Katie Danza // 5 Natural Makeup Tips
When it comes to makeup, we're into the natural look. Our girl Katie Danza is one of our go-to makeup artists and beauty experts who knows how to paint-on-pretty just right. Born and raised in Los Angeles, the doe-eyed and gorgeous Katie Danza was always mesmerized by the magic behind the scenes of the entertainment industry. In love with make-up since she was just a child, Katie was already practicing her beauty skills by age ten.
After graduating from University of Miami, Katie started working for Rachel Zoe and her daily newsletter, The Zoe report. She eventually became the beauty editor, building strong relationships with beauty brands while also expanding her knowledge of the industry by personally testing out the latest skincare, cosmetic and hair products. Needless to say, Katie has incredible taste, and opts for a natural, flawless application that leaves you feeling your absolute glowiest. Neither of us particularly like getting our make up done and truthfully never do it. However, when Katie did our make up we were obsessed! She made us feel like the most enhanced version of ourselves without it even seeming like we were wearing make up!
Now Katie is working for herself as a full-time make up artist, and it is her who makes the magic happens behind the scenes by making all of her clients look their most radiant and beautiful.
Here are 5 easy tips for GLOWING from the beauty expert herself:
1. Take good care of your skin. Taking off your makeup at night, wearing a moisturizer with SPF during the day, and exfoliating at least once a week are all so important. My friends and clients think I'm a total freak when it comes to skincare but it is crucial!
2. Start with a tinted moisturizer to even out your complexion and then use concealer to cover up any imperfections. Make sure you tap it with the pad of your finger to blend it in, rather then rubbing it. It will maintain the coverage while making it look super natural.
3. Apply bronzer on your cheek bones, forehead, bridge of your nose and cupid's bow - anywhere the light would naturally hit your face to give you a healthy and sun kissed glow.
4. I like to use a cream blush to maintain that youthful, naturally flushed look.
5. I never ever let my clients (or myself) leave the house without curling their eyelashes and grooming their brows. Just by doing those two things you instantly look more awake and feminine.
| www.katiedanza.com |
HOW THEY GLOW QUESTIONNAIRE
NAME: Katie Danza
NICKNAME: KTD
PROFESSION: Makeup Artist with a makeup line in the works!
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? Los Angeles, CA
WHERE DO YOU LIVE? West Hollywood, CA
WHEN YOU’RE EATING HEALTHY, WHAT IS A TYPICAL…
BREAKFAST: Scrambled eggs, avocado with lemon and chili flakes
LUNCH: A salad with veggies and smoked salmon or a veggie sandwich on whole wheat bread.
DINNER: Quinoa, roasted vegetables and salmon or shrimp.
SNACK: Cucumber with lemon and hummus or gluten free toast with avocado.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS/RESTAURANTS TO EAT HEALTHY? Falabar is great for healthy salads and plates. Crossroads is amazing – it’s vegan but you would never know. The food is incredible and you always leave feeling light. I also eat breakfast or lunch at Le Pain Quotidian a few times a week – it’s my staple.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE INDULGENCE? Pasta!
WHERE ARE YOUR FAVORITE SPOTS/RESTAURANTS TO INDULGE? Marvin – I go to hang out with Max, the owner and drink wine for hours. Everything on the menu is delicious. Asanebo and Jinpachi for top notch sushi. Bestia and Angelini Osteria for the best pastas. Petit Trois for escargot and steak tartar and pretty much anything else on the menu.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR LAST MEAL ON EARTH? I would love a pasta sampler – just a variety of different amazing pastas. A light red sauce, Linguini with clams, a rich ragu, something with truffles. The works!
WHAT IS THE BEST DISH YOU COOK/ YOUR FAVORITE RECIPE? I’m Italian so I make seriously good meatballs with pasta. I grew up in the kitchen!
WHERE DO YOU GROCERY SHOP? Gelsons, Erewhon, Trader Joe’s, Melrose Place Farmer’s Market
TOP 3 ITEMS YOU ALWAYS HAVE IN YOUR KITCHEN? Avocados, Eggs, Lemons (but also olive oil, garlic, chili flakes, quinoa pasta, almond milk and bananas)
WHAT IS YOUR FITNESS REGIMEN? (how often & what you do) Hot vinyasa yoga at Earth’s Power Yoga 3-4x a week and spinning at Cycle House 1-2x a week
WHAT IS YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE? (products, facials, etc) I exfoliate every single day with a washcloth to keep my skin smooth. In the morning I put on moisturizer and sunscreen no matter the weather. At night, I use TATCHA cleansing oil to remove my makeup followed by a cleanser from either La Roche-Posay, Aveeno, or Dr. Jart (I like to mix it up so my skin doesn’t get used to anything.) Then I follow with an acne cream if I’m breaking out. I finish with eye cream (right now it’s Kiehl’s) and a collagen cream on my neck. Right now I’m loving one by Tata Harper. I finish spritz of TATCHA luminous dewy skin mist. I also throw in a Glam Glow mask every now and then.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MAKEUP/NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS? Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, Cle de Peau Concealer, Bite Beauty lipsticks, RMS highlighter, Sachajuan Volume Spray. And the Sultra Bombshell is the greatest curling iron in the world.
IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 PRODUCTS WOULD YOU TAKE WITH YOU?
1. La Mer moisturizer 2. Benetint 3. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
TOP 3 FAVORITE SONGS?
1. 2pac “Picture Me Rollin” 2. Chaka Khan “Ain’t Nobody” 3. Zion I “Silly Puddy”
MOST-WATCHED MOVIE? Almost Famous
MOST LIFE-CHANGING BOOK? Not necessarily life-changing but some favorites - The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, Marley and Me by John Grogan, An Inconvenient Woman by Dominick Dunne
FAVORITE SHOPS/BOUTIQUES? Espionage, Reformation, Shopbop, NARS
COOLEST PLACE YOU’VE EVER VISITED? My favorite place in the universe is Positano, Italy.
FAVORITE HOTELS? Hotel Bel Air and Mr. C in LA, they are both so glamorous. Viceroy Anguilla is heaven on earth - Kelly Wearstler designed it and it’s insane.
WHAT IS THE BEST GIFT YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED? My mom gave me a tennis bracelet when she moved me into the dorms at the University of Miami. It still makes me smile whenever I wear it.
MOST PROFOUND HEALING EXPERIENCE YOU’VE EVER HAD? I went through a really dark time in my life a few years back. I was in between jobs and feeling extremely lost. I made the decision to start doing yoga regularly and it genuinely changed my life. I honestly don’t know how that would have played out had I not stuck with yoga. I think it is the greatest thing in the world, physically and mentally.
DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY. My perfect day would start with waking up and having a cup of coffee and reading for a little while. Taking my dog for a walk. Going to a great yoga class. Then meeting friends for an amazing lunch somewhere outside where we can drink wine and talk and laugh for hours. After that spending some time outside, on the beach or by a pool and relaxing. Then going out somewhere that plays rap and dance music and dancing the night away.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST VALUABLE BEAUTY TIP/SECRET? Drink as much water as possible. Do Yoga. Wear Sunscreen.
FAVORITE QUOTE? “This too shall pass.” It’s super cliché but it’s SO true. I have to remind myself of that constantly.
WHAT MAKES YOU GLOW? Being surrounded by my friends and family. Good food. Laughter.
Photography by: Emily Knecht