PLAID PONY PRODUCTIONS
MEET MAKEUP ARTIST LAUREN GOTT/ JULY 8, 2016 by Stacy Scarsella
Louisiana is the home of amazing cajun food, bluesy zydeco, Mardi Gras, and Lauren Gott. Lauren Gott is a very talented makeup artist that has worked on both sides of the brush. As a former model Lauren was able to experience the talents of Pat McGrath, Tom Pecheux and Kevyn Aucoin, to name a few. At the start of her makeup career, Lauren started with self portraits while living in Paris, garnering attention from various photographers. With her immense creativity, attention to detail, flawless application, and contagious energy, Lauren is the whole package! We're thrilled to share her light and talent with our readers.
What was a pivotal moment for your career?
When I started makeup really. It was not planned. I began doing Polaroid self portraits in Paris when I was still modeling. I made all my friends my guinea pigs and began building a portfolio then I assisted many brilliant artists to pay my dues and hone my craft. Well, you're never done with those actually; have to stay humble and work hard.
What has been your favorite set to work on? Why?
I absolutely love and thrive on doing location work, but I must admit I like doing beauty imagery best. It is usually a small closed set and the focus is makeup, hair, and the model. It is like having a magnifying glass on your work, and I love that. I aim for perfection and don't rely on retouching and post production. The crop is tight and the goal is something avant garde that makes you do a double take. I want people to stare at my work not flip the page.
What is one of the proudest moments of your career?
I think the first published work I ever created. It was a beauty editorial self portrait. I used a tiger lily as my tongue. It was provocative and beautiful.
What are some of the other things you enjoy when you aren't shooting?
I am a fitness and health enthusiast. It's clear that beauty starts with what we put in our bodies and how we maintain the machine.
What is your favorite part of being on set?
I like that with certain teams everyone on set plays an active part in creating an image. When not only the photographer and creative director, but also the hair, makeup and even the model are involved. Those shoots where everyone has a voice are creatively the most fun and fulfilling.
What does #createmoments mean to you?
#createmoments is all about being present in the moment to me
What is the one thing your fans may not know about you?
I'm an open book with work but my private life I like to keep for myself.
What advice can you provide for future hair & makeup artists?
Pursuing a career in makeup/hair artistry is a long journey and everyone's path will be different but if you love what you do and persevere it will pay off.
Check out Lauren in action:
Instagram: @laurengottmakeup
Twitter: @laurengott
2) PEOPLE MAGAZINE STYLE WATCH
This Is How You Should Wear Your Makeup to Work on Monday, Courtesy of Kiernan Shipka August 2015 by Sarah Kinonen
When Kiernan Shipka steps out on the red carpet, we take notes. At only 15, the actress’s sartorial choices are fun, fresh and wise beyond her years — and the same can be said for her makeup moments. Enter this minimal beauty look — a slightly winged eyeliner and barely there pink lip — the starlet sported at the Teen Vogue x Simon #BTSS event Wednesday. We loved it so much, we reached out to her glam squad for the breakdown.
Shipka’s go-to makeup pro, Lauren Gott, played up the star’s gorgeous hazel eyes with a winged-tipped liner, courtesy of Yves Saint Laurent Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils Shocking in Black. She added a nude glossy lip thanks to Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint in Enchanted. (And, of course, the star’s perfect complexion and soft rosy cheeks helped complete the look.)
“This cat eye is always classic, professional and clean,” says Gott, who perfected the winged-liner look by drawing a very thin line with the eyes closed, but created the flick with the eyes open. “That is the trick because everyone’s eye shape is different, and often the eye crease is all the way to the outer edge of the eye.”
(Pro tip: To create the perfect flick length, Gott says the liner placement should be a “direct line from the lower lash line to the tip of the nose.”)
We’re obsessed with this look because it’s simple enough to wear to your 9-to-5 (or to class, if you’re still in high school like the star!), but leaves room to upgrade with a bold lip if you’re heading out after work.
3) People MAGAZINE STYLE WATCH
Look of the Week: Kiernan Shipka at the Screening of the Final Episode of Mad Men in L.A. May 2015 by Sarah Kinonen
We’re constantly updating our Last Night’s Look gallery with all the best red-carpet moments (gorgeous dresses! dazzling accessories! sky-high heels!). Now, let’s talk beauty. Each Friday, we’ll be highlighting one of the most gorgeous makeup and/or hair moments, along with details on how to re-create the look — straight from the makeup artist or hairstylist — in our feature Look of the Week.
Mad Men might be officially over (cue the sobs), but we’re not done obsessing over Kiernan Shipka’s makeup from the show’s final red carpet. Read on for a product-by-product breakdown, straight from our brow crush’s go-to pro, Lauren Gott.
To celebrate the series finale screening of Mad Men, Shipka opted for a gorgeous white summery dress with appliqué mirrors, which set the tone for her makeup.
