An Interview with Trish McEvoy and a Makeup Lesson

Trish McEvoy changed my life. Seriously. She is an incredibly successful makeup artist who revolutionized the makeup world with her innovative, impeccable makeup brushes, her unique organizing system, and her amazing, education-oriented line of makeup and skin care. Her line changed the way I approach makeup and beauty. At her counters I learned lots of insider tips and techniques, discovered makeup and tools of exceptional quality, and got incredibly organized.

So today is a very exciting day for me! In today’s post, I’m delighted to share an interview with Trish (in photo at left) and a video with some of her new makeup and tools, one of her latest Makeup Planners, and a makeup lesson with one of Trish’s super talented makeup artists, who I’ve been visiting for several years.

How My Life Changed with Trish McEvoy
I was introduced to Trish’s line about fifteen years ago at the Henri Bendel in Manhattan. I was looking for a makeup brush that could give me a nice, smoky eye. I was only finding the run-of-the-mill, basic stuff from the major makeup lines so a saleswoman told me about this “great new line” with the “most amazing makeup brushes.” I was blown away. Trish’s brushes were of unmatched quality and came in the most innovative, smart shapes and sizes I’d ever encountered.

Since that day, I’ve purchased countless Trish McEvoy brushes. I also learned something new on practically every visit to one of her counters and got incredibly organized with her makeup planners. I was well versed in makeup before Trish; but visits with her makeup artists took me to the next level. It was like getting a graduate degree in makeup. And the makeup was so much better than what I’d been using – with more pigment and nicer textures – less of the “hot new” shades that are eye-catching but not flattering and more smart essentials to bring out my natural beauty.

To top it all off, I discovered her Makeup Planners and got my makeup neatly organized like nothing else. These were a godsend when I later became a TV news reporter. They allowed me to tote around everything I needed in a small space so I could carry one case and access everything I needed quickly to amp up my makeup before going on camera.

Top Tips from Trish and Insights on The Power of Makeup

Sonja: I adore your Makeup Planners. How did these come about?
Trish: I was on vacation with my husband and I kept all my makeup in a bag.  By the time everything was laid out in the bathroom, there wasn’t room for him even to put his razor down!  I knew there had to be a better way. I returned to New York and worked with my team and came up with the first planner which has been tweaked and evolved as the years have gone on – it has truly revolutionized how you look at makeup, apply makeup, and organize makeup.

Sonja: What tips do you have for organizing one’s makeup?
Trish: Stick with a system. Come up with a system that works for you. For me, it was my Planner, but everyone has to think of the system that works for them. Are you the type that needs to see everything you own in your world at a glance?  Are you a minimalist and only have three or four products you’re currently using at your fingertips. You have to analyze your relationship with makeup to lead you to the right organization system for you. I cannot think about doing my makeup without my planner.

Sonja: How do you come up with such innovative brushes? (Trish McEvoy One Step Smoky Eye Brush at left, $52)
Trish: It all begins with what I’m looking to achieve.  I might be working with an existing brush in my line and decide that I want to taper it a little more to get a stronger slant, then the scissors come out. I’ll trim it, I’ll work with it, and eventually I’ll get a shape that will accomplish what I was looking for… and then a few months later you’ll see that brush at the Trish counters.

Sonja: What do you feel is the power of makeup?
Trish: To feel good. To feel confident. To always feel that you look your prettiest.

Sonja: What tips do you have for doing spring and summer makeup?
Trish: Lighten up, lighten up.  Think about when you change your closet from winter to summer. The clothes that you’re putting away from winter are a much heavier texture. The clothes you’re pulling out summer are much lighter.  This is what you want to think about when it comes to your spring and summer style.

For skincare, look at your moisturizer and choose a lighter weight than what you were using in the winter and one with SPF.  When it comes to your foundation, again choose a lighter or more sheer texture than what you have been used to for the colder months.  On your lips, use SPF 15 glosses to protect and impart sheer color.

When looking for color choices for summer, choose a bronzer with a hint of pink undertone; it’s the most natural. I developed St. Tropez Bronzer (in photo at left) to be the perfect bronzer to mimic nature.  For eyes, add definition with pencils that are water-resistant, smudge-proof and are in summer perfect colors. I will be releasing my Sparkling Bronze Eye Definer Pencil. For me, this is the perfect liner for summertime.  With mascara, make sure you are wearing a water-resistant, smudge-proof, doesn’t-move formula with maximum curling and volume properties to make the most of your lash in the hot summer months.

