Ask A Makeup Artist: Nathan Johnson Shares Pro Tips

When he's not making up the models on Project Runway or visiting Sephora stores, Nathan Johnson spends time helping real girls get gorgeous--and we're all about tips we can use.

PLUS: Got a question you've always wanted to ask a makeup artist? Leave your Q in the comments, and Nathan will answer!

B&TB: How long have you been doing makeup, and what got you interested?
NJ: I have been doing makeup, in one form or another, for 16 years - about half my life. I began working on high school productions that I used to act in and it grew from there.

My interest in makeup started far earlier, when I was just a little boy. I remember being amazed by the new and wonderful things Boy George and Cyndi Lauper did with color. He was unique and he made himself beautiful and she was beautiful, but made herself unique. I loved that. I still do.

B&TB: Who is your favorite client to work on?
NJ: Real women are my favorite clients. I get the greatest satisfaction from helping them achieve their beauty goals. Unlike the models and actress' I work on, they are sponges for knowledge and tips. Because my real ladies don't have the benefit of an artist at their fingertips, they tend to absorb the knowledge.

Nothing makes me happier than having a woman say to me, "I'm beautiful." (I saw it all along, but sometimes it just takes a touch of color for them to see it, too.)

B&TB: How do you help women play up their best features?
Before I begin working on a non-TV/film client, I always ask them how much makeup they normally wear. If someone wears very little, I keep it simple because that's what they are comfortable with. If they wear more, I get a lot more room to play. As long as I stay within the realm a woman is accustomed to, she will always end up looking like herself.

B&TB: How do you determine someone's best look?
I always ask my clients what they want, and more often than not, they say, "I don't know," or "You're the expert." So for me, it's all about the eyes. Everyone has beautiful eyes. Unlike any other part of the face or body, they are always fully alive and expressive; even in moments of great stillness. Unless someone asks for otherwise, I always put full focus on the eyes.

The first step to achieving this is creating a clean, even canvas. Discoloration, texture, rosacea, blemishes, and any other unevenness on the face all pull focus from the eyes. Take great care when choosing a foundation. One of my mantras is that skin is a beautiful thing; don't cover it unless you have to.

Now, most of us were not born with a flawless complexion, so it is very important that we use the right amount of coverage. When choosing a foundation, go with the product that will give you the lightest level of coverage to convey the illusion of perfect skin. Too much coverage looks like a mask, and too little just won't do the job.

Also, be sure the shade you choose is a perfect match. When choosing a product, test it on your face, not your arm or your hand. It should disappear seamlessly into your own skin while still supplying ample coverage. The right coverage and color will have everyone believing that you were born with beautiful, perfect skin. When the canvas is clear, the eyes shine.

B&TB: What's a tip you give all your clients?
My first tip to every woman is start with your skin. Moisturize it. Exfoliate it. SPF it. And choose your proper coverage. Everything that you do on your eyes, lips and cheeks will just get lost if the canvas is not smooth and even. If your skin looks even and beautiful, so will you.

Now it's your turn! Got a question you'd like a makeup artist to answer? Leave it in the comments, and Nathan will answer!