Celebrating Kevyn Aucoin the Month of June!!!
I hope everyone is just as excite about the legendary Kevyn Aucoin as much as we are here at Benote' Salon. We are following 30 days of history, from birth to his last days with us. And last but not least, each week of savings and on the 30th day we are featuring Kevyn Aucoin Launch Party...
Introducing Kevyn's Life:
Day 1- 1962 Scott Kevin born to unwed teenagers Nelda Mae Sweat and Jerry Burch in Shreveport, Louisiana. He is soon adopted by Isidore an Thelma Aucoin, who rename the newborn Kevin James and take him to live at their home in Lafaette. He is the eldest of four adopted children, two boys an two girls.
Day 2- 1973 Emulates the work of makeup artist Way Bandy. "At age eleven, it was about controlling my environment. It was, 'Let's make pretend that everything is pretty, that everything is all right," he will later tell WWD. At home, struggles with his parents alcohol abuse; at school, is bullied for being gay.
Day 3- 1978 In his mid-teen, Kevin officially comes out to his mother, drops out of school and rooms together with his boyfriend, a daring move for two teens in late-seventies Louisiana. On a visit to gay bar Southern Comfort, meets his first drag queen an fully grasps the transformative power of makeup. Using shoplifted cosmetics, begins making up the faces of local drag gueens in the boys tiny apartment.
Day 4- 1979 After briefly attending beauty school (where hairstyling is the focus), lands a job at local upscale boutique Sandy Austin Ltd., where his mother is employed as a seamstress. Austin bills the young talent as "Kevyn Scott, makeup artist an skin specialist." His new professional moniker is an inversion of his original birth name, with a twist on the spelling. His makeovers are often performed on a whim in the store's window. Soon, Austin takes her young charge on a buying trip to New York, where he falls in love with the city.
Day 5- 1981 Moves into the New York apartment of Austin's friend Lois, whose young daughters dance with the New York City Ballet. In clothes borrowed from Lois's closet, the teens hit hot spots Studio 54 and Xenon. During Aucoin's short stay, he works up the courage to visit the studio of his favorite photographer, Francesco Scavullo; by coincidence, his other idol, Way Bandy, is working there for the day. After Aucoin shows them his portfolio, Bandy tells the young hopeful he's going places. However, homesick, Aucoin soon returns to Lafayette.
Day 6- 1982 Works at the Lancome makeup counter of a Lafayette department store, where he excels but is fired after showing up in a red plastic coat and Leopard-print tie. Meets premed student (and future industry mega-agent) Jed Root at a Baton Rouge bar; they soon move in together. After Aucoin sees his makeup work published in a ford Models calendar, the couple decides to move to New York, selling Root's red Volkswagen beetle to the Aucoins for $1,500.
Day 7- 1983 He finds work at model test shoots, the porn magazine Cherry, and catalogs (one model, Paulina Porizkova, is among his first friends in the city). Soon, Aucoin's work comes to the attention of Vogue Beauty Editor Andrea Robinson, who books him (Through Root, posing as his agent) for his first big break: a Steven Meisel shoot with actress Meg Tilly. Aucoin gives the Big Chill star lightly smudged eyes and a soft, peachy glow that enhances, rather than overshadows, her natural beauty. "After that shoot, Steven booked him over and over, and so did I," Robinson will later recall. Aucoin will later be credited with pioneering the natural look that would come to dominate in the nineties.
Day 8- 1984 Becomes a regular fixture in the beauty department at Vogue, where he spends time with assistant Linda Wells, the future editor of Allure. " He would just plant himself in front of me," she later tells New York. "He was more passionate and more obsessed than any other person I've met in my life." By day, he maintains a steady stream of work with top photographers; by night, he hangs out at famed nightclub Danceteria. October: On a pivotal shoot for Rolling Stone, makes up singer Tina Turner, who rejects his idea of silver lipstick in favor of her signature red. "I started to understand that it wasn't about eyeliner and lipstick," he will later recall. "It was about the way people feel." He will soon become known for this personal approach to every client's needs.
