All about Karen Kawahara

makeup artist: Karen Kawahara Most people don't wind up powdering celebrity noses by a fluke. But for Kawahara it "just kind of happened." After working as an Ann Taylor saleswoman, she got a job 13 years ago as neceptionist at Armondo Salon in L.A, filling in occasionally as a makeup artist. "I'd never done it before and was self-taught through trial and error. I would put makeup on someone and go, 'Ew, that doesn't work!' and take it off!" But eventually she started liking her work, and so did others. Her first celebrity client was Sandra Bernhard, who hired Kawahara to do her makeup for an appearance. "She got compliments and I started getting booked on jobs," Kawahara says. "Most makeup artists get experience working on models, but I worked on real women, so I developed extra tricks for correcting flaws and enhancing what's there." Her expertise has brought her stars from Hayek to Claire Danes to Meg Ryan.

Karen's trademark Though she hasa light touch, she doesn't confine herself to one signature look because 'each woman is different and her mood and style changes day to day. Good makeup requires an integrated approach, complementing hair and day. Good kaeup requires an integrated approach, complementing hair and clothes," she says. "With a forties dress we might do red lips [as on Julianna Margulies, below]; for a sexy mood, sulty lashes and eyes."

Her philosophy More does't mean better. "A few dabs of color is enough for a face most of the time," she says. "I see women piling on makeup in airports and restaurants or in the car. Every woman looks best with a fresh, clea face and a bit of lively color. You want to enhance what you'v got, not cover it all up."