Makeup Artist and Beauty Expert Cynde Watson has been making her mark on the beauty industry for over 15 years. From being crowned Miss New Jersey to becoming Executive Director of Global Makeup Artistry & Education for Bobbi Brown cosmetics to lead consultant and makeup Pro for Mark/Avon Cosmetics...one thing is clear⿦makeup is Cynde⿿s calling it⿿s just in her blood.

Her work has been featured prominently in the biggest fashion magazines like Essence, Glamour, InStyle and O Magazine. She has created runway looks for Badgley Mischka,  Mark Bouwer, Tracey Reese and Peter Som. In addition, Cynde has tacked television as well having worked on some of the hottest shows like Ambush Makeover, The Grammys, Oprah and the Today Show.

Not only does Cynde manage to do all that she does without breaking a sweat, she has recently launched her own line called Color By Cynde Watson that is made up entirely of pencils!  You heard me!  Cynde also just may be the only Black makeup artist out there with a cosmetics line on a national scale.  I had a chance to briefly catch up with Cynde right before New York Fashion Week and find out what⿿s what.

Did you go to school for makeup artistry or are you self taught?
I am self taught...although, years of watching other makeup artists like Sam Fine and so many others - I have acquired different tips and tricks. I am an artist first so there are so many things that inspire me. Texture and bone structure are important to me so if I have 15 minutes to do makeup you can bet your bottom dollar that 7-8 minutes are spent on the skin.

Do you have an artistic background?
I do, I have been sketching since I was 5 and painting as well.  I paint I draw...I am always looking at the face as an art form.

What was your first job in makeup and what did you learn from it?
I grew up in Texas and that is Pageant country (laughing)...boys play football and girls do pageants!  But my first job was working in local theater then I started doing makeup for pageants which is very much the opposite of the kind of makeup i do now.  Very unnatural...and that got me into wanting to actually see the person's face and it became much more about the skin and the way it looked than the makeup itself.

Being that you are a former model, how has that helped you as a makeup artist?
Makeup in the 80's was a mess anyway whether you were fair or dark skinned, it didn't matter.  I did my own makeup for the pageants and modeling jobs, because I would sit down in the makeup artist's chair and they would just look at me and say, "Okay you are fine you are good to go girl.." without even touching me. Nobody was able to do my makeup so I was forced into doing my own.  Then the other girl's would ask me, "Who did your makeup???" Then I started doing everyone else and before I knew it, I was on the set of a Spike Lee production, and it just snowballed from there.   I always say that modeling got me into "the business" of makeup. 

You have said that you were ⿿born to be a makeup artist⿦⿿ When did you know that this was truly what you wanted to do?
When I saw the way people reacted to the looks I created, when they saw the transformation and their level of self esteem was noticeably elevated...that was it for me.

How did your new line Color By Cynde Watson and partnership with HSN come about?
I was inspired to create the line by my daughter.  The line was essentially created when I became a mother and I was still working for Bobbi Brown as Executive Director of Global Makeup Artistry.  I had my daughter and I didn't have a live in nanny or anything so I needed to hand her off when the babysitter arrived and be pulled together and look the part as soon as I walked in the door at the office. The pencil idea came to me because that's what I used on a daily basis.  I used pencils on my eyes, smudging and what not and I would use a lip pencil on my cheeks for blush.  I like the ease of pencils   You can sit in the taxi or on the train and just do your face in  5-10 minutes.  The  HSN thing was really a no brainer...we are able to reach so many women this way as well all shop online these days - right?

Can you only buy through HSN??
For now it is exclusive through HSN with store distribution later this year. The launch was in September and we have sold out of a lot of things....it has really just bee incredible the response we have gotten!

I know it's hard to pare it down because this is your baby, but what is your favorite item from your line?
I love the foundation color and blend and the and the correct and blend ultimate corrector.  They both have tools on the end so you can blend blend blend.

