Fresh Find or The It Factor—19/99 Beauty
A Conversation with 19/99
Lead Makeup Artist
and Product Developer
Simone Otis.
by contributing beauty editor brittany sinclair
We are excited to share with you—our beauty lovers, a new brand of beauty products breaking all the barriers. 19/99 has designed products for those “who want to define their own beauty and don’t give a shit about what is considered age appropriate.”
Founders Camille Katana and Stephanie Spence have created a limited assortment of high performance, multipurpose products that can be applied across all ages, all races, and all ideals of beauty. We had a chance to speak with Simone Otis, lead makeup artist and product developer for the brand and ask her a few questions about herself and working with 19/99. Simone Otis’ career spans over 20 years with experience on the most coveted runway shows and publications. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Vanity Fair, Elle and Yoko, just to name a few.
With celebrity clients such as Selena Gomez, Rachel McAdams, and Salma Hayek, she’s built quite the resume and is on top of everyone’s list to work with. It was a no brainer for the brand to call on Simone for her knowledge on product and artistry.
1* What made you decide to collaborate with 19/99 beauty? —(B)
“I had worked with founders Camille Katona and Stephanie Spence in the past on makeup lines for others. I really believe in and enjoy working in teams, the best results come from teamwork. We had many conversations about the beauty world and the strange way women are portrayed in it, especially as they age. We all had the same vision of what we would like to see. Plus I really love developing beauty products!”—(S)
2* 19/99 has launched two products, the precision colour pencil in Voros and high-shine gloss. What was the thought and inspiration behind launching these two products?—(b)
“It was important from the beginning of product development to have everything be thoroughly considered; timeless essentials that fit into your routine. The Precision Colour Pencil in VOROS and the High Shine Gloss in GLASS are, we feel, the perfect starting place to introduce people to the line. I’m not necessarily a minimalist but I definitely love a product that can have many uses. Red is very beautiful on everyone and can be used on many parts of the face—eyes, cheeks, lips, for a subtle or bold effect. A pencil format gives the user the ability to draw, smudge, layer etc as well as bring it with them for continued touch up or deeper application. We want to support the idea of trying different things with your make up and it can work on anyone, it really depends on what you are wanting to do with your make up. The Gloss comes from a desire to add that juicy look to the skin without a typical highlighter look, which tends to look too sparkly. It is a multifunctional product too, it can be used to add shine anywhere on the face, and it can be layered overtop the pencil or on its own.”—(S)
3* You have worked with a wide variety of prestigious names in fashion and entertainment. Is there an experience working backstage, on set, or with a client that you will always remember?—(B)
“I think it would be an overall memory. I worked on fashion shows and shoots in New York and Paris at a time when it was not as well known to have that kind of a job, there was a bit more of a naive quality and freedom to work then. And more recently we were in an incredible time where the world put a lens on the fashion and beauty industry, it got a bit too fast to say the least. I’m actually really excited to see what is going to happen next, with the current state of things there is such an opportunity for the future.”—(S)
4* Is there someone (photographer, model, actress, fashion label, etc.) you haven’t had a chance to work with but would love too? —(B)
“There are so many! I will mention a couple of people who are personal muses for this line that i’d love to work with, Isabella Rossellini and Zendaya.”—(S)
5* How would you describe your approach and style/aesthetic to makeup?—(B)
“I love the transformative aspect of make up in general. It can be subtle or over the top but make up is so powerful in either case. You can really use it to feel good about yourself, or change how someone else views you or just have fun and experiment and just wash it off later. I’ve always been super fascinated by the subtle ways you can enhance a persons face with the right textures and colours, the so called “no makeup, makeup” but then I also really love doing a bold graphic look that tells a story.”—(S)
6* We live in a world where beauty has become blurred with unrealistic standards, from filters and Photoshop apps, is there a message you would like to say to women growing up in this new age world?—(B)
“I’d like to say that I do believe in anything goes. As long as it makes you feel beautiful you should do it. I will say that happiness with yourself and your looks is something that you have to hone at any age. None of us is “perfect” or look like the images we mostly see. You have your good days and your not so good ones. Focus on the things you like about your looks and play them up!”—(S)
THE LOOK
7* Any tips and tricks you can share with us for the new products?—(B)