By Shadine Ménard

When I met Roque at The Makeup Show, in NYC earlier this year, I was struck by a) how smooth and perfect his skin and eyebrows look and b) how funny and down-to-earth he is. Roque interacted with his staff, customers and other press effortlessly, all while talking to me about new products and giving out makeup advice without missing a beat. Maybe, his ability to talk a mile a minute facilitated his multi-tasking. And he had a lot to say…

The Puerto-Rican/Italian son of an artist growing up in the ‘70s, Roque Cozzette had a natural artistic aptitude. By the time he was in high school, he already knew what he wanted to do. He was doing braids, extensions, and dreads and got his aesthetician license in 1984. He never took a makeup class although he is known as a great makeup artist and teacher.

In 2003, makeup artist Roque Cozzette joined Kett Cosmetics as Director of Makeup. Kett Cosmetics was founded in 2000 by makeup artist and educator, Sheila McKenna. All Kett products are vegan. None are tested on animals, instead they are tested in a high-definition, digital studio to ensure a flawless finish both on and off camera.

SM, Shine Beauty Culture: How did you discover your love for cosmetics, start applying makeup?

RC: I wanted to do it all. I’m a detective.

In the 90s, Roque worked Shisheido’s retail counters and says it was the best stomping ground to practice multi-ethnic makeup and coloration.  He credits Naomi Simms makeup line as being one of the first for Black women and inspiring him. MAC enlisted him as a trainer and brought him to NY to open the first MAC pro store. Roque soon branched out as freelancer. He and friend, Sheila McKenna realized they had the same goals and energy and started creating and testing makeup products in the studio, comparing how the makeup looked in pictures, onscreen and in person. They had never found a cosmetics line that excelled in all three areas and thought this was a way to find one so that they can use as artists.

SM, Shine Beauty Culture: So, how did you decide to take this project and turn it into Kett Cosmetics?

RC: We never intended to create a makeup brand, just be better artists. But after x amount of focus groups… I was  focused on freelancing so Sheila started Kett herself and once I got off tour (with Christina Milian as her makeup artist and hairdresser), I helped her finish launching Kett.

SM, Shine Beauty Culture: When did you know that Kett was a success?

RC: There are a lot of milestones, but one year (celebrity makeup artist) Fran Cooper called and said “I need Kett for Janet’s 20. I only want to use Kett”. Since then… they used (Kett) on Sex and the City 2… that collective experience makes me feel like ‘now, we’re serious!’ Being mentioned and appreciated.

Photo.KettCosmetics.com  Gallery

RC: I feel like God gives us situations that create competition in our lives. We can choose positivity or negativity. I chose to focus on positivity. Share knowledge.

SM, Shine Beauty Culture: What do you teach in your seminars?

RC: I teach the laws of attraction in seminars. We are attracted to those we’re like. Project positivity. Focus on what you love. I get them (the students) on track to where they need to go. Makeup training.

Because Roque knows so much about cosmetic products from working for different brands in addition to creating his own, I asked him for some of his non-Kett favorites. They include drugstore staple Cetaphil, Nurturing Force® Blot Out Offensive Shine + Oil Control Cream and Embroyolisse lait crème concentré.

As for Kett products, Roque decided to show me rather than just tell me how good they are. The new Kett Jet airbrush compressor was created to provide “light and airy” coverage. It’s created for professional use, but can be used by makeup savvy consumers. Roque took all but 10 minutes to use Kett Jet on my face, eyes and cheeks, giving me full coverage and glow while keeping my look natural.

Seeing his technique and approach first hand, coupled with his sentiments on beauty and his inspiration solidified to me that Roque Cozzette is a Shining Star!

“{My beauty inspiration} is more organic. I believe in oneness. I can draw on colors of a bird or orchid or textures of food. Always divine, organic. Faith is my path; I want it to come naturally.”  ~Roque Cozzette

White Knuckle Ride of RDSL CD . Nov 1st Release . You Tube . www.jamiroquai.com

>Jamiroquai on You Tube . Live @ Radio City Music Hall . NYC . 1.9.08

By PT

Photo . President Barack Obama Facebook Fan Page

President Obama speaking at CBC . 9.18.10

First, the Congressional Black Caucus Dinner, September 18th, Washington, DC and tomorrow’s Rally at Bowie State University will mark the second.  Three times (3x’s) is said to be the charm…we’ll wait.

