A Beauty Loft: Have you always known you want to be a Makeup Artist?

Penny Sadler: Mostly, yes. I was just a teenager when I realized this would be my career path.

ABL: What is your evening skincare routine?

PS: I wash my face every night, no matter what. I then use a toning lotion, followed by a moisturizer with copper peptides and anti-aging hyloranic acid.

ABL: What has been the most challenging part of working as a pro Makeup Artist?

PS: The most challenging part is moving from place to place. You never know what your enviroment will be. There are hotel ballrooms, bathrooms, studios, etc. There is often terrible lighting and inconvenient weather that will change the job or ruin the makeup.

ABL: What is your favorite beauty tool?

PS: Ben Nye #18 Blending Brush (Suggested Retail: $14. Can be purchased at StageMakeupOnline). It can be used to apply foundation (in a pinch), but I mostly use it to blend the whole face. Blending is so important! It has synthetic bristles, which I love because they give a smoother application.

ABL: Who is your favorite celebrity client?

PS: Laura Leighton [Melrose Place and Pretty Little Liars] and Brooke Sheilds. Brooke is very sweet and gentle. She is a very kind woman and super easy to work with. Laura is very hands off. She gave me a lot of freedom to work and be creative. She’s very down to earth and not a diva at all.

ABL: If you had to run out of the house and only grab one makeup product, what would it be?

PS: Mascara! I love CoverGirl Lash Blast (Suggested Retail: $9.99. Available at CVS) and Dior Show Black Out (suggested Retail: $25. Available at Sephora).

ABL: What is your favorite skincare tip for problematic skin?

PS: Stop using soap and water on your skin. So many women look for something that is foaming and sudsy, but they strip the natural oils. Even women with oily skin can use an oil-based cleanser, just look for one made for oily skin. The oil cleanser breaks down the makeup much better then soap and gives a more thorough cleanse. Follow with a toning lotion or try witch hazel if you have oily skin.

ABL: Do you feel pressured to wear makeup constantly because you are a Makeup Artist?

PS: No. When I was new to the business, I felt this way. I do like to cover any serious imperfections like a blemish. I do fill in my brows though. My eyebrows are not even, so I must even them out.

ABL: Can you offer any advice to others who are looking to be a Makeup Artist or work in the beauty industry?

PS: Be quiet. Observe. Watch whats going on. Try to work with other people if you can and learn as much as possible from others. Then you’ll better know how to respond to different situations.

ABL: What are some products that, in your opinion, can be purchased at the drugstore and some you find necessary to spend more on?

PS: You can buy drugstore brand lipstick, translucent powders and shadows. Higher end products are more pigmented, but often drugstore products like shadows and lipsticks are great for the average consumer. Spend more on lip pencils, eye pencils and primers. Better quality pencils have better staying power and go on smoother.

ABL: While were on the subject, what is your favorite primer?

PS: Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum (Suggested Retail: $39.50. Available at Sephora). For more specified problem solving like pigmentation issues, I like the Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primers (Suggested Retail: $38. Available at Sephora). The green primer does a fantastic job of balancing out red skin.

A huge thank you to Penny Sadler for allowing us to ask her so many questions and for offering great advice! For more information on the fabulous Penny Sadler go to: www.pennysadler.com

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JenniferK