WEEK 2
Day 9- 1983- He finds work at model test shoots, the porn magazine Cherry, and catalogs (one model, Paulina Porizkova, is among his first friends in the city). Soon, Aucoin’s work comes to the attention of Vogue Beauty Editor Andrea Robinson, who books him (through Root, posing as his agent) for his first big break: a Steven Meisel shoot with actress Meg Tilly. Aucoin gives the Big Chill star lightly smudged eyes and a soft, peachy glow that enhances, rather than overshadows, her natural beauty. “After that shoot, Steven booked him over and over, and so did I,”[5] Robinson will later recall. Aucoin will later be credited with pioneering the natural look that would come to dominate in the nineties
Day 10- 1985-1986- In addition to editorial work—including making up a young Christy Turlington for her first Vogue shoot—lands lucrative advertising campaigns for Geoffrey Beene and Barneys New York.July: Under the direction of stylist Polly Mellen, makes up his first Vogue cover model, Estelle Léfebure. August: Dolls up a young Cindy Crawford for her first Vogue cover, shot by Richard Avedon. “Cindy and I came up together,” he will later tell Vogue. “We worked together, I’d say, almost every day for five years. She used to pick me up in cabs on the way to shoots.”[8] November: Perfects Paulina Porizkova for another Vogue cover. Over the next three years, he will make up the faces of eighteen of Vogue’s cover models.
Day 11- 1987 - Develops a celebrity following, enhancing the natural beauty of Whitney Houston, Isabella Rossellini, Elizabeth Taylor, Debbie Harry, Mary Tyler Moore, and Liza Minnelli, whom he meets on an Annie Leibovitz shoot for Vanity Fair. Minelli will book him to play up her doe eyes and crimson lips on everything from her Carnegie Hall concert bills to her ads for Revlon. October: In Vogue’s “Hot Shots,” Aucoin suggests ways to experiment with bold shots of color; the striking portfolio features new model Linda Evangelista.
Day 12- 1988-1990 - Beautifies Iconic actress Audrey Hepburn For Revlon's "Most unforgettable Women in the World" campaign. "I was so nervous that I had o saying the serenity prayers over an over while I was applying Audrey's makeup," He writes. In he ad, Hepburn is clad in a dramatic black satin coat by design wunderkind Isaac Mizrahi, who bonds with Aucoin and later boos him or he runway shows. Begins creating the bombshell Como-girl look for Cosmopolitan's covers, shot by Francesco Scavullo. The Nakeds, his line of natural-tone cosmetics for Ultima2 I hugely popular. The tagline reads, "Look Like Yourself, Only Better." the groundbreaking collection rocks the industry. "It became structural rather than about adding color", makeup artist Dick Page will note in 2010. "These [nude] colors became the baseline of makeup, as they work with any skin tone." Make up the faces for Diana Ross, Debbie Gibson, Barbara Walter, Christie Brinkley, an Shirley MacLanie (the steel Magnolias actress reportedly likes his works so much, she sleeps in it). Meets his idol Barbara Streisan on a shoot to publicize her movie romance Prince of ties(she does her own makeup).
Day 13- 1991 - Friends and Former Vogue Beauty Assistant Linda Wells taps him as contributor to new Conde' Nast beauty til Allure, which she helms. June: Gives a swan-necked, Platinum-cropped Evangelista perfectly arched brows an nude lips for Allure's cover. September: Gives Naomi Campbell- dressed in Isaac Mizrahi's Totem Pole dress- A faintly exotic look for the cove of Times. Work on dozens of shoots with Steven Meisel, including one with Audrey Hepburn for Vanity Fair. he legendary actress begins booking Aucoin for personal appearances.
