Sarah Palin's Makeup Artist Reveals Her Secrets

Talkingshopping.com landed an interview with makeup artist Amy Strozzi of "So You Think You Can Dance?" and--oh yeah!--Sarah Palin's campaign. Read some interview excerpts and see a photo of Strozzi below.

Jezebel priced out the cosmetics Strozzi mentions, and concluded that ten week's worth of makeup cost between $700 and $1,000.

**See slideshows of Sarah Palin's heavy blush and rumored-to-be-tattooed lipliner.**

On making Palin's eyes pop:
I remember once, when I was doing a fun gold eye on her with two tones, she said, "I love how you do those eyes Amy..." I think it's difficult for women who wear glasses to find a way of wearing eye shadow that works for them...I wore glasses my whole life, so I have tricks. Also, she got very accustomed to the individual lashes I would put on her every morning....which, unfortunately are not so easy to do yourself!

On Palin's complexion:
I have said this to just about everyone I speak to...the Governor's skin is the most beautiful skin I have ever worked with. Of course, makeup always helps to create an even canvas, but the condition of her skin was flawless. I attribute it to the clean Alaskan air, lots of fresh fish and protein, and a good fitness regime.

On conceptualizing Palin's look:
I actually watched various news shows to see what was the standard vibe throughout politics, since it's an arena much different than celebrity or fashion. Plus, this woman was running for an extremely important office, so we had to walk a fine line with keeping her looking beautiful and fresh, but also appropriate for a White House candidate. There were probably three or four core looks I stuck with, using different color combinations to mix it up.

On working with Palin:
She was definitely a bit apprehensive at first, which I think is normal for any woman who is used to doing everything for themselves, and then suddenly having a million people around you doing everything for you. The whole point of having so much assistance on the trail is to leave the candidate as free as possible to have meetings, do their reading, and tend to more official business.

Copyright 2008 Matt Grayson

Read Talkingshopping.com's whole three-part interview with Amy Strozzi here, here and here.

Comments

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

I can't believe anyone thought this make-up artist did a "good job" with Palin. Her blush is consistently too heavy and made her look silly for a politician... not serious at all. Her blush is all over her face and makes her look rather cheap. No business woman would be taken seriously wearing makeup like that. Although she did get those lip-tattoos to be less noticable.

This make-up artist is most likely a Democrat though, so I guess we have to give her some props for helping Obama win AND making a nice paycheck in the process. Good job, Amy!

[ChekUrFax]

Who changed the 3 watt bulb in her brain?

[JamesMo]

Yep - too much blush! That was three "core looks" she had - (1) too much blush (2)too too much blush and (3) too too too much blush. Core look number 3 seemed to be the most frequent.

[Inselliebhaber]

Sorry for my mistake... I thought this was the article about the little hamster... the pictures looked so similar. If you think about it, YouBetYa cud have made the same little blunder.

[kassandrasduplex]

Why is the woman from the Tundra still getting face and name recognition free publicity?

[evgolightly]

Flawless, huh? I've got an untouched Newsweek cover that begs to differ.

[RobHughey]

Ugh. Thanks for reminding me and giving me that mental flash of vast, cavernous pores and the forest of fuzz all over her face. That picture is one that can haunt you for life...

[sanang]

Sarah Palin does have beautiful skin and it is NOT " attribute it to the clean Alaskan air, lots of fresh fish and protein, and a good fitness regime. " as her makeup artist says.That is nonsense! GENETICS is the reason she has beautiful skin. Hey, I'm Irish and I eat healthy, exercise and get a lot of fresh mountain air, I have freckles along with thin blotchy skin and wrinkles!

[stunsitfel]

Damn Amy, get some sun.

[dlo2]

Amazing feat she performs: turning a lizard into a blushing mouse.

[OhComeOnNow]

Eeeeeeeeew! Both of them.

[kassandrasduplex]

Still giving face and name recognition to the woman from the Tundra? Why? She's old news.

[BetsyNZ]

JEEZ, thats a minute of my life i'll never get back...who gives a fat rats arse about Palin and her make up ( hmmm well i guess I read it .. note to self "i MUST get a life"
Good lot of free advertising for the make up woman though .

[rzzza]

THAT'S her makeup artist?

good lord

less is more

[sanaa]

You got a great job, Amy. I hear you were paid tens of thousands of dollars for that? Wow. Congratulations.

[Chickasaw962]

I enjoyed the make up artists comment about how all the moose and fish protien gave Palin such a wonderful canvas of skin to work with, then I figured,..interesting, and she even forgot to mention Palin herself most likely fished or hunted the protein she was eating,... in that fresh alaska air, I also thought eww, their is a sick,... "it puts the Lotion on now, or it gets the hose again ,kinda comment, from a Hannibal the Cannibal film." when the make-up artist was refering to the flawless skin as a canvas. big ikk thing going on in this article. What next, who did the Republican party hire to, purchase, and then, pull up Palins panty hose for her, or, oops I guess with the fitness regmine, she wouldn't need panty hose!! Todd was probably getting a stipend for that job from the Republican Party for it anyhow. Just tip mind you, compared to the cost of the make-up artist.

[GermanCityGirl]

Argh! I wish all things Palin would skulk back off into obscurity but nope, not so lucky.

[NoSillyName]

Spalin's blush is WAY too heavy.

Spalin doesn't need time to "read".

Really bugs me how these stylists always use the singular form of words that are commonly pluralized (eyes, lips bangs, pants, etc.)

"So here's Model. I gave her a smokey eye, a red lip, cut a bang and put her in a fabulous pant!"

Oh, please.