Sonja: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our Coveted readers?
Trish: The last page in my book, The Power of Makeup, still says it all!

“My best advice yet: Engage all your senses and indulge in pleasure wherever and however you can. Spend time with your family and friends. Furnish your home with the joy of flowers and music and great food. Literally, stop and smell the roses. Enjoy a sunset. Take a walk. Give yourself the gift of time, and take an hour to do nothing but observe the beauty of nature. Inhale deeply and absorb the moment! Seek new adventures! Find reasons to laugh. Share your love every day. I try not to let a single day go by without telling my husband and all those I love how fortunate I am to have them in my life. Life is a matter of focus, and it is what you decide it will be. Make the most of every experience, and your life will be filled with beauty, I promise.”

By the way, Trish’s book The Power of Makeup: Looking Your Level Best at Every Age ($29.95, in photo above) is a must-read for women at every “level.”

• Level One is the low-maintenance woman who loves a natural, simple look.
• Level Two is the woman who considers makeup an everyday essential and feels more confident and comfortable with makeup.
• Level Three is the woman who expresses herself through makeup and is “game to try false eyelashes and other high-impact effects” (that’s me!).

This is a gorgeous book with lots of wise, way-pro advice, full-color photos, easy-to-follow instructions, insider tips, cool ideas like how to put together a “beauty emergency kit,” and lots more.

New Beauty Treats and A Makeup Lesson

Now it’s time for a peek at new Trish McEvoy makeup and tools, a Makeup Planner, and see the makeup lesson I got at Saks in San Francisco from Kimberly, who I’ve been visiting and getting tips from for many years now. Kimberly creates a subtle, sheer, easy-to-create look for spring and summer and shows off the latest Makeup Planner that’s an exclusive to Saks. (Sorry the video looks so yellow. My camera was having a hard time adjusting properly to the store lights. The colors also look more vibrant on me than in the video. But definitely still worth watching, because of all the great tips Kimberly gives.)

Products Used

Here are the Trish McEvoy products Kimberly used…

• Precision Brow Shaper ($26)
• Eye Base Essentials ($24, in photo below on left)
• #21 Large Laydown Brush ($53)
• Power of Makeup Planner Page: Resort Collection ($65 – a really good deal, because it includes two lip colors, bronzer, blush, and four eyeshadows – Power of Makeup Planner Page pictured at the very top of this post varies a little from the one Kimberly used).
• #23 Angle Crease Contour ($32)
• #19 Small Laydown Brush ($22)
• #50 Angled Eye Lining Brush ($25)
• Finish Line, which transforms any eyeshadow into a long-lasting liner ($22)
• #29 Tapered Blending Brush for crease contouring ($32)
• Lash Curling Mascara in Black ($28)
• Treatment Foundation SPF 15 ($75)
• Beauty-To-Go Refillable Pen ($25)
• Correct and Brighten Pen ($36)
• Correct and Brighten Brightening Line Minimizing Concealer ($21)
• Correct and Brighten Loose Mineral Powder ($35, in photo on right)
• The Ball ($16, makeup sponge in photo)
• The Point ($40, limited-edition makeup brush in photo)
• #48 Highlighter Brush, which Kimberley used for the bronzer ($46)
• Liquid Face Color ($32, second from left in photo)
• Luminous Luminizer Pen, a liquid highlighter ($38)
• Essential Pencil for lips in Nude ($22)

More to Come

Trish has lots of great new beauty treats coming out for summer, including a new bronze luminizer, a bronzing quad (in photo at left), a bronze-toned lip gloss, and the St. Tropez Bronzer and bronze eye pencil she mentioned in the interview – lots of gorgeous bronze! – and much more.

Do Tell

What do you think of Trish’s new makeup and tools? What about her makeup planners? Have you used her line? Would love to hear what you think. Do tell.

P.S. Check out our regularly updated Beauty Resources page for some amazing beauty deals at amazon.com, beauty.com, Sephora, and more.