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8206 Maple Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
ph: 504-473-8167
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In 10th grade, Robert Hudson watched the famous makeup artist George Masters do a makeover on the Dinah Shore Show. Watching him work, Hudson thought, “I can do that!” Those were big dreams for a boy living in Mobile, Alabama, but they were dreams he made come true.
Hudson fell into makeup artistry in 1975 while working as an extra on a feature film with Tim Conway and Don Knotts. After discovering that extras were expected to do their own makeup, he found himself applying not only his own makeup but that of all the extras as well. “Bing! That’s the sound of a lightbulb flashing on!” Hudson says. “I began to work with a few photographers to build up a portfolio and here we are!”
Ironically, years after seeing that auspicious Dinah Shore episode, Masters visited the Atlanta salon where Hudson worked. During his two-week stay, Hudson learned anything and everything he could from his mentor. Masters was so impressed by Hudson that he asked him to go on the road with him as his assistant. Of the two years he traveled with Masters, Hudson says, “He made me nuts, but he also helped shape my future as a makeup artist. I learned things from him that I would otherwise never have learned. He was a brilliant man.”
If you ask Hudson what he does for a living you will get a soft, sheepish smile and the answer, “I paint faces.” He boils it down to one main thing: I help women [and men] improve their appearance.”
So what is a day in the life of makeup artist Robert Hudson like? One day might be makeup lessons and brows in his studio; the next could be a daylong photo shoot for Vogue or Woman’s Wear Daily. While it’s difficult to imagine, sometimes shoots last for 10 to 12 hours just to get a handful of shots.
While big fashion shoots are seemingly glamorous, Hudson prefers working with the general public because they “have a great appreciation for beauty. You can just see it in their faces when the makeup is done—they can’t believe that they can look like that.”
Thankfully, Hudson has reopened his business, Robert Hudson Makeup Studio at 8206 Maple St . The intimate space is just like him—classic but funky. He’s available in his studio, or available for bridal and photo shoots, editorial and commercial, by appointment. To book an appointment, call him at 504- 473-8167 or e-mail him at robert@roberthudson-makeup.com. Hudson has won 29 national awards for his makeup artistry and in 1995 was selected as one of Gambit Weekly’s “7 Men We Love.” He feels fortunate to have found a career he loves, and his passion shows in every face he does.
Hudson has a long list of products he just can’t live without, and he was happy to share them with us:
The artist: Robert Hudson has been a makeup artist since the 1970s and “can’t imagine doing anything else.” Having been honored with 29 national awards for his work, Hudson can list some of the most famous celebrity faces as his clients. Though he loves to work at photo shoots, his passion is working with the general public because they, “have a great appreciation for beauty, you can just see it in their faces when the makeup is done – they can’t believe that they can look like that.” He carries different products that have “cult” status among those who work within the makeup artistry field. Yet he doesn’t want to be known as a makeup store.
“I am a makeup artist who does private appointments, lessons and brows.” To meet Robert Hudson is to love him; he’s witty, talented and charming. You will find him at 4514 Magazine Street. His studio is a small, intimate space – warm, slightly funky and very relaxed.
The client: Rebecca Shultz is the events coordinator for Longue Vue House and Gardens. She doesn’t like the way her skin looks under her eyes (who does?), she doesn’t want to look “overdone” and time plays a big factor in her daily makeup routine. Her job is fast-paced and in a time crunch, makeup isn’t a priority.
Hudson was a perfect choice for Shultz. His style is soft and clean – he knows all the tricks to add the “polish” that only a trained hand can give.
Moisture: Hudson started by applying moisturizer with a foundation brush (BillyB No. 2). Using a brush keeps hands off the face – usage of hands can lead to skin problems. Next, Hudson took a concealer brush (No. 5) and applied Keromask in “Light” under and over Shultz’s eye area. He explains, “A smaller brush gives you tighter placement and better control.” Keromask is the finest concealer with an unbelievable finish and waterproof coverage without heaviness. It also has a de-puffing agent that helps to erase swelling from the eye area as well as elsewhere on the skin.
Eyebrows: Using MUD's "Taupe" shadow with an angled brush (No. 11) to “really get the color behind the hair” he applied color to her brows. Shultz has great brows, so Hudson perfected the overall shape to “lift” her eye area. The secret to brows that don’t look painted on: always groom after applying color to the brow; Hudson uses the Lash and Brow Groomer from BillyB.
