Photographers and media where already inside so I guess I was a bit late. When I first came inside of the famous Armani S.P.A (Italian version of Armani Inc.) I immediately forgot about my pile of shaky nerves and started enjoying the moment. Two seconds later I was already backstage greeting a very polite PR young lad from L'Oreal Paris called Benjamin who directed me to Linda Cantello.
Before I begin I would like to tell you a little bit about this amazing make-up artist. She has worked with only the best in the industry, from A-list photographers like Richard Avedon and Mario Testino to top models like Gisele Bündchen and Kate Moss. She was not always in the cosmetic business, her fine arts background was forced to be dropped after getting redundant from Sotherby's in the 70's so the economic problems in London are to thank for her drastic change of path to fashion and beauty.
I asked her about her thoughts on the controversy of "retouching" adds in post-production which she replied "it’s ridiculous that is why there is so many bad makeup artists because they are lazy... women are not stupid they don’t want to see that anymore they want to see real women... I did pictures of Kate Moss a couple of years ago and she was completely unretouched for New York Magazine, we did her as Marilyn Monroe and everyone was “Oh My God she is unretouched she’s amazing” and I thought she would set a trend coz she did it but it didn’t! I can’t believe people didn’t thing that was cool…"
The one and only Megan Fox was named the ambassador of Armani Cosmetics and I'm sure you've seen the ads in every department store around the world and you can't help but wonder about her ravishing beauty ... Is she for real? Is it photoshopped? that make up must be fake! well, this time is real and thanks not only for the model but for the make-up artist behind it. Why Megan Fox?:"I think Mr. Armani saw in her this old Hollywood Glamour and she’s become Armani ..."
Linda Cantello has become the Creative Director of Armani Cosmetics and even though she is very proud of all of the products she recommended me to try Rouge d'Armani lipstick and she mentioned the color red so that's what I did also Eyes to Kill Mascara and Designer LIFT Foundation, this last one was designed for older women but the effect it has on everybody is amazing "it has a natural finish and it lifts everybody!" So that will do for me!
L'Oreal Labs are behind Armani Cosmetics and they are responsible for the fabulous technology applied to our beautiful faces, not that we need make-up but just for the fun of it right? "L’Oreal Labs are the most amazing cutting edge labs in the world. We have a couple of products coming out that are going to blow people away" .
At the end of my interview with Linda I left satisfied and content that I met her. My nerves were gone after the first few seconds of talking to her, not only she is the best of what she does but also she is a very sweet lady with great professionalism. Mister Armani you are lucky to have her on board and I was lucky to have the privileged to interview her. At the end, I even wanted to beg her to do my make-up and make me look as gorgeous as Megan Fox, a bit inappropriate? maybe... I guess she is good but I don't think she is a miracle worker.
Grazie for reading!Deborah