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Makeup Maestro
Pop divas, R&B queens, and teen idols all have Mally Roncal on speed-dial. Here, she discusses her new product line and reveals what every woman has in common with Beyoncé.
By Tara Mattarazzo

The last time we spoke, it was during a five-minute break on the set of The Pink Panther. What have you been up to since?
Girl, it’s been crazy! As you know, I’m always working with my ladies—the most beautiful women in the world. I recently did the makeup for Mary J. Blige’s new album, which was especially exciting because I’ve always worshipped her music. And from there, I did the makeup for the amazing Lee Ann Womack, who won three awards at the CMAs. Plus, I’ve been working with Ashlee Simpson. So it’s been an incredible lineup: the sexy pop divas, the queen of R&B, the hottest young stars. I feel really blessed.

And in March, you launched the Mally Beauty line?
Yes. We’ve almost finished our first year, and we’ve exceeded all of our expectations. The line has really been a labor of love—something I feel like I started when I was 3 years old. As you know, I started in premed and was planning to become a doctor. Both my parents were doctors, and I wanted to become a dermatologist, mostly so I could launch my own line. The vision changed somewhat when I became a makeup artist, but it still grew out of that initial idea.

Since the launch, Mally Beauty has become known for its glam packaging and clever monikers. What inspired all of that?
I’m a girl’s girl, so of course Mally Beauty’s packaging had to be pink and the names had to be fun. But at the same time, our logo is intentionally small because ultimately the brand isn’t about me; it’s about the girls who use it. It’s about taking expert makeup-artist tricks and incorporating them into easy-to-use products, giving every girl a way to look amazing in 30 minutes or less. For example, to get J.Lo’s glow, you’d usually have to mix a million products, but Shimmer, Shape, and Glow imparts that beautiful sun-kissed look instantly. Our Light Wand Eye Brightener delivers a virtual eight hours of sleep in a wand—something my celebrity clients, as gorgeous as they are, struggle with, too—and our Smokey Eye Kit makes every girl look and feel fierce. Many women want to wear a smoky eye, but they’re afraid it’ll make them look like drag queens. The Mally Beauty kit makes it easy to get a sexy, smoldering look you can even wear to work.

You mentioned your celebrity clients. Do women like Beyoncé and J.Lo really have the same beauty challenges as everyone else?
Believe it or not, they do. Granted, they’re incredibly beautiful; I can do Beyoncé’s makeup in 15 minutes for the red carpet, so she’s particularly blessed. But the fact is, everyone gets zits, and with the schedules they keep, it can be hard. In that sense, they’re just regular chicks with superb talent who know how to work it. For them, beauty is still a matter of taking their best God-given qualities and making the most of them. I’ve always believed that what makes us different is also what makes us gorgeous; that philosophy applies to both celebrities and real people.

And what’s the biggest mistake most women make when it comes to makeup?
There are some basic errors, like wearing too much foundation in the wrong color or overdrawing lipliner that’s too dark. But in general, I think the biggest mistake is when women don’t celebrate their uniqueness. I can’t tell you how many Asian women come to me asking how they can make their eyes look rounder, and I’m like, “Honey, that’s what makes you beautiful!” I get the same requests from women who think their noses or lips are too big, and again, I’m like, “Celebrate it—those are the features you were born with!” In truth, they’re also the features that make supermodels. One minute, you see a tall, skinny girl with a big nose, and the next thing you know, she’s on the cover of Vogue.

Do you have any advice for aspiring makeup artists?
Open all of your senses because you’ll find inspiration in the craziest places. You might be in the park and see a flower, and it’ll inspire you to mix up a great new lip color. That level of awareness is what makes a great artist in any medium. Also, don’t be afraid to step outside of the box. A lot of my greatest products work because they break the rules, and I love it! Keep in mind, too, that this is a business. Even though you can be flighty and fabulous, be sure to keep track of everything. And beyond that, remember that beauty should be fun. I mean, how lucky are we that we get to talk about makeup every day?

So what’s next, both for Mally Beauty and for you personally?
I’ve got lots of stuff in the works for 2006 and quite a few QVC appearances planned for January. The great thing about working with QVC is that we’re constantly in product development so we can introduce something new every time we appear. Beyond that, of course, we can reach 90 million homes without ever leaving Westchester, Pennsylvania. I’ll continue to come up with new quick fixes for my girls, especially for getting smoky eyes and a sexy flush. Let’s just say it’s sure to be an exciting year for Mally Beauty and for me.

Makeup artist to the stars Mally Roncal.

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