BEAUTY OF THE WEEK

ERMAHN OSPINA  

photos provided by Ermahn Ospina

Meet Ermahn Ospina, ARDELL’S Beauty of the Week.  

Ermahn is Timeless, Diverse, Artistic and is sharing his beauty secrets with us!  

AR: How did you get started working in beauty?  
EO:

I started working in beauty in my teens back in Colombia, beauty has always been my dream. Another one of my dreams was to be part of the creators group of Hollywood films, so I moved to the U.S. to pursue that dream. I went to the UCLA extension in the early 90's for ESL classes and got involved with the film department, where I learned the basics of how movies were made. For makeup purposes, I learned how to break down the screenplays scene by scene and how to create the characters looks from those screenplays by using the art of makeup. I also learned various tools that have helped my film and beauty career. I had offered my makeup services to those students who were graduating from film school, they had to make their own movies in order to graduate. I did makeup for 6 student films, as an exchange for a copy of each film and my credit in them. To create my first reel, I got the scene that would feature my best work from every single one of those films, then I put the scenes all together in a VHS tape. Remember this was the early 90's and the internet didn't exist yet :) I made many copies from that original reel tape and mailed them, along with letters, to multiple production companies, asking them for a job as a makeup artist in their productions. I was working in a salon in Beverly Hills at the same time I was going to UCLA for my ESL and film classes in the evenings. One of my clients from the salon, a Mexican actress who was starting her career in Hollywood, had a very important studio screen test for a movie, and recommended me with one of the producers to do the makeup for it. The actress who recommended me was Salma Hayek and a week later after the studio saw the screen test, she got her first starring role in Hollywood and I was offered my first Hollywood film as a Makeup Dept. Head for Columbia Pictures Studios, called DESPERADO starring Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek. Also, I have always loved beauty and editorial makeup and I have been fortunate to be able to do it all throughout the years. I now have over 40 Hollywood productions in my resume, countless editorials and red carpet events. I love beauty :)

AR: Who had the biggest beauty influence on you growing up?
EO:

One of my biggest beauty influences growing up was Vivien Leigh, I grew up watching Hollywood movies and I was obsessed! With the movie Gone with the Wind, I saw it more times than I can count when I was a kid, Vivien's beauty was flawless, her skin! And OMG her lashes were everything!! Another big beauty influence was Sofia Loren, her exotic beauty, her beautiful shape cat eyes and again those lashes! 

 

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photos provided by Ermahn Ospina

AR: Tell us about yourself.
EO:

I am a Los Angeles based Colombian, well-rounded beauty makeup artist for almost 30 years. My professional trade is that I make women look and feel beautiful, using the best of themselves by enhancing their natural beauty through skin care products and makeup application, which is my passion. 

AR: What is something that you no longer believe about beauty that you once did?
EO:

I no longer believe that beauty belongs only to an exclusive group of people. I now believe that we are all beautiful and we all have something to offer; that makes us uniquely beautiful.     

 

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photos provided by Ermahn Ospina

AR: Is there a moment in your career that you are most proud of? 
EO:

I have been proud in most of the moments in my career, but there is one moment that stands out, and it was when I saw a film that I designed the makeup for called SIN CITY. The production and the process of making this film in a digital format, was one of the first and ahead of its time and because of it, I didn't know how my makeup would look on the big screen. I got the same feeling when I designed the makeup for its sequel A DAME TO KILL FOR. There were makeup challenges during both productions and I was very happy with both results.       

AR: Do you have any favorite beauty practices that you swear by?
EO:

Some of my beauty practices that I swear by and have done for years are:

Washing and exfoliating my face every night followed by a night moisturizer cream. Also, I use a gentle moisturizing liquid shower soap with a loofah for my body twice a day. I try to take a shower every night before I go to bed, it helps me relax and have a good night sleep. Some people find this tedious to do, I get it, I used to think the same, but I came to realize that this whole process only takes 10 minutes and I have saved my skin by doing it. Another must beauty practice is sunscreen, the sun is unforgiving to us all, so it is a must. Other beauty practices that I would like to have more discipline with are:

8 hours of sleep, a bottle of water when I wake up, praying, meditating, and exercising every day. I came to realize that most of the beauty practices I like to achieve have nothing to do with beauty products lol! 

             

 

“I keep coming back to Ardell lashes because it's a brand that’s reliable, innovative and one that I’ve known from the beginning of my career. ”
– Ermahn Ospina 

AR: If your life were a song, what would the title be? 
EO: I am miracle.         
AR: What is the best beauty tip you’ve ever discovered?  
EO: The best beauty tip I have discovered is doing product research before trying to achieve any makeup look. Having the right products and tools is key.            
AR: You’re stuck on an island and you can pick one type of food to eat forever, what would you choose? 
EO: Fruit :)      

 

AR: Coffee, Tea, or Energy Drink?   
EO: Matcha Tea.    
AR: Do you listen to music when you get ready? If so, who is on your playlist? 
EO:

I have a couple of playlists on my Spotify. Chill House and Top 50- Global. One must know what's up ;) 

       
AR: In addition to making people feel beautiful, how do you like to spend your free time?  
EO: I like taking advantage of our beautiful California, and going for a hike, spending time with friends or chilling at home with my husband and our mini goldendoodle named Miguel.      
AR: In an alternative universe, what would you do for a living? 
EO: A motivational speaker.         

 

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photos provided by Ermahn Ospina

AR: Describe what the perfect "day off" looks like to you.  
EO: My perfect "day off" looks like all my self-imposed chores accomplished.    
AR: Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on a beauty career path?
EO:

I can't give advice, but I can comment from experience, that you must love what you do. If a career in the beauty industry is what you are after, educate yourself on beauty products, makeup styles and trends, have a mentor, assist someone with experience that you admire, and through that process, hopefully you will learn skills on how to be with your clients. Most of the people hire artists they like, not only based on their amazing talent, but also on how they feel when they are with you.

AR: What’s next for you?
EO: Immediately, award season. Right after that, keep on creating – possibilities are endless.  

 

RAPID-FIRE: ARDELL BEAUTY QUESTIONS

AR: What are your favorite ARDELL lash styles? Why?
EO:

Naked Lash 420, 421, 431 because I can use them in almost every single makeup look. Its naked band is innovative and they always deliver.Individuals Natural Knot- free medium and short length lashes because it gives me a very natural effect. Faux Mink 817 AND Wispies because they give the most glamourous effect, framing the eyes beautifully.     

AR: What keeps you coming back to ARDELL lashes?
EO: I keep coming back to Ardell lashes because it's a brand that’s reliable, innovative and one that I’ve known from the beginning of my career.      
AR: Best ARDELL lash style for an everyday look
EO: Naked Lash 420.      
AR: What other ARDELL products do you use + love?
EO: Wispies 4D mascara. Stroke Feathering Brow in Soft Black.      
AR: What is your go-to DUO lash glue formula?
EO: DUO 2 IN 1 Crystal gems & lash adhesive kit.     

 

PRODUCTS USED BY ERMAHN OSPINA

WISPIES image WISPIES image

WISPIES

FAUX MINK 817 image FAUX MINK 817 image

FAUX MINK 817

NAKED LASH 431 image NAKED LASH 431 image

NAKED LASH 431

NAKED LASH 420 image NAKED LASH 420 image

NAKED LASH 420

NAKED LASH 421 image NAKED LASH 421 image

NAKED LASH 421