Day 14- 1992 - Gives model Karen Mulder a Kabuki-Goth look for a portrait by Irving Penn. The renowned photographer will book him for many Vogue shoots an high-proile ad campaigns for the likes of L'Oreal and Chanel. September: Aucoin booked solid for New York Fashion week: supermodels Linda Evangelisa, Niaomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Kate Moss demand that only he do their makeup. Creates minimal look for Marc Jacobs's seminal grunge show for Perry Ellis. October: Gives models a"peachy-soft, Healthy low-voltage glow" for Isaac Mizrahi spa- resort collection, one review notes. November: and December: Meets his birth mother and Father and his stepsiblings for he first time.
WEEK 3
Day 15- 1993 - Finally gets his wish and works his magic on Barbra Steisand for a Vogue shoot by Steven Meisel. Tapped by Shiseido to revamp its Inoui makeup line; model Kristen McMenamy stars in the ad campaigns, directed by Aucoin and shot by Meisel and Richard Avedon. Gives Janet Jackson a golden glow for the cover of her new album, Janet, shot by Patrick Demarchelier. The makeup master and pop songstress begin working together for photo shoots, appearances, and video.
Day 16- 1994 - January: Joins Oribe Canales, Brad Johns, and Frederic Fekkai on Oprah for a makeover special. November: Appears with Christy Turlington on the cover of LGBT magazine The Advocate, shot by Patrick Demarchelier. Publishes The Art of Makeup; the launch party draws a star-studded mob.
Day 17- 1995 - January: Germany model Nadja Auermann presents him with a special CFDA award for Excellence in Makeup Artistry. "I know that to some people winning an award for doing makeup may be silly. But, you see, in the context of my life it means that I not only survived my past, but I somehow succeeded," he says at the ceremony. March: At the fall shows, pastes vinyl eyebrows on models at Todd Oldham, and gives DKNY's girls a severe unibrow. May: Gives Janet Jackson a futuristic sci-fi look for the video of "Scream," a duet with brother Michael. (The King of Pop will subsequently request that Aucoin be his full-time makeup artist, an offer he declines). December: Enhances Shalom Harlow's feline beauty for a couture shoot with Irving Penn in a Paris studio; the sitting marks the first time in years that the legendary photographer uses natural light, which he will favor from this point forward.
Day 18- 1996 - January: Profiled along with hairstylist Garren and other "Image Makers" in Vogue. In the story, Janet Jackson pens a review of her favorite makeup artist.
Day 19- 1997 - March: Gives controversial grunge queen Courtney Love a chic look to go with white silk Versace dress she wears to the Oscars. "I put a little makeup on her, and suddenly people can open their hearts, " he tells W. "Maybe that's the key to the door. But it's a shame that that's the way it is." VH1 calls the transformation " the makeover of the decade." For the same red carpet, he gives Nicole Kidman (dressed in an Asian-inspired, chartreuse Dior gown) a crimson pout; the look tops all-time-best-dressed lists for years. May: Makes up basketball star Dennis Rodman (in full drag as a carriage-borne, blushing bride) for the launch of Rodman's book, Bad As I Wanna Be. November: Glams up Courtney Love, Tina Turner, and Madonna for the cover of Rolling Stone's 30th anniversary issue. Publishes Making Faces, a how-to book that will top best-seller lists.
Day 20- 1998 - March: Honored as Beauty Editors' Choice at the Cosmetic Executive Women 1998 Beauty Awards; at the event, newscaster Diane Sawyer upholds Aucoin as "proof of the existence of God," saying he makes women look like "the frigging ceiling of the Sistine Chapel!" Gives Diabolique actress Sharon Stone (wearing a pink chiffon Vera Wang dress and diamond tiara) a romantic look for her marriage to newspaperman Phil Bronstein. December: Rims Gwyneth Paltrow's eyes for the New York premiere of Shakespeare in Love.