WHERE . Bowie State University, 14000 Jericho Park Road, Bowie, MD 20715

WHEN . Thursday, October 7th, doors open at 12:30, program begins at 1:45PM

The Rally is open to the public, RSVP here, early arrival is encouraged, doors open at 1:00PM

GET INVOLVED!

By Shadine Ménard

Performer Tifane likes to keep people guessing when it comes to her look, but now she’s sharing some of her beauty secrets and feelings on her native Haiti’s state of affairs with SBC.

Perhaps unknown to Americans, but in the Haitian music industry Tifane’s stardom has been rising pretty fast and she’s been showcasing her craft internationally. Her greatest career moments so far: hearing people requesting her first song Se Kom Si on You Tube, and on radio stations in Haiti and “seeing huge billboards of my pictures in Nis, Serbia. My band and I brought Haitian music (and) Creole to a people who never heard it before.” To make sure her skin is at its best when it’s time showtime, the singer preps her face with masks and aloe during the day.

“Because of all the photo shoots, TV appearances and such my face … I deal with few brake outs. My biggest secret is aloe. My other secrets are diluted lavender oil and tea tree oil. Just two drops on a wet cotton ball, apply, do not rinse,” says the singing sensation.

Known for her ever-changing looks, she shares that her mood is her only inspiration:            “It depends on how I feel; exotic or playful, wise, sexy, or free just as long as it’s natural. I’ve been cutting my hair shorter and shorter. I realized it never really had much to do with how pretty I can be. It’s really just hair. I must say: the shorter the hair the more men compliment me, women think I’m bold. I just think natural hair means you are confident in your beauty with your own hair.”

Tifane to wear a minimal amount of makeup when moving onstage and some days goes without any because “It’s good to give your face a break. I don’t want to look old sooner than I should (lol).” No surprise then that natural make-up is her favorite beauty trend: “I really love the natural look, it’s my favorite. Light pink or champagne lip gloss just enhances my lips and keeps it simple.” Occasionally, the chameleon brings it up a notch with “a little black in the corner of my eyes. I find that eye makeup changes your face from boring to Wow!”

The January release and promotion of her new single was cancelled due to the devasting earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, therefore her next appearances will be in Florida, New York and Martinique for several festivals.

“I was at a grocery store  [in the U.S when I heard about the earthquake]. I’ve never felt so much pain, it hurt physically to hear about it.”

“The current state of the country doesn’t have (anything) to do with my decision to leave. I still live in Haiti (a Pétion-Ville resident),  it’s just that my career is taking me to many other countries (and) I had already made plans to leave Haiti by September to go back to school.”

Regardless of where her studies and career might lead her, Haiti has not shifted from Tifane’s priorities. Her foundation Kalm, sponsored by  Voilà, is focused on educating Haiti’s youth to think green and in the aftermath of the earthquake she has collected medical supplies, performed at relief concerts, promoted Shelter Box and is currently working on bringing comfortable container homes and a school by Idekit from Canada to Haiti to build new cities because “we can’t expect people to live in tents.”

Just as with her knack of trying different looks, it seems that this young lady can go from entertainer to student to humanitarian and concerned citizen.

“I’m staying optimistic, but I’m worried all the time. Who’s really leading us? I also think about what’s going to happen when all those young Haitians who left never come back to help rebuild. I’m not losing faith in my good people though many of us are still working for the good change.” ~Tifane

Tifane shines brightly because her sincere sentiments and willingness allow her actions to work for her.  For more information click here >Tifane on her Facebook Fan Page.

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Some of Tifane’s Music:

2007: Bèl Moun

2007: Singing Bob Marley’s Waiting in Vain, live from Nis, Serbia at the Nisville Jazz Festival:

2007: Rhum Barbancourt commercial with BelO and Michael Benjamin

2008: Sekrè a

2008: Singing Se Kom Si, live at Francofolies de Montreal

2008: Singing Tracy Chapman’s Sorry, live at Ayiti Deploge in Haiti