Beauty Exclusive: Makeup Artist Sam Fine

Sam Fine

Mo'Nique's Inspiring Beauty - It’s been an amazing ride for the newly donned Academy Award winner, Mo’Nique. Audiences raved over her incredible performance in “Precious,” but she received even greater praise for her breathtaking looks that captured every eye on the red carpets this awards season. We tapped legendary makeup artist Sam Fine to take us through his inspiration for sculpting Mo’Nique’s face for some of her most celebrated appearances this year.

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Mo'Nique's Inspiring Beauty - It’s been an amazing ride for the newly donned Academy Award winner, Mo’Nique. Audiences raved over her incredible performance in “Precious,” but she received even greater praise for her breathtaking looks that captured every eye on the red carpets this awards season. We tapped legendary makeup artist Sam Fine to take us through his inspiration for sculpting Mo’Nique’s face for some of her most celebrated appearances this year.

Mo'Nique the Muse - The great thing about working with Mo’Nique is that she’s got great skin and a beautiful palate.

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Mo'Nique the Muse - The great thing about working with Mo’Nique is that she’s got great skin and a beautiful palate.

"Precious" Premiere: LA - When we did the L.A. premiere she looked so gorgeous; and when we saw that dress, we were so inspired. I always ask her for her inspiration, and what she’s feeling, and then I translate that. I really wanted her to shine and for it to be her moment."Precious"

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"Precious" Premiere: LA - When we did the L.A. premiere she looked so gorgeous; and when we saw that dress, we were so inspired. I always ask her for her inspiration, and what she’s feeling, and then I translate that. I really wanted her to shine and for it to be her moment."Precious"

"Precious" Premiere: LA - The slicked-back hair is the perfect canvas because the face really stands out and there are no distractions. For this look, I bleached her brow so that it appeared to be more chestnut. All you get are these warm, golden tones and these brows that frame the face and aren’t too harsh.

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"Precious" Premiere: LA - The slicked-back hair is the perfect canvas because the face really stands out and there are no distractions. For this look, I bleached her brow so that it appeared to be more chestnut. All you get are these warm, golden tones and these brows that frame the face and aren’t too harsh.

"Precious" Premiere: LA - When you think about foundation and powder and contouring, those are the first things that I address. I use loose powder to hold everything in place, but what’s also important is to use a bronzer. I don’t just use one bronzer; I usually use about two or three.

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"Precious" Premiere: LA - When you think about foundation and powder and contouring, those are the first things that I address. I use loose powder to hold everything in place, but what’s also important is to use a bronzer. I don’t just use one bronzer; I usually use about two or three.

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Critics' Choice Awards - I added a little sparkle to the inner corners of her eye, so every time she turned, it shimmered and glittered a bit. I use these liquid liner pots. Iman and many others make them. It’s the quickest, easiest thing to do to add a little bit of drama at night. I have it in so many colors.

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Critics' Choice Awards - I added a little sparkle to the inner corners of her eye, so every time she turned, it shimmered and glittered a bit. I use these liquid liner pots. Iman and many others make them. It’s the quickest, easiest thing to do to add a little bit of drama at night. I have it in so many colors.

Critics' Choice Awards - With her hair slicked back again, I really wanted her to stand out, so we used tons of lashes. It’s almost a ‘Mahogany’ look. I really wanted the eyes to say it all, so we just went with dramatic lashes and this pretty nude mouth.

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Critics' Choice Awards - With her hair slicked back again, I really wanted her to stand out, so we used tons of lashes. It’s almost a ‘Mahogany’ look. I really wanted the eyes to say it all, so we just went with dramatic lashes and this pretty nude mouth.

The Golden Globes - To me, the Golden Globes was her first major awards show. I really wanted her to look like herself. I wanted to look back at this 10 years from now and say that she looked beautiful. I didn’t want it to be so trendy with blue eye shadow or green eye shadow, I’d look back and say, ‘Oh, I remember when we were using those colors.’ I wanted something that was sculpted.

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The Golden Globes - To me, the Golden Globes was her first major awards show. I really wanted her to look like herself. I wanted to look back at this 10 years from now and say that she looked beautiful. I didn’t want it to be so trendy with blue eye shadow or green eye shadow, I’d look back and say, ‘Oh, I remember when we were using those colors.’ I wanted something that was sculpted.

The Golden Globes - Sculpting requires lots of brown and monochromatic shades, and it helps to bring out the features with the absence of color. I carved these eyes out. We did more lashes. I contoured the cheek, still using warm shades of walnut and mahogany. You never looked at her and said, ‘Her makeup is great.’ You just looked at her and said, ‘She looks amazing.’

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The Golden Globes - Sculpting requires lots of brown and monochromatic shades, and it helps to bring out the features with the absence of color. I carved these eyes out. We did more lashes. I contoured the cheek, still using warm shades of walnut and mahogany. You never looked at her and said, ‘Her makeup is great.’ You just looked at her and said, ‘She looks amazing.’

The Golden Globes - I used a brown liner, one to two shades darker, to bring out definition on the mouth. I used a lipstick to map out any variation in tone on the lip. Then, you gloss, which gives the lip an extra dimension.

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The Golden Globes - I used a brown liner, one to two shades darker, to bring out definition on the mouth. I used a lipstick to map out any variation in tone on the lip. Then, you gloss, which gives the lip an extra dimension.

Award-Winning Look - I feel like I’ve done her for the Oscars already, but my good friend, makeup artist Derrick Rutledge worked with Mo’Nique for the 82nd Academy Awards. He did a beautiful job.

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Award-Winning Look - I feel like I’ve done her for the Oscars already, but my good friend, makeup artist Derrick Rutledge worked with Mo’Nique for the 82nd Academy Awards. He did a beautiful job.