“After seeing Kiernan’s awe-inspiring white Valentino dress, we jointly decided to go for something angelic and ethereal to complement the beauty of it,” says Gott. “I chose gold, brown, copper, rose and peach cherubic hues to keep the look vibrant rather than washed out on the red carpet.”
Starting with the eyes, Gott blended Make Up For Ever Grease Paint in brown on the eyelid to enhance intensity, followed by pearl and peach hues from Chanel’s Les 4 Ombres in Tissé Vendome palette. Then she applied a golden brown hue (from the same palette) in the eye crease, outer corners and lower lash line — finishing things off with an ultra-thin line of YSL Shocking Black Eyeliner Effet Faux Cils along Shipka’s top lashes.
And as for the star’s lips, she slicked on two different shades, Chanel Rogue Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lip Shine in Etourdie and Chanel Rogue Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lip Shine in Flirt. She applied Etourdie over the entire lip using her ring finger, and then added Flirt to the center of the lip. (Pro tip: “A darker, bolder color followed by a lighter or luminescent color in the center of the lips optically volumize lips,” says Gott.)
Now hold on, you didn’t think we’d forget about those brows — which, by the way, are 100 percent real — did you? Gott lightly filled them in with Givenchy’s Eye and Brow Prisme Shadow. The envy is real.
4) HOW TO BE A REDHEAD
JULY 2012
What is the Lauren Gott story? Please give us a brief bio of yourself.
I grew up in Louisiana. My home town is Lake Charles which is in the heel of the boot of Louisiana and right off the Gulf of Mexico. Upon completion of high school I was asked to go to NYC to model with Wilhelmina Models; my older sister was a model and I believe she had inadvertently shown her booker a graduation photo of me. I thought the notion a joke due to my underwhelming height and childlike ballerina frame. I knew I would never be offered an experience quite like modeling again, so I bit the bullet and decided to spend what I thought would be a summer in NY. My academic aspirations to study medicine were soon put on the back burner when I made the tough decision to accept agency offers in Europe. I thought, school will always be there, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity I can only do when I'm young. It's baffling how one decision can alter your entire life and career course.
Has having red hair inspired your career as a makeup artist?
Well, I suppose I would never have become a makeup artist had it not been for my red hair and coloring. This made me unique as a model and then also as one of the few makeup artists in the industry...believe me I can count them all on one hand, myself included.
What does 2011/2012 have in store for Lauren Gott?
Oh dear, I would love to be doing more makeup for beauty editorial and advertising. Beauty makeup is my passion and treats the face like a canvas which tends to be more whimsical and fun. I've been dividing my time between NY and LA; LA keeps me more busy with celebrity work.
We believe being a redhead is more than just a hair color, but a lifestyle! What does being a redhead mean to you?
Redheads certainly stand out in a crowd! Let's just say we wouldn't make the best serial killers. All jokes aside, I think there is a lot of mystery and curiosity regarding redhead's allure, demeanor, and sexuality. We are so few and farbetween that I do believe we all share an inherent connection.
I also believe we redheads are more sensitive in most respects whether it be to others, to pain, emotionally, or the sun for that matter.
We love your hair! Where do you get it done? What is your secret for keeping it so beautiful?
The compliment is mutual! A dear friend in the business trims and layers my hair at home. I have naturally wavy curls and generally do not heat style my hair. I wash, condition, and occasionally put in a leave in conditioner; I like paraben free, organic brands. I'll sleep on it damp and scrunch it on my pillow. When I wake up, my hair is ready to go.
All of our redheaded readers want to know, what is your number 1 beauty secret? Are there some essential “redhead friendly” products you can’t live without?
Suncreen. I love the sun but the sun does not love me! DeVita Sunscreen is incredible, natural, and won't clog your pores.
What makeup tips do you have for redheads?
Keep it simple. Suncreen, concealer, lip balm, lip color which can also be used on the cheeks, and little mascara (curl the lashes first to open the eyes up).
You are a strong woman who has worked hard to succeed in your line of work. If you can give any advice to our redheaded readers, what would it be?
If there is one trait we all have in common, it's relentless, fiery, determination! Plant the right seeds, tend it, and watch your aspirations grow. It's a often a long and arduous road, but, if you love what you do, it's always worth it.
5) THEBEAUTYOFLIFEBLOG.COM
FEBRUARY 18, 2011
What do Anna Kendrick, Heidi Klum and Rooney Mara have in common? They've all been made up by makeup artist Lauren Gott. The former model gets up close and personal here -- discover her tip to beautiful dewy skin, how she first got into the makeup business and so much more after the jump.
Can you tell me a bit about yourself?
I grew up in Louisiana. My home town is Lake Charles which is in the heel of the boot of Louisiana and right off the Gulf of Mexico. Upon completion of high school I was asked to go to NYC to model with Wilhelmina Models; my older sister was a model and I believe she had inadvertently shown her booker a graduation photo of me. I thought the notion a joke due to my underwhelming height and childlike frame. I knew I would never be offered an experience quite like modeling again, so I bit the bullet and decided to spend what I thought would be a summer in NY. My academic aspirations to study medicine were soon put on the back burner when I made the tough decision to accept agency offers in Europe. I thought, school will always be there, but this is a once in a lifetime opportunity I can only do when I'm young. It's baffling how one decision can alter your entire life and career course.