Day 21- 1999 - March: Gwyneth Paltrow flies Aucoin out to prep her for her Best Actress win at the Oscars. "The best thing about having him do your makeup is that it allows you to spend time with him," Paltrow once said. June: He receives an honorary diploma from Harvey Milk High School, run by the Hetrick-Martin Institute for gay, lesbian, and bi-sexual youth, to which he frequently donates his time and services. Perfects pop star Jennifer Lopez for the cover of her deput album, On the 6. For the video Lopez's hit single "Waiting For Tonight," illuminates her with hundreds of hand-applied crystals. July: Begins writing a monthly column for Allure. August: Online cosmetics retailer Beauty.com taps Aucoin as its in-house expert; the celebrity makeup artist dispenses tips to his "cult following of makeup junkies," according to WWD.
WEEK 4
Day 22- 2000 - Makes a cameo in the fashion-mag comedy Intern, along with Vogue's Andre Leon Talley and model Paulina Porizkova, a longtime friend. February: Plays mortuary makeup artist Sharpei on an episode of Comedy Central's Strangers with Candy. March: Plays up Boys Don't Cry star Hilary Swank's feminine side for the Oscars. October: Signs copies of his new celebrity beauty book, Face Forward (for which he took most of the photos), at Henri Bendel; the store donates 100 percent of proceeds to the Hetrick-Martin Institute. November: Appears on Oprah to plug Beauty.com; within 48 hours, the site rakes in $1 million in sales of his recommended products. Plays a café patron on an episode of Will and Grace (pal Cher makes a cameo, too).
Day 23- 2001 - April: Enhances the classic features of actresses Nicole Kidman and Catherine Deneuve for Vanity Fair's Legends of Hollywood cover, shot by Annie Leibovitz. June: Appears on an episode of Sex and the City. September: Plays a makeup artist in the hit fashion-world spoof Zoolander. Transforms singer Tori Amos into a different character for each of the twelve songs on her album Strange Little Girls. On the day of the World Trade Center attacks, is diagnosed with acromegaly , a rare growth disorder doctors estimate he has had since the age of nine. He will soon undergo surgery to remove a tumor on his pituitary gland. November: Launches kevynaucoin.com, offering the first products-mascaras, an eyelash curler, a makeup-brush-set from his long-awaited line. "All of my products will be things I'd use in my own kit. This is about the makeup world as I see it," he tells WWD. "I want there to be function in everything I do; my favorite word is effective. That's what I want these things to be." December: At the retail launch of his line at Henri Bendel, sales reach $15,000 in just two hours.
Day 24- 2002 - February: Ends column for Allure. March: Gives Paltrow an ethereal look for a Vogue cover shot by Herb Ritts. The cover line reads "Gwyneth: The Power of a Fashion Icon." He beautifies longtime friend and devotee Liza Minnelli for her marriage to David Gest. May: Dies at the age of 40 of acetaminophen toxicity due to the use of prescription painkillers, taken to ease the pain of his growth disorder. December: Release of Kevyn Aucoin pocket mirror is greeted with waiting lists. The compact is engraved with the company founder's words: "Today I see beauty everywhere I go, in every face I see, in every single soul, and sometimes even in myself." IN 2003, A comprehensive biography, with memorials by family and longtime celebrity friends and clients, Kevyn Aucoin: A Beautiful Life, is published.
*KEVYN AUCOIN MAKEUP LAUNCH PARTY.!*
*3650 YOUREE DRIVE. SHREVEPORT, LA*
*******ADDITIONAL PARKING FOR THE KEVYN AUCOIN MAKEUP LAUNCH PARTY WILL BE LOCATED IN THE BACK LOT OF THE SALON.**********
Birth: Feb. 14, 1962
Death: May 2, 2002
Cause of death: Tylenol Toxicity
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Professional make-up artist. Kevyn worked with many celebrities
including Julia Roberts, Janet Jackson, Drew Berrymore, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole
Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Linda Evangelista, Kate Moss, Barbra Streisand and Tori
Amos. Kevyn moved to New York in 1983 and made up models free of charge. He got
his big break when later that year, Vogue magazine hired him to work on a photo
shoot of Meg Tilly.
