travelgirl magazine interviews Orlando, extracting ten celebrity beauty secrets you can use to bring out your own star quality.
Orlando Gonzales is a brilliant hair and make-up artist with an uncanny and passionate sense of style and fashion. He is also uncommonly kind and sincere. The locals call him the "beauty magnet" A case in point: Orlando recently attended a client's wedding. He was happily chatting with a fellow guest when the tiny three year old niece of the groom (who had never set eyes on Orlando before that moment) independently picked him out of a large crowd, approached him, and politely asked if he would please fix the rose and tulle headpiece that had become dislodged from her hair. Celebrities of international repute are on to him too.
Orlando has a cleverly juxtaposed life. His search for serenity, as well as space for his beloved horses, drew him to the rolling and rocky foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Though seemingly remote, he is actually conveniently and peacefully located in the center of a ninety mile radius placing him a mere stone's throw away from San Francisco, the Napa Valley and stunning Lake Tahoe.
This was a godsend for his current clientele, savvy residents starved for someone able to bring out their personal loveliness. These grateful people no longer had to traverse to the Bay Area or Los Angeles when desperately in search of world class beauty expertise. However, when Liza Minnelli calls Orlando does the traveling!
Television networks nationwide request him to do segments on their morning news shows. This keeps Orlando constantly on the go. Orlando stays active and up-to date within his own professional circles as a national artist and educator for Prive, an ultra high-end hair care line.
travelgirl magazine asked Orlando questions for a recent issue.
Q. What quick tips can you offer women in their 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's?
Just about anything goes in the thirties. Natural is the name of the game for daytime. A woman can get away with good basic skin care: minimal eye make up and a bit of blush, gloss and concealer when necessary. Glitter and sparkle are fun for special nights. Nars lip lacquer is fabulous with an overlay of golden gloss just in the center of the lower lip.
The forties are the bridge years. Start seriously exfoliating and when make-up is completed add a dab of moisturizer and gently rub onto the top of the cheek bones for a super natural and dewy glow.
Go with the eyes in the fifties and remember that less is more, however, moderation is everything. Aristotle knew what he was talking about when he called it "the golden mean," and it particularly applies to a woman of an uncertain age when in the process applying her make up. Stick with earthy, natural shades, as well as soft plums when it comes to shadow and liner.
The sixties are the years to deal with thinning eyelashes and eyebrows. Many women who over tweezed in the 1960s are paying the price in their own sixties. Wax the inner corners of the brows if they curve downward and are causing a severe and aging frowny look. Powder in a new, straighter, uplifting brow, and blend into the remaining natural brow line. Combine a touch of matte black with a muddy brown powdered shadow to give a natural brow color, which even works well for blonds.
Q. What is the number one beauty investment a woman can make when it comes to make-up.
The number one beauty investment a woman can make is a high powered magnifying mirror. It should be large enough to frame her entire face and of excellent reflective quality. Brandon is a reliable and affordable brand. They sell mirrors of all sizes from 3 to 10 times magnification power. Their travel mirrors are most excellent, with a suction cup that adheres indefinitely to bathroom mirrors in hotels. Beware when using a high powered mirror. It can lead to dangerous levels of over tweezing and disastrous squeezing. When used with proper restraint, a great mirror will result in impeccable makeup application and truly clump free eyelashes.
Q. What is the biggest mistake women make when applying their make-up.
The biggest mistake women make when applying their makeup is pencil abuse. This is tied with poor blending and infrequent brush cleaning in the big boo boos department... When using a lip liner pencil to define and prevent feathering, be sure to pencil in the entire lip. This gives longevity to lip color and keeps one from looking like an over-the hill Baywatch Babe. Use powdered eye shadow instead of eyeliner pencil when lining the eyes and do this only around the outer eye corners. This will prevent a harsh, and sometimes scary, beady eyed look.