How did you first become interested in beauty, and what led you to become a makeup artist?
Here's where the story gets amusing. As one could only imagine, my very Type A brain grew discontent with simply sitting in a chair for hours in hair and makeup or taking orders on photo sets. I wanted to be part of the creative process and be heard. I'll never forget while on a job in Italy I decided to offer my 2 cents of advice to a photographer. He barked, "You're a model, we don't care what you think!" Well that was the sad extreme, but as a result, I would instead thrive on working with those who did care what I thought and that paid off.
I was fortunate to do a lot of beauty work which meant makeup and hair was more whimsical, fantasy-oriented and most creative. Sitting in the makeup/hair chair is where I would observe and ask infinite questions. After 6 years of working with some of the best makeup artists in the biz from Pat McGrath and Tom Pecheux to fellow Louisiana native Kevyn Aucoin, I was well into building my own makeup kit and experimenting on my own hair and makeup with self portraits. I was living in Paris at the time and beauty photographers soon took notice of my self-portrait Polaroids. I was asked to do my own hair and makeup for my first published beauty work. I thought that was the ultimate in creative control; I became a one-stop shop for makeup, hair, and modeling. My Polaroid technique carried on well into when I stopped modeling and wanted to interest photographers in my beauty story ideas.
You have quite an impressive celebrity clientele! What are some of the favorite looks you've created?
I've been fortunate to work with some very interesting people. Now, that is the single most, difficult question you've asked! I love doing looks with what appears to be the cleanest, velvety skin to the most colorful and elaborate makeup. That is the beauty of my job. I work with different people most every day and churning out work across a spectrum of what you could possibly fathom.
What are your top 5 makeup essentials?
1) Moisturizer -- crucial!
2) Concealer -- under the eyes, the sides of the nose, and any blemishes or broken blood vessels)
3) Lip balm -- with a natural cocoa, shea butter or beeswax. Petroleum-based lip balm defeats the purpose and dries you out in the end.
4) Eyelash curler -- even if no mascara is applied, this wakes up the eye immediately.
5) Cream color blush -- on the apple of the cheeks for a youthful flush and dabbed on the lips.
That's all you really ever need to look super clean and polished.
What are your top 3 beauty tips?
1) Tone up your glistening skills.Get your glow on by applying iridescent sheer color cream (pearly moon white for lighter skin tones and golden color for darker skin tones) on the top of cheekbones, just under brows, the bridge of nose, and bow of the lip.
2) How now fine brow.The brow can really set the whole look of the face. Fill in brow with a wedged brow brush. Dip in a little water and a shadow color lighter or similar to brow. Brush on in light sweeps to mimic hair. Follow with a clear brow gel or mascara the shade of brow to keep them in place. The mascara will make them appear even fuller while the brow gel renders a feathered look.
3) Dew not grease is the word.The richer and thicker the better when it comes to moisturizer. Makeup glides on easily and makes skin look youthful and hydrated. Just use tissue, blotters or a little powder on the T-zone. The desired effect is dewy, not oily. If you have oily skin, a lighter cream will do although the delicate eye area always seems to do best with rich cream. I prefer not to use it on the lid if I plan to use powder eye shadow. If I do put cream on the lid, I apply powder on top to create a dry surface so that eye shadow pigment will blend and not look splotchy.
Being a makeup artist must be fun -- but what do you do in your spare time?
I'm very active. I love running, kickboxing, dancing, cycling, water-skiing and anything with extreme cardio. Cooking, baking and maintaining a beautiful home are also things I truly enjoy and find relaxing. Last night's dinner was turkey shepherd's pie and peach cobbler.
6) Vivant.com: Winter 2010: Hot Winter Trend
Is there a hot winter look we should be practicing? What do you call it? Why do you love it? What products do you love for this look?
A minimalistic face and a brushed lightly bushy brow. "Pixie Brows". It's a relatively simple look to achieve and has a lot of impact. To me it resembles a fur- like texture and looks quite wintry. Bobbi Brown's New Brow Pencils do the trick.
How do we apply to ourselves?
Brush brows up and fill them in lightly with a brow pencil or matte eye shadow shade that is a shade or 2 lighter than the natural brow color.
What are the right shades for winter 2010?
All quite neutral with a velvety skin texture
What products do you love for this look?
A minimalistic face and a brushed lightly bushy brow. "Pixie Brows". It's a relatively simple look to achieve and has a lot of impact. To me it resembles a fur- like texture and looks quite wintry. Bobbi Brown's New Brow Pencils do the trick.
How do we apply to ourselves?
Brush brows up and fill them in lightly with a brow pencil or matte eye shadow shade that is a shade or 2 lighter than the natural brow color.
What are the right shades for winter 2010?
All quite neutral with a velvety skin texture