I had the good fortune of meeting up with Tim Quinn at a recent Armani Beauty event at Nordstrom.    I think I will from now on officially call him the King of Nice and Beauty - as he is one of the nicest men in the industry and spot on with color. 

The colors on my face were selected by Tim and he chose for my eyes the Eyes To Kill palette in #1, Maestro Eyeliner in Black, and Eyes To Kill Mascara in Black.  On my face Fluid Sheer #10 for a light bronze glow, #2 Sheer Blush for a soft blush and topped my lips with Lip Pencil #2, Sheer Lipstick in #30 and topped it all with Lip Gloss #16.  A perfect combination.

Tim was kind enough to answer some questions for Fabulous Over Forty readers - Thanks Tim!

Is there a particular foundation formula that you prefer on women over 40?  Absolutely LSF, (luminous silk foundation) the weightless, luminous finish perfects the skin, adds a subtle glow and looks polished without being overdone.

What are some of your favorite Giorgio Armani Beauty products and why?  Fluid Sheers – I love the versatility of layering, mixing and blending to sculpt and contour the face while adding extra luminosity. Crema Nera Eye Cream – It’s a must have to reduce puffiness, smooth fine lines, brighten the eye and can even be layered on top of makeup to refresh the eye area throughout the day.  (I can attest to this as after using this a few days a co-worker said to me, “If I didn’t know you, I’d swear you had an eye lift.”)

What do you suggest for mid-day touch ups?  High Precision Retouch, Crema Nera Eye Cream, Bronzer #5 to add warmth, and Rouge d’Armani Lipstick for long-lasting color.  

The Armani makeup brushes are so luxurious – do you have any “must have” makeup brushes?  The Blender Brush is our #1 selling brush for 8 years running. It’s great for applying foundation, Fluid Sheers and cream blush to achieve a seamless finish. The Large Eye Contour Brush is made of Nutria. I use it to blend eye shadows to perfection.

Talk about the Giorgio Armani skincare line – why is it different?The skincare is comprised of the Obsidian Mineral Complex, based on the mineral content of obsidian found on the island of Pantelleria. Pantelleria is a rocky volcanic island with surprisingly lush vegetation off the coast of Sicily. Pantelleria’s obsidian has a higher mineral content that other obsidian found around the world and this concentration is the key to Crema Nera works to stimulate cellular metabolism in the skin.

When/How did you become a makeup artist and how long have you been with the Armani Beauty line? I started my career in makeup 16 years ago in Milan after abandoning a career in finance in the United States. The Armani Beauty team recruited me to launch the brand in 2001 and I’ve never looked back.

I won’t have you dish on a specific celebrity – but what’s the most fun celebrity event you’ve done makeup for?  The 2009 Academy Awards Vanity Fair party, I hosted a suite at the Sunset Tower Hotel. I started the day getting Uma Thurman ready for the event and spent the rest of the evening with my team touching up the VIP guests. The suite ended up becoming a hot spots, equipped with champagne, nibbles, makeup and lots of gossip! 

I’m sure you’ve traveled to many wonderful places with your job – where is your favorite place?  Forte Dei Marmi – specifically Hotel Augustus. Understated, elegant, and attentive – relaxed from the moment you arrive, they have a beachside private cabana waiting for you…

Any other tips/suggestions you may have would be great!  Step out of your comfort zone – experiment with new shades and textures. Try new colors – for the holiday season, try a subtle update on the smoky eye using soft silver, golds or greens. Red is still a strong story and adds a festive touch to your look.