Q. What's hot in colors this winter?
Purples and Oranges are the hot new colors for winter 06-07. That being said, I must further state that I am a firm believer in not sacrificing beauty for stylish trends created by the industry to sell more makeup. If you look sallow in orange or ghoulish in purple, then no shade of these colors will flatter you. Stick with the shades that make your eyes sparkle and skin glow. A neutral palette of black, beige and gray are the prevailing colors (actually non-colors} in clothing for the winter season, so makeup color should be easy for anyone
Q. How often should make-up be replaced?
How often should one purchase new makeup is purely a judgment call. We are warned to replace mascara and liquid eyeliner frequently, and that makes sense. If foundation and treatments are kept in the refrigerator they will last quite a long while. Powdered eye shadow and lipsticks will be fine for years if they don't form a hard, oily slick on top. When colors fade or change and products separate and start to smell a little rancid or off, it's time to toss. There is always something new and fascinating out there that we are tempted to try, especially in the skincare industry. The next miracle in a bottle is already in production. Yet something as tried and true, and cost effective, as Cetaphil liquid cleanser, is hard to beat.
Q. New travel restrictions don't allow any liquids on airlines. How can travelgirls look their best and travel without make-up?
It's a bummer to have to check most beauty and hair care products - especially if luggage is lost enroute. So how do we deal with that if a fresh face is a high priority upon arrival?. First pack a readily accessible "good to go" kit in your luggage to make important reparations in a cab or the parking garage before arriving at your next assignation. Take an empty little plastic spritz bottle in your purse and ask the flight attendant for mineral water early on. Spritz your face with this throughout the flight to keep skin refreshed and hydrated. Invest in some powdered mineral cosmetics, such as blush and/or bronzer, powder and/or foundation. If you need a concealer try Bare Escentuals powdered version. It does a great job covering blemishes and other such annoyances. Carry on a good eyelash curler (Kevin Aucoyn's is excellent and Shu Umera's is a close second choice). This will keep your eyes wide open and pretty. Get a little purse sized traveling brush kit such as Sonia Kushak's (available at Target). I am particularly fond of the rice paper sheets that can be found in oriental markets for blotting shine on forehead, cheeks and chin.
Q. You make up Liza Minelli's face and you are responsible for her great looking hair. Any tips you can share?
Lucky Liza was born with beautiful, luminous skin and she still has it.
Doing her makeup is a piece of cake. It is critical to allow at least five minutes for moisturizer to penetrate before applying any makeup. This prepares the canvas and the fun begins. I use liquid mineral foundation (by Luminare) and apply this with a synthetic blush. It is extremely long lasting and creates a pore-less base for what follows. I lightly fluff on T.LeClerc loose powder and roll into the skin with a good quality puff. Shishedo's is fantastic and washable. By the way, T. LeClerc's powder is imported from France. It has been around for probably over 100 years and cannot be beat. I use the "translucide" shade on Liza. Redken's color keeps her hair super shiny.
Q. Is there anything new in make-up, powders, etc?
I am converted to and a true believer in liquid mineral foundation. When conservatively applied with the proper brush the skin appears to be flawless. It is powerfully long lasting, as non irritating as any foundation can be, and has the extra added attraction of providing effective sun damage protection.
Q. Do you have any tips for women with thinning hair?
I can unequivocally state that the best product on the market for women with thinning hair is Renee Futurer's thinning hair treatment.
Q. Can you tell us the secret to making the working woman look like a Hollywood star?
A Hollywood star is first and foremost an actress playing the role of someone other than herself. She is generally used to attracting curiosity and attention. So be an actress for a day. Step out of your own style and try on something dramatically different. If you typically dress in a girly feminine way, and wear soft and subtle makeup, put on a smartly tailored suit and wear a bright shade of red lipstick. Blow out your wavy hair or put it up in an elegant twist. People will sit up and take notice. Have fun. That's what it's all about. We all have star quality; find it and take it out for a walk!