The new line is centered around these gorgeous chubby pencils that seem really easy to use. What made you go that way with the design?
Ease and portability.  The formulas are revolutionary too, they are my own formulas.  It's like taking what you have in a pot and pouring it into a pencil. No pulling or tugging...  just creamy and blendable.

How do you balance your time between working for mark and your own line? What was working for Bobbi Brown like and what did you take away from that experience?
Very carefully....(laughing).  My life is very scheduled but  when it doesn't fall into  place we just roll with it.  I need to have myself together 100% so if anything slips through the cracks we can catch it.

What is your favorite tip or trick for women when it comes to choosing a foundation?
Number one, we have to be realistic and they have to be realistic as far as what color they are and what they want.  Look at your center of your face because that is what your true color is.  I use bronzer to correct the skin from a very fair woman to a dark woman because that's where the sun hits us, I believe in cool and warm tones for every face.  I don't find it necessary to put makeup everywhere....I really don't nobody needs makeup all over their face.  If you feel like you have to have a full face, mix your foundation with moisturizer then go back and spot correct.

What is your favorite item from Bobbi and why?
Longwear gel eyeliner and oil free compact for heavier coverage oh and the eyeliner brush not the thin one just the regular one. 

What was working with Bobbi like??
Working with her was great.  I know 3 different bobbies, because I was there from the beginning when she had 10 foundation sticks and was in 2 stores!  I saw the growth and worked my way up so I was with her when we had a petty cash box for the paychecks to when Estee Lauder took over and it got more formal.  I loved working with her, I wouldn't be where I am today without that experience.  I feel like I learned from her and I am sure she learned from me, it was very much a collaborative experience

What is your favorite item from the Mark line and why?
The products are great and fun and really easy to use.  They have these things called hook-ups that you can interchange, also, my favorite lip gloss is sun luxe...it is a soft brown sugar gloss that works on everyone.  Also, they just launched their own skincare line and they have a hook up that you can get a blemish corrector!  I just love anything that is portable.

Tell me more about the Fantasy Fashion League Superbowl promotion with mark.
I am really excited about it, #1 my household in inundated with sports, my husband watches them all the time.  Then,  my mom moved here and she watches football too!!  Ad its fun and all, but it just not my thing.  So this is just a really fun thing to participate in and the FFL is hosted by Ryan Seacrest, he will be interviewing all the celebs that  are going to the Superbowl.  They will discuss what the makeup trends are for the evening etc.  It's just a new and fun thing to participate in there is a draft party and it's fun to play and a lot of women are into it.  This is the  2nd year we have been doing it so it's just a really fun thing to do.

The looks that you create always center around flawless skin ⿿ do you plan to come out with a line of skincare in the future?
Yes I am, I am an organic person, I eat organic foods so when it does come about I want something that is natural and easy, gentle on the skin and that is easy to explain and talk about.  I am more into natural and organic ingredients than the high technology things that are out right now.  I am sure they are great and that they work, it's just not my thing.

Do you plan to branch out and do more television work?
I would never do anything that didn't have anything to do with beauty or making people look their best.  I love doing TV and as long as it has to do with beauty and makeup...I am there!  I am working on a few things that might be upcoming so look out for me!!

What else can we expect from you ⿿ is there a book in the works??
The book is being worked on as we speak!! It has been interesting because a lot of  things are different and a lot of things are the same.  It's hard to make sure that things are new and different and it was a bit of a challenge but I think I did it!  I am keeping my fingers crossed for a Spring 2009  debut.

Will you be doing any makeup for the shows at Bryant Park?
I really cut it down, I was doing 15 shows per season and it was just too much.  I really want to have a presence at fashion week and it is really amazing that I can actually pick and choose the shows that I will do.  This fall I am only doing one and that is Dennis Basso, he is debuting his ready to wear line so it will be really exciting.  The look is going to be really fresh and clean and I am happy to be a part of it!.

I want to thank Cynde for taking the time to speak with me - I know things are hectic right now...

Stay Pretty!!