baltasar Gonzalez Pinel shared some interesting makeup hacks and we suggest you make notes!
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Q. Makeup blender, brush or hands, what’s your most preferred way of applying foundation?
Baltasar Gonzalez Pinel: I would say the three of them because for example, if I want to apply foundation close to the eye, I use a brush and if I’m applying in big areas, I will probably use a sponge. But to remove product, I use my fingers. When I was training to be a makeup artist, one of my teachers said that “brushes are not your only tools, your fingers are tools too”. So, I like using fingers too because the texture of your skin creates a better finish of makeup than a brush because it sometimes leaves lines.
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Q. Can you share some tips for achieving a flawless complexion and long-lasting makeup?
Baltasar Gonzalez Pinel: Start with skincare, of course. Skincare takes care of your skin, protects it, and nourishes it. Using the right skincare as per your skin type can help. It helps the pigment disappear from your skin. The new concept of glow stacking or luminous makeup and skincare is also great. This concept means that from your skincare to foundation to highlighter to powder, everything stacks luminosity to your skin. So, to answer this question, achieving a flawless complexion starts with understanding skincare and if your skincare glows and is giving your skin the extra luminosity that it needs. Skincare must also be considered for a long-wearing foundation. Choose a long-wearing foundation that is medium coverage, not super high coverage because the medium coverage ones will help you achieve a flawless look. You can apply a little extra product in places you want to conceal more like the dark circles but medium coverage will disappear and blend properly. If you want to modernise your skin complexion after wearing makeup, reduce the coverage to a medium one and keep away from high and low-coverage foundations.
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Also Read: Exclusive: Daniel C Bauer Reveals What Went Into Creating Makeup Looks For The Lakmé Grand Finale X Manish Malhotra
Q. Could you share some hacks to create the perfect winged eyeliner for beginners?
Baltasar Gonzalez Pinel: My recommendation would be to choose a good tool. You will need a brush or a nice applicator. Many people use brushes because psychologically it gives you a feeling of being more in control because your fingers can be closer to the tip but it’s also more precise. But you have to do your eyeliner with gel eyeliner. Take some gel eyeliner on the brush and with your finger close to the end, keep the base of your hand on your face. You have to be comfortable if you want to do something so delicate. For the wing, follow the shape of the last lash. Your last lash is telling you where you have to wing it! If you feel it’s too low, you can go a little higher but the last lash is your first reference. Just go to the last lash and copy it.
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Q. What advice do you have for someone who is just starting to experiment with makeup and wants to develop their skills?
Baltasar Gonzalez Pinel: Experimentation, especially when you’re young. I think the new generation is more connected to their taste better than us. I was lost when I was at that age. I wasn’t wearing makeup but I was observing my sister, my cousin and other people around me. The young daughter of my best friend knows exactly what she wants. She was asking me whether I can have a double liner and all. They know what they want. So ya, I think people should experiment, and get inspired. Don’t be scared.
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Q. For people with puffy and hollow eyes, creating a flawless finish in the undereye area with concealer is no cakewalk. Do you have any hacks to do the same and prevent undereye creasing?
Baltasar Gonzalez Pinel: The skin in the under-eye area is very flexible and that limits the result because elasticity makes it difficult to have control. So, I put all my confidence in formulas. Formulas help you avoid risk. It may sound very commercial but the new MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen is incredible. It’s almost like a revolution because the pigment is super small and it’s ultra long-wearing. Normally concealers are not long-wearing because you apply it and within a second there’s a line in there and in a few minutes you’ll have a crease. But if it’s a good long-wearing concealer like this one, you apply and the pigment is floating on the skin and the liquid evaporates. It creates a silky elastic layer. If your body produces oil, just use some translucent powder because powders absorb the extra oil. I also recommend using fluffy brushes to apply makeup and prepare the skin with primer. Pick a primer as per your skin type. If you have dark under-eyes, go for a warmer tone of concealer like a red-toned one instead of one with yellow undertones. More peach, pink or red undertones. If your skin is dark, you’ll need the extra pink and a concealer with a red undertone.
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Q. How do you incorporate the use of colour in makeup to create unique and eye-catching looks?
Baltasar Gonzalez Pinel: I’d say choose a bright eyeliner, and I’m not saying go neon but like a royal blue, emerald green or wine. You don’t have to go crazy but just a little line of coloured eyeliner and black mascara or like you. No eyeliner but blue mascara. Keep the rest of the look neutral. Make one or two features flash. Like if you were to add a line of Navy blue eyeliner, it would make your look pop even more. It would make your eyelash look even more perfect. But there are some colours I don’t really like, like pink or white mascara because they make one look like a lab rat. I’ve seen people wearing deep green and dark purple mascara and it looks so amazing but blue is the best colour, in my opinion. For Indian skin, it’s the best-coloured mascara because it creates the illusion that you’re wearing an amber eyeshadow. You know Queen Letizia of Spain used to do a green or blue eyeliner and it really creates a brightening effect.
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Also Read: Exclusive: Celebrity MUA Daniel C Bauer Talks About Creating Mrunal Thakur’s Beauty Look For FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week Grand Finale
Q. What’s one absolutely indispensable tip for creating a red-carpet-worthy makeup look?
Baltasar Gonzalez Pinel: Creating Red Carpet makeup is a very delicate process of building makeup as a lot of consideration goes into it. But put hairspray on your face in the end because it sets your makeup and gives you a glow, like a nice finish which is beautiful. Of course, the texture of the spray feels a little uncomfortable on the face but it’s nothing poisoning. If you’re wearing a low neckline too, you can spray some hairspray on your shoulders, the neckline and the cleavage too and it’ll give you a nice finish and glow and make your skin look amazing. When you put it on your face just close your eyes and don’t breathe for a second as you spray.
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We’re taking note, are you?
First Published: August 14, 2023 12:31 PM
