I was fortunate enough to be able to get an interview with Damone Roberts, celebrity beauty therapist and undisputed “Eyebrow King.” *Squeal with joy!* Here’s the interview:
1. EB: Hi Damone! My name is Ashley and I represent EmbracingBeauty.com which is an ultra cool blog (if I do say so myself) *patting back*. Congratulations on being the new spokesperson for THELOOKBAG.com! Does this mean that you’ll choose the selection of what goes into each and every bag?
Damone:* I’m thrilled to be the face of TheLookBag.com because I actually have a say as to what goes into each & every bag. I’ve been a makeup artist for many years, while working on some of the world’s most famous faces & I deal with women on a daily basis in my New York or Beverly Hills’ Salon. There are always new products that someone is telling me about & now I have the opportunity to share them with women all over the world.
2. What is a day in the life of Damone Roberts like?
*My life changes constantly due to the industry I am in, but typically a day in the life of Damone Roberts starts @ about 7:00 A.M with me laying in the bed staring @ the ceiling for a good 30 minutes. I find I think clearly in this tranquil state and literally will go through my entire day & always end it with giving thanks for entering a new one. Next is some type of workout either with my trainer, hiking or a bike ride. Coffee/breakfast while checking emails, before heading into the Salon. I usually take my meetings during lunch & end most days with a conference call between The DR Team.
3. I’ve read that each month, THELOOKBAG will contain 5 luxury beauty samples but I’m curious, are the samples are big enough to use more than once?
*That is actually something I really want to stress to your readers. I think people get confused when they here “testers”. These are not a little packet that can be used only once. We give you a travel size component that you can use for a few weeks to really find out if it works for you. One would easily pay $10.00 for one or two of these items, but we are giving you five samples monthly.
*I’ve been fortunate that I’ve worked with so many celebrities. Imagine growing up with posters of Madonna on your wall & then you get a phone call from her saying she hears you are the best & she needs to experience what everyone is talking about. I remember the 1st time I was introduced to the iconic Diana Ross & she said to her friend “I know who he is…I use his products”. Beyonce sitting in the waiting room with everyone else patiently waiting for her appointment, or Megan Fox telling me “I make her feel beautiful”. The list goes on and on! It has been a tremendous journey & I’m just thankful & excited for the next chapter.
5. How would you describe your signature look and what is it about your style that sets you apart from other makeup artists?
*My signature look is a full defined brow with a carefully blended makeup application. I don’t like to see lines in the eyeshadow or blush. I’m also not afraid to use colors, but they need to flow into one another to create one beautiful look. I’m confident in my artistry & if I had to choose one word to describe it, that word would be flawless!
*The other day I was taking care of Robert Downey Jr & we were talking about the movies of the last year. Him & his wife Susan have been clients for a long time & we all have become quite fond of one another. We both consider ourselves artist at heart & always share music, movies and things of that nature. We decided to write down our top 3 films of 2011 and then give the list to one another. The list was the EXACT same in the EXACT same order. Another fun story is when I went to the house of a huge A list actress to shape her brow’s. I was packing up my kit afterwards to leave and as I turned around, she was completely nude laying on the table with her legs up in the air. I asked her what she was doing and she replied I figured since you were here, you could just do my bikini as well. Needless to say that did not happen!
* The most important beauty advice I would give to women is never negate the power of a good brow & always take off your makeup before going to bed!
*Women tend to get stuck in the same routine. I have found that women generally will keep the look that worked for them when they felt most attractive. The problem is styles change & products are constantly evolving. This is another reason why TheLookBag.com is so exciting…you can stay alert to what is new in the industry.
*I think that when you look good, you feel good! It really is that simple. Obviously if you have low confidence or self esteem you are not going to give your best, but the part I like the most of working in my salons is when women walk in with heavy shoulders & their head down, & then leave 15 minutes later with their chest out, flinging the hair & glossing their lips. When you look good…you feel good!
10. Do you feel that you have achieved all of your goals as a successful makeup artist?
* The journey has been great, but I have learned to never put a lid on a dream. When “US Weekly” named me the #1 thing that Hollywood can’t live without (before the Cartier Roadster or The Bentley), I thought I had truly arrived. Then I found out I was a question in the board game Trivial Pursuit, after that OPI named a nail polish after me. Next I was a question on the game show Jeopardy & just a few weeks ago they did a sketch on me for The TV show 2 Broke Girls. I also did The TLC TV series “10 years younger” for 3 seasons. I’m actually very excited to enter the next chapter.
11. Who are some people that have inspired you throughout your career?
* I’ve been inspired by so many & am smart enough to be a sponge when exposed to certain people or situations! I’ve been alone in the room with Madonna & observed how her business mind works. I’ve had one on one conversations with Oprah & observed her kindness, even when no camera’s or others were around to see it. Once I was flown on a private plane by a bank to take care of “The 50 Wealthiest Men in America’s” wives for a palatial, relaxing weekend. The bank does this yearly as a sign of gratitude for the members banking with them. I took care of the wives makeup & brow’s while the guys were golfing, but believe me whenever it was lunch or dinner I had my list of questions out for these guy’s. I know money does not bring happiness, but what inspires me is the people who take a idea or talent and turn it into success.
12. What products do you think should be a staple in every woman’s purse?
*No women should ever be without some type of gloss to keep her lips moist. Lastly you need Damone Roberts Clear Brow Gel. This keeps the hair upward, while opening the eyes. Two absolute essentials!
13. What do you suggest Embracing Beauty readers do to achieve the perfect everyday look?
*You need to start with a good brow! It frames the face, while adding balance & structure. I also recommend taking some of those powder papers to blot up excess oil throughout the day. Pressed powder can work as well, but can also build up on the skin if used too much. A nice tinted moisturizer can become a girl’s best friend & we all love a strong mascara.
14. How did your career begin in the world of beauty?
*I studied art for a period @ Rutgers University on a scholarship. Interestingly enough I got the scholarship off of a drawing I did of Diana Ross that won 1st place in a nationwide contest, so you can imagine what a full circle moment it was for me to meet her years later & have her say she’s a fan of my products. In school I learned how to blend & sculpt while emphasizing certain features, while hiding others. I literally just took all the skills I learned from painting on paper, to painting a face. The first company I worked for where I was able to show off my makeup skills was Fashion Fair & then of course M.A.C!
About Ashley
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