SALEM — Guy Lento has lent his magic touch to supermodels like Linda Evangelista, Claudia Schiffer and Cindy Crawford.
As former director of makeup for Chanel, he traveled to Paris four times a year to prepare models to hit the runway and introduce the new Chanel collections each season.
"The music goes on, the lights are on the runway, the press is out front — it's magical," he recalled. "To this day, I get goose bumps when I think about it."
Lento's career at Chanel spanned 26 years, during which he dolled up some of the world's most famous faces for fashion shows and photo shoots. He worked as national director of makeup training and trained the cadre of other Chanel makeup artists who work around the country.
Lento retired and moved to Salem in late March.
"I loved my job," said Lento, 62, who grew up in Chelsea, "(but) I had worked so long, I thought it was time."
Lento didn't set out to be a makeup artist. He went to school to become a medical technician and worked at Massachusetts General Hospital for several years in the operating room.
"I hated it and I just knew it wasn't for me," he recalled.
A friend of his was creative director for Elizabeth Arden and provided Lento a foot in the door as a makeup artist.
"I'm kind of a frustrated artist," Lento said. "I can't paint a picture, but I can paint a face."
He worked as a makeup artist for Elizabeth Arden and Lancome, and in 1982, he landed a job at Chanel.
"I had always wanted to work for Chanel," Lento said. "I loved the black lacquered compacts, the double 'CC' logo, the history, Paris, Coco Chanel — it's just such a luxury brand."
His career with Chanel included traveling to Paris to "do the collections" for the ready-to-wear shows and the couture shows for 10 years. He described the excitement of the shows: At the crack of dawn, 20 makeup artists and 20 hairstylists would gather in the large, white Chanel tent and set to work.
"The girls arrive at 6, walk in in jeans and jackets, and they're transformed into these beautiful, beautiful women," he recalled. "There is all this commotion. It was so exciting."
Lento wistfully recalls working with famous models, from Christy Turlington to Helena Christensen. He even made up Celine Dion when she did a show for Chanel.
"The girls would tell you what they liked and what features they wanted you to play up," Lento said. "The whole idea is to make the girl as beautiful as possible for the runway."
But he loved working with everyday women, too.
"That was kind of make-believe," he said of working with models. "I did a lot of retail promotions. I enjoyed working with the consumer."
Lento said he also spearheaded Chanel to become involved in a program to help cancer patients suffering from hair loss and skin discoloration. For 20 years, he volunteered at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
"Usually there were eight patients in a class, and they were just devastated; they didn't feel like women anymore," Lento said. "I would teach them how to do eyebrows and lashes and their skin. They would feel good again."
Lento lived in Manhattan for 25 years until his retirement earlier this year. His new home is a far cry from the bustle of New York. He lives in a condominium that abuts the Forest River Conservation area in Salem — a tranquil, woodsy setting where he walks his West Highland terrier, Eddie, and lives near his siblings.
"I'm very happy," Lento said while sitting on a plush sofa in his living room beside a coffee table laden with high-fashion magazines. "I got myself a car. I'm going to Maine and Cape Cod. But I do miss the makeup and the glamour of New York City and the mix of people you see walking down the street."
Tips from makeup artist Guy Lento
Stay fresh — "First of all, it shouldn't be dated. If you wear it every single day for six months, it's dated."
Change your makeup — "You really should change your makeup twice a year for the two seasons, spring and fall. Change is really good."
Get a consultation — "At every cosmetic counter you can sit down and have a consultation, and it's free of cost."
Proper foundation — "Get the right foundation. When you go to the store, you should always have them test the foundation on you. You want a color that disappears into your skin."
Don't overload on makeup — "No one should say, 'Oh gee, I love your makeup.' You should look fresh, young and modern."
Experiment — "People say, 'Oh, I can't wear red.' Everything is you. You can wear anything you want."
Eyes vs. lips — If you're going to play up your eyes, your lips should be a soft color. If you're going to play up your lips, the eye makeup should be soft.
Cheeks — "Cheek color this season is very soft."
Eyebrows — "Eyebrows frame your eye. It's important to have a nice brow. It must extend over the eye, not too short."
Moisturize — "You should moisturize every day. Use a moisturizer with SPF."
