THE revelation was not as shocking as it was amusing. Men wear make-up too. Raquel Jenkins Moss-Solomon cracked everyone up at the Observer Monday Exchange yesterday when she unreservedly defended the men who want to look as ‘fine’ as the celebrity make-up artist who she will be hosting during this week’s celebration of Fashion’s Night Out (FNO).

“I did a make-up shoot for a footballer about last month and he wanted make-up. And the contract said he had to be made up, and not just make-up, anti-shine, powder, lipgloss,” she said to amusement. The occasion, she said, was the footballer’s wedding day.

Anti-shine powders and gels are used for oily, shine-prone skin and as the name implies, controls shine. It also helps preserve the longer wear of make-up. “We have the best anti-shine ever for men,” she said of the Eve Pearl line of cosmetics for which her company holds an exclusive licence in the Caribbean. “So if you don’t want to do powder we give you anti-shine and you’re perfect.” She said men are also very much into using lipgloss which transcends gender lines and some make-up products have ingredients such as sunscreen which are good for the skin. “You don’t want to have chappy lips kissing,” said Moss-Solomon.

“There’s no more stigma attached. Now everybody is free-minded. So men are now into make-up. Men are wearing make-up,” she said.

She added that men are excellent make-up artists, and mentioned Dexter Pottinger and Karl Marsh as examples of good male make-up artists in Jamaica. “There is a good market here for men who are in the industry already. But it’s hard for them to get out there,” Moss-Solomon said.

It is therefore no coincidence that Moss-Solomon added to the celebration of this year’s FNO a special appearance by celebrity make-up artist Sam Fine, who she will be hosting at her Permanent Cosmetics Studio and Boutique. Fine is the black male make-up artist behind the flawless looks of Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, Vanessa Williams, Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, and other celebrities. His touch should add a bit of magic to the Jamaican make-up landscape, she said.

“The objective for us is to have make-up artists in the region more recognised. So we have to align ourselves with celebrity artists who can bring that to the table in the industry,” Moss-Solomon told Observer reporters and editors. “We want to take our industry to the next level. So in doing that we are having Sam Fine, celebrity make-up artist, coming to Jamaica.”

Fine will be working for four hours during Friday’s celebration of FNO teaching persons the basics; from getting to know the tools to the finished product. The sessions are available to anyone who is interested in make-up, not just the professionals, at a special FNO cost of US$120 ($10,200).

Another beauty/fashion icon is yet to be confirmed for the event that will also see participants receiving a Sam Fine DVD, free make-overs, discounts on Eve Pearl cosmetics and complimentary iced tea.

Moss-Solomon added: “There is so much more to being a good make-up artist in the industry, so Sam Fine is going to help us to get to the level where we can be able to do top celebrities as well and that’s our objective,” Moss Solomon said. “We want people to learn. We are not keeping Sam to ourselves, we want people to come out and learn new techniques, the good techniques to being a make-up artist.”

MOSS-SOLOMON… men are wearing make-up