After learning about cosmetics and its effect from two vantage points—in front of the camera and behind—Marco Castro has become the go-to guy

for enhancing the Hispanic beauty of stars like Shakira and Penelope Cruz.

The Nars Cosmetics makeup artist has been working with the legendary François Nars for over 16 years, collaborating with industry luminaries and building a long list of advertising campaigns from Helmut Lang to Gap.

When not wielding a makeup brush, this Peruvian-Japanese-American is making short films or art installations, being a self-taught director, photographer and actor.

For this Valentine special, we flew to New York to hang out at the NARS 413 Bleecker boutique and speak to Castro about Nars’ brilliance, makeup mistakes women commit and makeup tips for taking a good selfie.

Combining passions

I decided to become a makeup artist… At a very young age. I was fascinated with photography and different cultures from traveling, music and films. Being a makeup artist allows me to

combine all of my passions into one; it’s a profession that allows me to get all that knowledge and put them together.

I’d like to think of myself as a makeup artist that… Is constantly growing, even if I’ve been doing it for quite some time. I’m constantly learning, not afraid of playing with colors and new textures, always experimenting.

A few of my celebrity clientele include… Shakira, Penelope Cruz, Carlyne Cerf of Vogue and Elena Anaya. I’ve work with a lot of European and Spanish-descent actors because I lived in Spain for a long time.

My secret to keeping celebs looking fresh even after long hours of work is… A base primer—it’s very important. I touch up with creamy concealer because the under eye area and around the lip area tends to get a little queasy, sweaty or runs after a while. Then I use a light reflecting powder to set.

NARS products I’m loving at the moment are… The cinematic lipsticks—they are amazing because of their new textures. I love Goodbye Emmanuelle and Short Circuit colors. They’re part of the Guy Bourdin Collection. The blushes are also great, with Exhibit A always one of my favorites. I like pigments that are a little more on the matte side for contour.

My preferred way to apply lipstick is… Putting a highlight. I like using Bolero, one of our velvet matte pencils, which you can use to brighten any of your lipstick colors. Just put it on top of any old lipstick color and it brightens things up.

The biggest beauty faux pas women make is… Their foundation shade. In Asia, I know women tend to go lighter, while in other countries women go darker. I think it’s very important to have the right color of foundation. Then you can apply a highlighter if you want to look a bit lighter. But having the right color foundation is definitely a must.

What I particularly like about NARS products is… Not only the fact that the man behind it is a genius, but also the quality of the pigment. What you see on the palette or tube is what you get. That’s important not only for an artist, but also for a woman trying to achieve this look at home—to get the color that you actually see in the palette. Because there is nothing more frustrating than trying to replicate a look or get the color on the stick, and when you put it on, it’s different.

Makeup advice I’d like to pass on to the everyday woman is… Take care of your skin. Always carry a bold lip in your bag. It could be red, pink or orange. Because wearing a bold lip empowers you. It’s a statement, like putting high heels on. It makes you more sophisticated and dresses you up.

Top tip

Castro’s tip for looking good in film and photos is: “Skin is the most important thing. Make it look like it’s real, and not like you’re wearing makeup. Contour the face to create a three-

dimensional effect and you don’t look flat. It’s also important now that everyone takes selfies all the time!”

To take care of skin, we have to take care of ourselves. A daytime and/or nighttime regimen can also help purify skin from accumulated fatigue, everyday stress, a hectic lifestyle and pollution.

For your daytime routine, try Clarins’ iconic anti-aging product: Clarins Double Serum (P4,750). The double serum is the complete age control concentrate for all women from age 25. It is the first double serum which combines the 20 most powerful anti-aging plant extracts to deliver a proven, targeted action on the five vital functions (hydration, nutrition, oxygenation, protection, regeneration) on which skin’s youth and beauty depend.

For evenings, Sisley has come out with Botanical D-Tox (P8,650), a detoxifying night treatment to “recharge skin’s batteries” and redynamize it at any age, in any season. It acts like a good night’s sleep, producing a refreshed complexion upon waking the next morning and providing a sensation of unparalleled relaxation and well-being.

NARS, Clarins and Sisley are available at Rustan’s Department Store.