By Gail
O'Neill
(CNN) -- Kevyn Aucoin was the man behind Gwyneth Paltrow's look the
night she won her Oscar, the man who handled Cindy Crawford for her first Vogue
cover, and one of Oprah Winfrey's favorite makeup artists. CNN | |
At its core, the relationship between a woman and her makeup artist must be founded on trust. But before that trust is earned, there's a leap of faith. This was what Martha Stewart faced when she met Kevyn Aucoin.
"Kevyn had a gift. He was a talent to be reckoned with," says fellow makeup artist Giana. The New York-based Giana was a big fan of Aucoin. "He was one of the most versatile makeup artists I've ever known. In fact, no makeup artist [serious about his or her craft] could look at Kevyn's work without being inspired to push themselves to do better. Fortunately, Kevyn was given the freedom to execute on his talent. And when you are that good, you cannot be bottled up, held down or held back."
But the road to success was a rocky one for the Louisiana native.
Born in Shreveport on Valentine's Day in 1962, Kevyn was adopted a month later by Thelma and Isidore Aucoin. Although not a blood relation, Aucoin always described his mom as a kindred soul.
Indeed, it was Thelma who indulged her little boy's penchant for rearranging furniture every couple of days. And it was Thelma who instilled in her son the belief that he had something unique to offer -- which he later acknowledged "got him through some tough times in life."
"Kevyn came to New York and on the merit of that talent alone, he could finally spread his wings and fly."
Ellen first met Aucoin in New York in the early 1980s when she was launching what would become a successful career as a model. It was a "summer of testing and a million 'go-sees' (model auditions) for the two of us," recalls Ellen. "But even then, he was so obviously going to make it. He was an artist. He had an eye for color. And even though makeup can really change you, Kevyn never did that. Instead, he would augment."
And that ability, according to fashion photographer Fabrizio Ferri, is what separates the great makeup artists from the pack. Aucion had the ability to influence who she is, the makeup will complement that understanding-- and she'll inevitably walk onto the set with confidence. But if there is a disconnect between who she is, and who the makeup artist has made her up to be, then that model can't be herself.
A master at maintaining balance, Aucoin had the technique to make women look beautiful on the outside -- and the heart to understand that what was skin deep meant nothing if they didn't feel beautiful on the inside.
"He thought that any woman had the right to stand up and say 'I'm gorgeous.' ... I just think that's more powerful than we can ever imagine."
As his former partner and one-time agent, Jed Root, put it: "Kevyn knew how to make people comfortable in their own skin. It was his personality to see the beauty inside everybody."
And that, in turn, is what ultimately allowed the rest of the world to see the beauty inside Kevyn Aucoin.
Enjoyed the story of Kevyn Aucoin?
Follow Benote' Salon on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and here at our website as we celebrate the month of June with a TIMELINE of SAVINGS.
NEW CLIENT PACKET
Be sure to pick up a New Client Packet on your first visit!
First time customers will receive coupon savings
as a thank you for visiting Benoté Salon.
IT'S SPRING/SUMMER PACKAGES!!!!!
IF WE HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE, WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU SOME SAVINGS.
COME TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE PACKAGES!!! Clients must specify at the time of booking which package they are interested in when setting the appointment.
Springtein Package
Natural Style I, Keratintriplex Treatment, Eyebrow Wax
Level 1 Regular Price: $123.00 Bundle Price: $104.55
Level 4 Regular Price: $138.00 Bundle Price: $117.30
Flowy Finesse Package
Shampoo/Straighten, Trim, Fiberceutic Treatment,
Level 1 Regular Price: $90 Bundle Price: $75.50
Level 4 Regular Price: $126 Bundle Price: $107.10
Color Sassoon Package
Demi-Permanent Color, L'Oreal Color Shot Treatment,
Shampoo/Straightening
Level 1 Regular Price: $91 Bundle Price: $77.35
Level 4 Regular Price: $106 Bundle Price: $90.10
Natural Style I, Keratintriplex Treatment, Eyebrow Wax
Level 1 Regular Price: $123.00 Bundle Price: $104.55
Level 4 Regular Price: $138.00 Bundle Price: $117.30
Flowy Finesse Package
Shampoo/Straighten, Trim, Fiberceutic Treatment,
Level 1 Regular Price: $90 Bundle Price: $75.50
Level 4 Regular Price: $126 Bundle Price: $107.10
Color Sassoon Package
Demi-Permanent Color, L'Oreal Color Shot Treatment,
Shampoo/Straightening
Level 1 Regular Price: $91 Bundle Price: $77.35
Level 4 Regular Price: $106 Bundle Price: $90.10
SUMMER TIPS:- *Moisture, Moisture and Moisture: The sun breaks down the hair’s protein (Keratin) therefore keeping hair well moisturized and placing conditioner in your hair without rinsing it out or a leave in will keep damage at a minimum or at a bay.