Eyes: Shultz was really open to color and allowed Hudson to select shadow colors and application. He started with a soft peachy color on the lid (MUD's "Pixie") then applied a mix of the peach shadow with a touch of white shadow (MUD's Ice") just under the brows (No. 6 brush).
To add shape to Shultz’s eyes, Hudson used MUD's "Brownstone" shadow and shaded the outer corner, applying the color a bit stronger at the lash-line (No. 8 brush).
With the same dark brown shadow, Hudson used an angled liner brush (No. 12 brush) to “blot” shadow along the top and bottom lashes. This, he explains, fills in the space between the hairs to give a fuller-looking lash.
To do add final definition to Shultz’s eyes, Hudson applied MUD's "Smoked Sapphire" shadow as a wet liner along the top lashline (No. 10 brush).
Hudson will tell you “Always, always curl the lashes.” It takes an eye that’s turning down and lifts it back up. BillyB’s lash curler is truly the best; it has a round (not squared), rubber lining that gives a natural-looking curl with no pinching!
Eyelashes: MUD's Black Volumizing Mascara. It lengthens and thickens,it self-curls and is water-resistant. Hudson swears by the mascara and says, “I have never used anything like it. One coat of this looks like multiple coats of most mascaras.”
To really make Shultz’s eyes pop, he added individual faux lashes to the outer half of the eye, “adding lift and more glamour to a soft look.” The faux lashes completely blend into your own without being obvious. Hudson uses only Eyemimo lashes – they make all the faux lashes for the world’s top makeup lines and solely for the professional makeup artists. (See we pro’s do know some secrets!)
Face: Shultz has stunning skin, so keeping with her desire for a simple routine, Hudson powdered her skin with Keromask Loose colorless powder – it’s waterproof, and absorbs oil and water.
Rather than traditional blush, Hudson used MUD's "Gingerbread" as a bronzer. For Shultz, he applied under her cheekbones, on the “apple” of the cheek, above the eyebrows and under the jaw-line. Also down the sides of the nose. It gave her skin a warm, natural healthy glow.
Lips: Using a Lip Brush, he finished Shultz’s look with Rosebud Salve on the lips, with MUD's Natural pencil and MUD's Lipstick in Mai Tai. For a soft shine, he applied SURESH Beauty glossLUXE in "Virginia".
Brushes: BillyB is one of the top makeup artists in the world – if you’ve seen a high-fashion magazine, then you’ve seen his work. So when it comes to makeup brushes, who better to make the most amazing brushes than the top editorial makeup artist on the planet? Hudson shares, “If you want your makeup to like a pro did it, use the tools a pro would use.”
Shultz looked and felt fabulous. She loved everything, especially the Keromask and the MUD mascara. She told Hudson that if she won the Powerball Lottery, she would want to do this everyday – he assured her that he didn’t charge quite that much!
In conclusion, Hudson shares, “If you’re only going to do a minimal makeup, then all the more important for each product to be the exact right color and texture. This is an old cliché, but it’s true: “Wear your makeup, don’t let it wear you.”
Robert Hudson’s top five beauty secrets
Water is the secret. It fights dehydration lines, and when applied in a mist via Evian, it traps moisture on the surface of the skin. Use it throughout the day, whenever you want to feel refreshed.
Apply mascara heaviest at the roots of the lashes. You achieve this by pushing the brush between the lashes and using a back and forth, almost wiggling motion, then brush out to the tips. This deposits along the root, making lashes look fuller.
Use the right tools. If you want your makeup to look beautiful, then do it the way a pro does. Have you ever seen a real makeup artist put on eye makeup with a finger or sponge applicator? Good brushes can be expensive, but if you take care of them, they can last for many years.
Have your eyebrows professionally shaped. If you are okay maintaining them yourself, go to a salon every couple of months. If you can’t keep them up, go every two to three weeks. And be careful not to over-tweeze.
Update your look. A makeup lesson is an invaluable way to keep from looking dated. Products change and sometimes the way you work with them has to change as well. By spending the money for a makeup lesson, you can actually save in the long run. You learn what to use, where it goes and how to change your look based on where you are going. All those costly mistakes—wrong colors, wrong textures—will be history. And be sure to ask questions when you get your lesson. After all, the process is about learning!
Copyright 2017 Robert Hudson Makeup Studio. All rights reserved.
8206 Maple Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
ph: 504-473-8167
robert