Where are you from and where do you live now?
I grew up in a small town called Brooklin, Ontario. Not to be mistaken for Brooklyn, New York. I currently live downtown Toronto, Ontario.
What was your first experience with makeup?
My first taste of makeup application and enhancement was very memorable. I watched my mother apply mascara every morning growing up. I thought that "makeup" was mascara. I had no idea there was anything like foundation or blush. I remember wearing mascara to school and everyone commenting on how "awake" I looked. I've never forgotten how such a subtle accent had an impact on how people perceived my look.
How did you decide to make makeup your career?
My entire family is very creative, so being involved with something as artistic as makeup made sense to me. From a young age, I would absorb people's natural aesthetic and constantly cultivate makeup looks or imagine tweaks in their routine to enhance it. Makeup has served to be the best creative outlet for me.
You work closely with Diamond Rings—how are you related and how did that collaboration get
started?
John and I started formally working together two years ago. John got very sick suddenly and started writing his album, Special Affections, in the hospital. The first version of the album was acoustic and the first show he ever played was literally in a kitchen surrounded by people. I knew at that show, he was sitting on something special. A few weeks later, he told me that he wanted to shoot a music video with his roommate Colin. I packed up my makeup kit and brought some accessories and created a look for John. That was it. We've been working together on this project ever since. I work hard at constantly changing his look and it has grown a lot and will continue to change. We are cousins but were raised together, and spent our early days playing dress-up, learning and growing at his mom's house in the morning and my mom's in the afternoon. Diamond Rings feels like a natural extension of our childhood and teenage years together.
What is your favorite look on him and what was the inspiration behind it?
Obviously, the now-famous "rainbow eyes" has garnered notoriety and has since been duplicated by fans at shows (which is so cool), but I think my favorite look we have done so far was at SXSW this year. The look consisted of a deep purple brow with blown out hair, light eyes, coral contour, hot purple lips and lavender nails. I was on the plane from Houston to Austin for SXSW this year and just had a vision of purple brows—paired with his Vanilla Ice tee. I couldn't shake it and started sketching on the plane. It was this first look we did in Austin and ended up being a lot of fun. I painted his nails in the back of the kitchen, there were tacos flying everywhere— a true SXSW moment!
What's one thing you still haven't mastered?
There's a lot I haven't perfected, but if I had to nail one thing down, I would say I'm a perfectionist and therefore have a hard time letting people off my chair. I'm never totally satisfied with what I'm doing and am highly critical of my own work.
What's your makeup strength?
DETAIL! I like fine detail work. I love working with lots of color and I love working with contour. I have mastered wild Diamond Rings looks that can be applied on the road in 30 minutes tops! I'm very proud of this, as there is about as much makeup and hair gear as there is stage equipment.
What is the best makeup trend you've seen this year?
One of my favorite makeup trends this year has been bright lips paired with a quiet eye and lovely skin. Smoky eyes are great, but have been way overdone the past few seasons.
What are three things every girl should have in her makeup bag?
Oh! Their favorite foundation pumped out into a little travel size pot! I have no idea why more people don't do this. It is much better than carrying around a compact full of powder or bronzer that just ends up looking caked and orange by the end of the night. A little foundation touch-up (under the eyes or through the T-zone) looks fresh and dewy! For the lips I would say their favorite lip potion, whether it be gloss, matte or moisture. Lips are sexy, and you feel sexy when there's something on them—always. I guess the last thing that I think every person should have is roll-on perfume in their favorite flavor for an instant, glamorous pick-me-up. I can't go anywhere without my Marc Jacobs Lola roll-on.
Can you share any beauty secrets with us?
One. Benefit's High Beam dabbed and blended right above your cupids bow and just below your lower lip in the centre. It makes you look like you've had injections and I'm going to be totally straight—who doesn't want a fat lip?
Who is your makeup idol?
Grace Jones. Seriously.
What is your daily makeup look?
I have to begin with fresh skin—always. My brows are totally natural—they remind me of caterpillars! A fresh face works best with such a strong feature. Chanel foundation through my T-zone, peach color on my eyes with touch of mascara and clear M.A.C lip glass. So fresh and so clean.
What's in your purse right now?
In my purse you will find the latest New Yorker, Chanel blush (it's baked with rose oil and seriously smells amazing,) M.A.C Lip Glass in Clear, roll-on perfume, my Ipod (which currently has the new Miracle Fortress album on repeat), cash, business cards, Blackberry, Nars shadow and a list of "to do's."
What's the scariest thing you've ever done?
The scariest thing I ever did was start my own creative business. Huge risk = huge payoff. It was the best move I ever made.
If you could have one song play every time you walked in a room, what would it be?
In my mind, I prance in every room to Miracle Fortress' "Everything Works."
Favorite Movies
Donnie Darko
Cinderella—mostly because the mice characters amused me as a child.
Blue Valentine—because it's such a real and beautiful depiction of a love story.
Favorite Books
Patti Smith (One of my idols) — Just Kids
Barbara Cooney — Miss Rumphius (Best, most beautiful children's book ever written)
Micheal Ondaatje — The Collected Works of Billy the Kid- his poetry moves me to tears.
Favorite Songs and what you think of when you hear them.
Chet Baker — "Let's Get Lost"
This song is a classic cottage scone song. My aunty makes scones at the cottage in the mornings, and I often wake up to this album blaring and her dancing around the kitchen. I love how romantic that image is.
Theophilus London — "Why Even Try"
This sassy song reminds me of one of the best parties I'd ever been to in NYC last summer. He had a set at an über-fancy industry party and I had this moment where I felt the entire universe align right before the chorus dropped—I rode that high for the rest of the night.
Steely Dan — "Peg"
My sister Jaimie, my dad and I had this epic final drive home after dinner the night before my dad was moving to Dubai for work. We had this total fam jam moment where we all started belting out "Peg" at the same time. Momentous moments.