*Hats Galore: By wearing hats when you plan to be out and about or lounging for long extended periods of time in the sun can be a great vice to combat the sun especially wide-brim hats which would provide a full coverage of protection.
*UV Protection: The golden ticket to prevent oxidation is to assimilate a barrier of protection therefore the same sunscreen you use to protect your skin can also be used as protection for your strands. I would recommend using an SPF of 25 and diluting the UV protection with water. An easy travel tip is to mix 3 teaspoons of UV protection with a cup and a ½ of water and place in a spray bottle and shake. This way if you need to reapply the water bottle comes in handy.
*Stay away from Peroxide, alcohol and lemon based products: Peroxide, alcohol and lemon based products will cause your strands to dry out at a much faster rate and trigger or aid in the oxidation of your strands at higher levels.
*Updo or Wrap it Up: Protecting those strands by wearing a headwrap or updo style such as a bun can prevent major damage from the sun. Remember the ends of your hair are the oldest and weakest part of your strand which are more susceptible to the process of oxidation so don’t give the sun and excuse tuck your hair away.
Enjoying the beach or park should be just that and with the incorporation of these simple steps nothing will get in the way of making the most out of any sunny day.
Public News
The talk about hair is a never ending love story. We are fasinated with beauty and the media wants the public to know how important it is to maintain. LET'S HEAR IT!!!!
Natural Hair Care
BENOTE' FAVORITE PRODUCT!!!!
Full Circle Leave-In Treatment™
Frizz-Free Curl Therapy
DEEP PROTEIN TREATMENTS:
Protein formulas can add strength, but should not be overused. Women who are transitioning may need more protein, and at-home protein treatments can be used two to three times per month. For hair that does not have much damage, protein once per month can help fortify the hair. Deep protein treatments are usually reserved for very damaged hair that has substantial breakage and should be done at a salon, but not more often than once every six to eight weeks. Alternate protein treatments with deep conditioners to keep hair healthy and balanced.
-Ann Roberts
Benote' Most Favorite Recommendation:
AT-HOME TREATMENTS:
Pureology Hydrate Hydro-Whip
Moisturizes and deeply replenishes parched strands without weighing hair down. It also detangles, conditions and adds intense shine. This easy to apply treatment has luxurious fragrance for a multi-sensorial, spa-like experience and dramatically improves movement and manageability.
Pureology Hydro-Whip
Awaphui Keratin Intensive Treatment
Get to the core of dry, damaged hair. The Awapuhi extract in this treatment replenishes every strand with intense moisture and shine. Keratriplex, an exclusive blend of keratin protein, rebuilds and repairs to transform lackluster hair. Ideal for color-treated and chemically processed hair.
Get to the core of dry, damaged hair. The Awapuhi extract in this treatment replenishes every strand with intense moisture and shine. Keratriplex, an exclusive blend of keratin protein, rebuilds and repairs to transform lackluster hair. Ideal for color-treated and chemically processed hair.
Awaphui Keratin Intensive Treatment
In Salon Treatment:
Awapuhi Wild Ginger Keratriplex Treatment
The single-shot vial of highly concentrated Kera Triplex Keratin protein absorbs into the hair to repair and seal damaged sites. Reduces breakage 80%, Improves Shine 35%, Prevents Color fade 67%