I asked Sonia my 3 favorite beauty-related questions:
INDUSTRY BREAK: Early in my career, I faced a dilemma. A fixture on the Minneapolis art/music scene, I wavered between two professions: fashion styling and makeup work. Exploring both, my destiny was determined when the makeup artist at a video shoot failed to show up. Equipped with the simplest of makeup tools, I filled in and created wildly memorable looks. The video “Funky Town” became a cult classic, and the makeup, a visionary in the beauty industry.
A driven entrepreneur, I relocated to New York City in the early 1980s with a makeup case in hand, and quickly attracted the attention of esteemed photographer Arthur Elgort. Our collaboration soon led to editorial work for Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue, as well as runway assignments for Oscar de la Renta and Marc Jacobs. Session work exposed me to supermodels such as Cindy Crawford and Christy Turlington, who still remain close friends, and celebrities such as Tea Leoni and Debra Winger, who all rely on me for their close-ups and industry events.
- Priming Vitamin Serum – A great daily dose of vitamins for your skin and primer in one!
- A great foundation/ tinted moisturizer – Great looking skin is an important first step for beautiful makeup.
- A great blush – It adds brightness to the face.
- My Rosy Nude Velvety Matte Lip Crayon – It looks great on everyone! It works with other makeup or even by itself.
- My Neutral Eye Palette – A makeup bag must-have!
FAVORITE LOOK YOU’VE EVER CREATED: One of my favorite looks I created was for Cindy Crawford in Italian Vogue (right) in the late 80s or early 90s with the classic smokey eye. I love the juxtaposition of rough and natural at the same time.
