HH Spotlight: Crissy Rose McWeeney’s The House of Makeup
Crissy Rose McWeeney believes beauty lies within our own feelings, “Call me a romantic,” she says.
But, when it comes to making someone physically glamorous and electrifying, we say McWeeney has got the eye, with an unsurpassed vision that is truly appreciated.
Before launching her business, The House of Makeup, McWeeney worked, seperately, as a Beauty Publicist and Fashion Show Producer for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Now, she is debuting as the leading makeup brand that brings luxury to your doorstep. But, it’s not just makeup, as McWeeney and her team provide an array of hairstyles, including cuts and blowouts, from evening up-dos to natural daylight styles. “We are a beauty concierge service that brings a day of beauty and luxury to you,” she explains, “We are on the cutting edge of beauty and fashion, and provide our clients with the latest looks in the industry.”
McWeeney’s experience ranges from personal beauty and styling, to film, special effects and fashion shoots. She has traveled to a total of 45 different countries, including India, China, Cambodia, Africa, Vietnam, Burma, Brazil and Japan, viewing beauty from every angle and culture, “I believe beauty is different all over the world. My definition of beauty is always changing and evolving. I have traveled all around the world and seen women that don’t fall into the American perception of beauty, and I’ve found them to be some of the most gorgeous women I’ve ever seen.”
Why makeup?
I chose makeup because the industry is always changing. I love change. I get to go to different locations and meet new people every time I work. It’s so much fun that I don’t even feel like I’m working. At the same time, it’s very rewarding to make a client feel good about themselves or to make a producer/photographer’s inspiration come alive.
Where did you study?
Fashion Institute of Technology, Stony Brook University, and Semester at Sea
What makes your company, The House of Makeup, standout amongst other beauty companies?
We are a beauty concierge service that brings a day of beauty and luxury to you. We offer mineral and airbrush makeup for the entire face from eye shadows, eyebrows, and lips. We also do makeup for film, as well as special effects makeup. We offer three different styles of false lashes: individual, strip, and single hair lashes. We also do hair extensions, keratin bonds, and clip-ins. We provide hair styling including up-dos, blowouts, and haircuts. We are on the cutting edge of beauty and fashion and provide our clients with the latest looks in the industry.
Describe your classic approach to beauty and how you define it.
I believe beauty is different all over the world. My definition of beauty is always changing and evolving. I have traveled all around the world and seen women that don’t fall into the American perception of beauty, and I’ve found them to be some of the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen. The beauty lies within our feelings. Call me a romantic!
What products do you work with?
I use my own makeup line, The House of Makeup. I also use other professional makeup such as RCMA, Ken Cosmetics, and Temptu. Some of my favorite mainstream brands are MAC, Bobby Brown, and YSL. As for my tools I use MAC brushes, paintbrushes that I buy in the art stores, and the Iwata Silver Jet Airbrush machine.
How would you describe yourself as a makeup artist?
Well rounded. I can do print and film makeup, as well as style hair including, fantasy hair, runway hair, bridal hair, and more. My techniques are widespread– natural, periodic, dramatic and more. I use techniques that contour and highlight features that the lens seems to “forget” about. I can do everything from a bride, print (magazine work), film, runway, and special effects.
What do you find are the most common mistakes women make with makeup?
I feel like the biggest mistake women make is getting used to wearing their makeup only one way and becoming afraid to experiment with their look. I think that your hair and makeup should always change, just like you change your clothes everyday.
What’s the worst thing a woman can do to her skin?
Not moisturize and exfoliate. I always recommend my clients get facials and make it a daily regimen to wash and moisturize two times per day.
What is your step-by-step makeup regimen for a perfect, flawless, natural look?
1.) Exfoliate
2.) Moisturize
3.) Apply concealer one shade lighter under the eyes, down to the apples of your cheeks
4.) Apply foundation over face and neck
5.) Blend
6.) Apply bronzer to cheekbones
7.) Apply blush to apples of cheeks
8.) Put light shadow on eyelids and darker tone in crease of eyelids
9.) Curl eyelashes and apply mascara, both top and bottom
10.) Lightly fill eyebrows with eyebrow shadow
11.) Put a shiny pink or peach gloss on your lips
In terms of eyeliner, if you had to choose between a pencil, liquid, or crème/gel based, which would you choose? Why?
I would choose liquid because you can control the intensity of the color, and the size of the line looks much more defined.
What are the “in” looks for spring and summer this year?
It’s all about lips– the brighter the better. I’m also doing a lot of different purples on eyes.
Explain to us one makeup trick that we should know for the spring/summer that will keep us looking refreshed.
Mix an illuminator into your foundation; it will make your face glow. And fill in your eyebrows with shadow to make them look thicker; the bigger the brows the better.
What is the one make-up piece that you cannot go without?
False eyelashes. Every time I put them on a client for the first time they are always coming back to me saying that they want to wear them more often. False eyelashes really enhance the look of the eye.
What advice can you give to aspiring makeup artists?
You don’t have to go by the book. Draw outside the lines. Every makeup artist has his or her own talents and techniques. I suggest you find your own, and it will make you stand out from every other artist in the industry.
