Interview with Giorgio Armani Beauty's Tim Quinn, Celebrity Face Designer

Tim Quinn, Celebrity Face Designer for Giorgio Armani Beauty, graciously spent some time with me today to talk beauty. As always, I enjoyed my time with Tim.

It's no wonder that he's hailed as one of the world's top makeup artists. Not only is Tim extraordinarily talented, he's one of the nicest guys in the beauty industry. If I were a celebrity, I would want Tim to make sure I was camera-ready - looking good and feeling confident!

I was curious about the most recent awards season and the looks his celebrity clients requested. It turns out that celebrities are just like the rest of us. They want to look younger - flawless - but don't want to look "made up." Check! They are nervous about how their photographs will appear. Check! They want a much cleaner makeup look these days. Check!

Armani Beauty cosmetics have always created perfection for the high-definition lens, so Tim aims for the dewy finish that makes us all look younger. That's dewy, not matte! There's nothing worse than too much powder. It's aging - and blah.

Although we saw smokey eyes on the red carpet, this year the focus was on lips, and the hot look was bright. After Rihanna wore Rouge D'Armani ($30) in shade #401 (red with a touch of orange), it sold out in a heartbeat. Not to worry - it's available again. Bright pinks made the season, and the plum colors, #600 and #601, have been surprise hits.

This fall, it's certain that Armani Beauty will build on the #600 range plum look with new lip colors. More immediate for summer will be some new product launches.

The newest skin care product in Armani's amazing Crema Nera family (and it's in pre-sale at Armani counters now) is Crema Nera Obsidian Mineral High Recovery Elixir. The new serum is designed to correct texture, tone the skin, and repair sun damage. It's firming too - it feels amazing on application. I'll tell you more about it this week.

Armani's super-hit Eyes to Kill Mascara ($30) will be available in a waterproof formulation. Perfect for poolside beauties, brides, others who cry at weddings, and women who can't make their mascara stay on their eyelashes, the waterproof version is sure to be a big seller.

The waterproof Eyes to Kill will arrive in stores about the same time as the new Eyes to Kill Palettes - hopefully in May. Two new shadow palettes will join the relaunch of #1, Steel Black (shown here), and #3, Gun Metal Gray (which combined shades of plum with gray). Tim described one of the new palettes as including a really light robin's egg blue and pink, a departure from the prototypical "Armani shades," and the other as including royal navy and peach shades with a chinchilla color. Given his descriptions, both will be finding their way to my house.

We can also anticipate a new bronzer palette that sounds gorgeous! This year, the bronzer will be on top and the eye shadows will be on the bottom layer. Imagine metallic copper, sea green, pale chiffon, and deep teal. Want it? I sure do!

Also in the pipeline is a new Luminous Silk Powder Foundation. When Armani's cosmetics launched, there was a fabulous powder foundation that I still keep in my desk drawer at work for touch-ups. It was discontinued. After perfecting the formula to create that "Armani look," the company will release a new formula. You gals with oily or combination skin are going to love this product!

Tim and I talked about some of the newest products in stores, including Face Fabric Radiance ($48) and Blushing Fabric ($38). If you are having a hard time selecting only one color, Tim believes the lightest shade of Blushing Fabric, #3 Pink Chiffon, is the most "universally wearable." All three shades are popular, though, because they add such a sheer pop of healthy color. Remember, a little goes a very long way! I was delighted to hear that Face Fabric Radiance has received such a great reception that it might become a permanent part of the line. I love it.

I asked Tim what Armani Beauty products every woman should have on a desert island, and I only let him choose two. His selections? Crema Nera Reviving Eye Compact ($150) and Luminous Silk Foundation ($59). If you have to edit carefully, he said to skip the trends and put your money into the products that will make your skin glow.

Naturally, I asked Tim for some tips for women over 40! He said to learn how to balance your makeup. Less is often more. Except...as we age, we often lose pigment in our lips and even our skin. That nude look that's so beautiful on our young friends may not be our best friend. Try a brighter lip than you wore 10 years ago. Add a pop of color to one feature on your face, and you'll be radiant.

Tim's advice is to learn what's appropriate for you as an individual. The old rules of beauty have flown out the window. While we used to have preconceived notions of how women should look in certain age groups, those rules are history. Instead, as it gets harder and harder to judge someone's age, it also gets harder to define the right look for an age group. Tim said that beauty is about how you feel. If you look good, you will feel good.

Beauty products can provide instant gratification. When he works with women at events, Tim wants to show them how to look their best. Often they know what they want; today's customers are well-educated. They just need help with techniques or affirmation that their color choices work for them. I can assure you, leave Tim's chair, and your day will be transformed!

DC-area gals will have a chance to sit in Tim's chair in May! He will spend two days at our Saks Fifth Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland on May 21 and 22. Why not book an appointment while you can? Just call the Armani counter at (240) 497-5206. Or you can ring through the switchboard by calling (301) 657-9000. He's in great demand at these events, so make sure to book early! Tell them you're a Best Things in Beauty reader. You might just get a few extra minutes with Tim!

If you don't have an Armani counter near you, check the Armani Web site for Tim's event schedule. No way to make it to one of the events? Make sure to watch Tim's videos at the Giorgio Armani Beauty Web site. His techniques, along with Armani's superb makeup, will show you how to look your best.

Photos courtesy of Armani Beauty