How Makeup Artist Vincent Oquendo Went From Selling Sunglasses to Becoming a Maybelline Ambassador

July 17, 2019
How Makeup Artist Vincent Oquendo Went From Selling Sunglasses to Becoming a Maybelline Ambassador

You’ll know a Vincent Oquendo look when you see it — it’s fresh, fierce and a little unexpected. Oh, and it’s likely on an It girl’s face. Oquendo has painted everyone from Winnie Harlow to Bella Hadid, and we can’t help but be mesmerized every time. While we’re used to fangirling over his makeup looks, recently we found ourselves stanning for a different reason. Oquendo is one of Maybelline New York’s newest US Brand Ambassadors — a dream come true for the artist. “When I first got started in the industry as a young Puerto Rican artist, Maybelline was one of the only brands I could afford that included shades of my skin color, so I relied on it to fill my kit,” he says of the appointment, adding, “I am humbled to be a part of their team.”

We recently caught up with Oquendo for a peek into his day-to-day life and to find out what makeup means to him.

What’s your current makeup routine? Any products you love?

I do a lot of skin care; I’m kind of a skin-care nerd. I use a lot of Barbara Sturm on myself. I go to Georgia Louise (an NYC-based facialist) and she gives me a lot of tips and tricks and tools and things. I’m a really big believer in lymphatic drainage massage, so I have a lot of tools that help me sort of lift and firm. I also exercise regularly and take vitamins, including alkaline and liquid oxygen, to help my skin glow from underneath. 

I don’t really wear makeup every day. But some of my favorites right now are everything within the Maybelline New York Tattoo Studio Collection. It’s super long-wearing and most of it is waterproof. It’s just really fantastic and easy to manipulate — I absolutely love it.

How did you get started in your career? 

Initially, I didn’t know I wanted to do makeup professionally — it kind of just happened to me. I got started in retail. I was a broke college student and I walked into Saks Fifth Avenue and attempted to get a job as one of the perfume spritzers. I didn’t get that job. Instead — as I was walking out sort of defeated — this lady approached me who worked in sunglasses, and she asked if I’d consider working in sunglasses. I needed a job, so I accepted. It was a freelance job, so I started working there selling sunglasses, which was close to the cosmetics department. I just fell in love. Each cosmetics counter has such a different personality, it was magnetic. Six months after I started, I began trying to get a job in cosmetics. I’m fortunate enough that my mother taught me to listen to my intuition. My intuition propelled me into cosmetics, and from there I worked for five years at different makeup counters and learned how to do makeup. Then, I started doing session work and assisting and eventually left the department store. I got the opportunity to assist Pat McGrath, and from there I was on her team and learned from all of her different assistants. I did all of the Fashion Weeks and some photoshoots with her — she’s just so inspirational! It taught me that being a makeup artist today is so much more than applying makeup — it’s how you make people feel. 

Biggest pinch-me moment in your career thus far?

One of them was my first Vogue cover. I had done the cover of Vogue Spain with Emily Ratajkowski, and Miguel Rodrigo shot it in the desert in LA. When we shot it, it felt surreal and then when it came out, it blew my mind. When I was a kid, I remember seeing Vogue magazine and thinking it was such a big deal — it seemed so far away. So to be able to collaborate and create the makeup look for one of those covers seems out of this world.

Your favorite drugstore makeup products?

I love the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 Hour Eyeshadow Pots. They’re spectacular. I also love the liquid liner that has a 36-hour wear – Maybelline TattooStudio Liquid Ink Eyeliner — it’s like a shiny black. It’s the perfect top coat to finish any eye makeup look, especially a vampy eye makeup look. Its quickly become one of the staples in my kit. 

Makeup look you’re most proud of?

One of my favorite red-carpet looks to date is Bella Hadid from one of her first Cannes Film Festival red carpets. It was when she wore the spaghetti strap red Alexandre Vauthier dress. She had the sweeping bangs, and we’d done like a really blush-y look with a sheer rosy lip, and I blended the blush into her eyeshadow. That’s one of my favorite makeup looks I think I’ve ever created. It’s sexy, it’s approachable and there’s something mysterious about it. 

What’s your advice for anyone who wants to become a makeup artist?

At first I had a lot of side hustles and I worked for free a lot, so know that you might not get a paid job for a few years, and they’re far and few between when you’re learning how to do makeup. But my best advice is to get a retail job at first. It’s the best way to learn how to do makeup because it’s like makeup bootcamp. The only way you’re going to get good at doing somebody else’s makeup is doing it every day and practicing. Practice really does make perfect. It’s important to be able to think on the fly, be able to listen, clear your mind and truly be creative. Also, listen to the client’s needs. If a client says they want something, even if you don’t think it’s a good idea, your job is to adapt that makeup look to fit them. If they’re really into a red lipstick, it’s your job to figure out one that works. Have different options to show them and walk through it with patience. That’s why you’ve been called in, you’re the expert.

Is there a trend in the beauty industry that you’re excited to watch in 2019?

It’s a very exciting time in beauty because there’s so much happening in the socioeconomic climate, and during these kinds of times we see a surge in creativity. Especially with Gen Z. Gen Z sees makeup as decoration or adornment, whereas my generation and the generations before me saw it as something to enhance. It allows Gen Z-ers to look at makeup fearlessly. We’re seeing bright pops of color, colored mascara, and appliques used unconventionally. It’s a very adventurous time in beauty because people want to show their individuality and to express themselves through their appearance. We’re also seeing a lot of really exciting makeup looks IRL and in the media. A lot of actresses, singers and models are becoming more adventurous with color and texture. It’s coming from all angles! We’re seeing artists like Lizzo and Janelle Monae take risks. Even within Maybelline we’re seeing all these fabulous gel pencils and long-wearing products. I also love that we’re seeing a shift toward natural skin. That said, the Urban Dream Cover Foundation is perfect for the natural skin look because it’s a true medium-coverage formula, has SPF 50 and can be applied with your fingers. You can really sort of sheer it out or build it up. 

What’s a day in your life like?

My last three days have essentially blurred into one big day. I worked in New York with Ella Purnell who has this new show Sweet Bitter. We did press all day, a photoshoot, and then I ran to the airport and flew to Paris for a one-day job. Then I flew back to New York to prep Jessica Biel for a red carpet. It was basically one big, fabulous transatlantic day.

What inspires you?

I’m really inspired by Old Hollywood. I look at classic films a lot and look through different decades. I absolutely love watching those older films because you can really get a sense how seriously they took their makeup rituals. This year’s Met Gala was incredibly exciting for me. I worked with Ella Balinska, and we channeled All About Eve. What I noticed when I was looking at the Golden Age of Hollywood was that eyeliners and liquid liners were really prevalent and so artfully done that they almost seemed like part of the eye. To me, that’s the sign of fantastic eyeliner. It’s so seamless. There was so much respect for the ritual of glamming yourself up. 

 

Makeup is _____?

Makeup is whatever you want it to be. Makeup can be decoration; makeup can be something that helps you through a dark time in life. Somebody once shared with me that during 9/11 the only department that turned a profit in Saks Fifth Avenue was cosmetics. Specifically, lipstick sales because lipstick offers an instant makeover and it doesn’t require a ton of makeup skill to apply. That resonated with me, and I think about that when I’m creating looks for my clients because makeup can sometimes be that extra boost of confidence you might need. I feel like makeup is my armor, and that can be transformative. It can hold you up and make you feel like your best self. And it doesn’t even have to be a lot of makeup. It can be your skin-care routine — whatever makes you feel like your best self.

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