Sunday Feature: You Go Girl! Featuring Makeup Artist to the Stars Tracy Peart!

Every Sunday I feature a blogger, artist, photographer, makeup artist, actress, socialite or all around awesome person on my blog in a feature I like to call "You Go Girl!" or in some cases "You Go Boy!".

This week Ill be featuring Canadian Makeup artist to the stars Tracy Peart. She's the resident Make-Up Artist to Toronto's City TV's Breakfast Television, Cityline and CTV/MuchMusic. Tracy's tv career started at Toronto's television station City TV. Making a name for herself at City TV, Tracy was requested by Breakfast Television's Dina Pugliese (Co-host of Breakfast Television) and Cityline's Tracy Moore (host of CityLine) to be their exclusive makeup artist.

I have to say Tracy is probably one of the sweetest people Ive come across. She's always tweeting with other makeup artists and her fans, and throughout this whole interview process she thanked me for the opportunity but the truth is I'm a huge fan of her and her work so I was super honored when she agreed to chat.

I asked Tracy some Q's and here's what she had to say.
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Who is Tracy Peart and why are you so fabulous?
My name is Tracy Peart, I'm a makeup artist who's born and raised in Toronto. I'm a Taurus, I'm blunt, I'm sarcastic and a great listener! I'm fabulous because, as corny as it sounds I try everyday to help my clients feel as beautiful as they can!

Where can we find you on the world wide web?
I have a blog that I started in January of this year at www.tracypmakeup.com where I share my work, ideas and opinions about makeup. A website where I'll display all my work will be coming later this year.

I'm also on Twitter @TracypMakeup

What one beauty product would you recommend to my readers and why? Smashbox's Photo Finish Foundation Primer! I believe it does a great job in smoothing out the skin before laying down a foundation and does an amazing job at cutting down shine for those really oily clients. P.S. I find you can apply it with a foundation brush, but I believe I get the best results when applied with your finger tips.

Do you have any "rules" about makeup/beauty you live by?
Just wear it! Honestly! Makeup is meant to be your friend. The worst thing to do when your unknowledgeable or intimidated by it, is to not wear it. WRONG! I don't care how beautiful your face is, even Halle Berry's beauty is enhanced with makeup. The key is to start small and build your way up!

You're in a huge rush, what one beauty product do you grab?
Lip gloss! No matter who you are or how big or small your lips are, everyone looks sexier with a shiny lip!

How did you get your start in makeup?
I originally studied Film/Television Production and I swore I was going to be the next female Quentin Tarantino. After school I spent a lot of time on sets, as a Production Assistant, but quickly found myself hanging around the makeup artists. Mesmerized by the transformations they performed with makeup, I eventually decided to study makeup artistry. I started off in the beginning years in cosmetic sales with what seemed like every company on the planet! Did a quick stint in Film and eventually landed in Television.

Tattooed makeup, yay or nay?
Big Nay, for a couple of reasons!
1) Makeup trends change with the times just like hairstyles and clothes. We today don't wear our makeup the way it was worn in the 1920's, 30's or even the 80's! Can you imagine if we all ran out and tattooed a dark lip, thin turned downward eyebrows and heavy black smokey eyes like the 20's & 30's. Or Bright multi-colored eyeshadows, bushy brows and bacon strip blush like the 80's. We would look ridiculous. So getting your brows done or a permanent eyeliner is a mistake, you can't change or hide it like you would with clothes for your body tattoos.

2) With time the tattoo changes color and sharpness. After a few years black ink on skin commonly turns into a navy blue and the edges of the tattoo that were once sharp become soft and blurred, losing definition.If you're thinking of doing it, Don't do it! Don't do it! Don't do it!

What are your thoughts on fake eyelashes?
Love them! As long as they are applied securely into the lash line, I'm all about them. Many people have short or sparse lashes that no amount of mascara can help. The right fake lashes, wheather it be a full strip or individual ones can open up & dress up any eye! All that's left to do is bat those lashes at someone and they're putty in your hands! Works everytime!

Who would you say are some favorite celeb clients?
Sounds weird but the ones that stand out are the ones that either made me laugh when in my chair or the ones that I grew up watching or had a personal affinity for their show or films. The ones that had me in stitches were Gene Simmons (funny & peculiar man), Duffy (very nice & hilarious dry british wit), Sarah Silverman (sarcastic), Russell Peters (Humourous) & The Trailer Park Boys (who weren't in character when in my chair, but still had me dying of laughter)Others I'm fans of and that's why they stand out like Kelly Clarkson (I watched her progress on Idol and was a fan), Kat Von D (who I watched on Miami Ink and then on her own show LA Ink), Mindy Cohn (who I grew up watching on Facts of Life, and never missed an episode) and last K'naan (whom which I have every album of his and absolutely LOVE his music)
Are there any makeup or beauty faux pas you really really cant stand?
I really can't stand the really dark lipliner with a light colored lipstick! Grrrrrrr!!! Ladies and sometimes Gentlemen, STOP doing that, for the love of makeup! Just STOP! That went out with 1993! Leave it there, honestly!!!

Do you have a favorite beauty guru/mentor?
There's the obvious one Mr. Kevin Aucoin. I was obsessed with his work back when I was studying makeup, but as of late there are a couple of people I follow. Sam Fine is a great makeup artist that can do any skin color, but he's particularly amazing at doing women of color. Billy B and all his insanely, creative, jaw dropping work on Miss Lady Ga Ga! It leaves me in awww! And I also follow the work of Mario Dedivanovic. I had the privledge of meeting him in person when he came to Toronto with Kim Kardashian (his most notable client) and he was kind enough to answer my questions and not only that but he emailed me his answers so he could be more in depth with it. I'm a big fan of his! It made my day when he tweeted it was nice to meet me and RT'd something I tweeted earlier that day! Those are the moments when I just LOVE my job!

Was there a product you bought due to word of mouth hype that you just weren't pleased with once you tried?
No not really! Even if I'm not completely in love with a product, I can always find a way to use it and make it work!

Favorite foundation, lipstick & mascara?
FOUNDATION - I like MAC's Studio Tech Foundation, I find if you want it to go on more sheer you can use a foundation brush, but if you want a more heavy-duty coverage use a sponge and stipple it on!

LIPSTICK - Honestly, I find no matter what company a lipstick is from they're all pretty much the same! One might be better than another, but usually not by far.

MASCARA - My favourite mascara is L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Carbon Black.

What can people expect from you in the future?
More Media! More blogging & a new website! Stay tuned!

Any last words or advice on beauty?
Like I said before, the thing with makeup is just wear it! If you don't know what you're doing, read magazine tips and instructional makeup books, go to the makeup counters, go to a friend, hell go to your mom, but whatever you do JUST LEARN! Start off small with a powder compact, mascara & lipstick or gloss. Makeup is meant to compliment your face, not complicate your face!!!
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Thank you Tracy for being so sweet & friendly. I truly admire your work and cant wait to see what the future holds for you.

Be sure to check out her site http://www.tracypmakeup.com/ for amazing how to's, tips & tricks!