Gina Brooke, Celebrity Makeup Artist, Shares Her Favorite Products And Makeup Tips [INTERVIEW]

Renown makeup artist Gina Brooke has worked with many A-list celebrities including Madonna, Ricky Martin, Dania Ramirez, Paulina Rubio, Eva Longoria and Enrique Englasias. Brooke served as the Artistic Director and creative driving force behind L'Oreal's Shu Uemura Brand from 2005-2010, collaborated on three of Madonna's world concert tours and has appeared as a beauty expert and makeup artist on the Today Show, Fox News, Good Day LA, Extra, E and beauty blog Bella Sugar.

Gina Brooke answered a 10 question Q&A with Latin Times and shared some of her favorite products and looks. Read her interview below:

1. What products are always in your makeup kit?

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil, an eyelash curler, Rcma Shinto series eye shadows and lipsticks, Intraceuticals Antioxidant Booster and daily serum, Make Up For Ever flash palette, Make Up For Ever face and body, Nars, Clé de Peau Beauté concealer in Ocher, honey and the list goes on.

2. What's your best drugstore/budget beauty product secret? Maybelline Great Lash

3. Do you have amazing tips to share with women?

Focus in the features you love most about yourself and enhance them...remember, makeup is An extension of your personality and who you are as a women.

4. Any tips for masking skin discoloration?

It's best to use products that are loaded with vitamin C which will brighten the skin. Obsessed with giving my clients an Intraceuticals treatment using opulence serum. When applying foundation or concealer be sure to blend with a beauty blender it makes all the difference.

5. Do you prefer a red lip or smoky eye? It all depends on the facial feature but I love both!

6. Any makeup trends that need to be gone NOW?

Trends in general are boring...why would anyone want to look like everyone else? I don't follow trends ever.

7. Who is your beauty icon?

My mother is my beauty Icon--she has always inspired me to paint and be creative, I thank the universe for my Mom every day for her encouragement and endless support to pursue my dreams as an artist.

8. What is the best beauty advice you have ever received?

Don't be afraid to be different, experiment until you find your own look that makes you feel beautiful and most importantly, don't worry about what other people think of you.

9. What is the best way to match foundation?

Don't expect to find your color in just one bottle. I mix a minimum of two colors to create he right shade to compliment the skins undertones and be sure to blend the foundation along the jawline. Try using RCMA or Cle de Peau in Honey which looks flawless on Latin skin.

10. What eye makeup look would you recommend for dark eyed Latinas?

I rarely identify makeup Looks with ethnicities as I always base creating the look upon the individual of my subject.

For a makeup artist brown eyes are a playground for creativity. The beauty of having brown eyes is that just about any color is possible..it all depends on the individual. I live enhancing almond eyes by applying makeup from below the arch (in the crease) working your way out using grey's, blues, green, and gold.

Find out more about Gina on Facebook and on her website, or follow her on Twitter and Instagram.