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'''<!-- Vincent Longo, (May 28, 1961 —) is an Australian born, Italian trained, American based make-up artist, beauty expert and cosmetics entrepreneur, renowned for his work with supermodel, celebrity and movie star clients as well as for his award-winning cosmetics line. During a career spanning 5 decades, he has created cover, editorial, runway and red-carpet “beauty looks” for such icons as Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Heidi Klum, Claudia Schiffer, Elle MacPherson, Julia Roberts Sigourney Weaver, Hilary Clinton, Ivana Trump, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Lane, Claire Danes, Geri Halliwell, Isabella Rossellini and Catherine Deneuve, while collaborating with leading photographers including Patrick Demarchelier, Bruce Weber, Gilles Bensimon, Avedon, Francesco Scavullo and Albert Watson. Emerging during the supermodel era as a sought-after and style-setting artist, he became a nationally recognized beauty expert, consultant and commentator. In 1994, he launched Vincent Longo Cosmetics, which delivered cutting-edge color and innovative formulations to the industry and retail marketplace. His work is credited on hundreds of leading magazine covers and countless times in editorial spreads and fashion features. As himself, Longo has appeared regularly on nationally broadcast and cable programming, including talk shows, live telecasts and as a judge for the Miss America Pageant.

Early Life

Longo was born in Swan Hill, Australia, to Italian immigrant parents who farmed land on the fringes of the Outback. An excellent student and athlete, Vincent tended the livestock and managed the family’s produce stand during childhood and adolescence. His family relocated to Ventimiglia, Italy, when he was 17. There he pursued studies in makeup artistry and was hired by renowned artist and entrepreneur Diego Dalla Palma of Make-up Studio of Milan. He began to work with top models and leading leading Italian designers, including Gianni Versace, Giorgio Armani, Mariuccia Mandelli, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbano, Franco Moschino, and Gianfranco Ferré.

Career

Within a few years of starting his career in Italy, (with scores of Cover & Editorial credits in Amica & Vogue Italy) he was encouraged by Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Vogue Editor Michela Bardini to move to New York. Arriving in 1988, he collaborated with the preeminent fashion photographers (Demarchelier, Bensimon, Avedon, Weber) on cover, editorial and runway jobs with  fashion models and started booking Award Show work with movie stars. He was retained as Contributing Beauty Editor at Elle USA and hired as a spokesperson, master makeup artist and product consultant for cosmetic giants Revlon, Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden. Meanwhile, he contributed to major fashion magazines and appeared on nationally televised programs including Good Morning America, E! Entertainment, ABC’s Extreme Makeover, The Today Show, Regis and Kelly and CNN, for its Oscars Red Carpet coverage. In 2003, he was asked to Judge the Miss American Pageant.

Cosmetics

Having long formulated cosmetics for clients, in 1994, Longo launched Vincent Longo Cosmetics brand from his Chelsea kitchen. Available, initially, from MCM and Warren Tricomi salons in Manhattan, VLCosmetics were stocked by Barneys, Neiman Marcus, Saks & Sephora in the US, as well as in London, Tokyo, Dubai, Berlin, Paris, Sydney, Singapore, Stockholm & Mexico City. His Water Canvas foundation, with a cream consistency but powder finish, became a sensation, prized by retail customers, make-up artists, models, celebrities and photographers. His Lip Stain range of lipsticks and the Spectralite collection, featuring “magnetic packaging concept and design with pressed powders in graduated hues” were celebrated in the Beauty press. Multiple Vincent Longo Cosmetics have received “Best of Beauty” awards from Allure Magazine and Self Magazine alongside a citation of merit from CPC Packaging.

Appearances Starting in the early ’90’s, Longo appeared regularly on nationally distributed TV as a make-up and beauty expert. He was featured on Good Morning America, E! Entertainment, ABC’s Extreme Makeover, The Today Show, Regis and Kelly and as a Red Carpet interviewer and commentator for CNN’s pre-Oscar show. Luxury retailers exploited Longo's celebrity for in-person, in-store appearances boosting sales of VL Cosmetics. In 2003, he appeared on national TV as a judge for the Miss America Pageant. He has been a sought after panelist, guest speaker and thought leader at beauty industry events and conferences since the 1990’s.

Celebrity Because of his work with supermodels and famous clients and exposure to the fashion press, Longo became a bold-faced name himself, reported on for his friendships, his social life and his philanthropy. TV and Magazines described him as a “go-to” Celebrity Make-up Artist and Beauty Expert. With regards to philanthropy, a lavish two-day fundraiser for Operation Smile that he co-hosted with Trudy Styler in 2002 at the Villa Bagatelle in Cannes, owned by Tunisian billionaire Rafik Khalifa, earned extensive coverage in society columns worldwide. The NY Post regularly chronicled his outings in NY, especially when accompanied by the likes of Sigourney Weaver, Heidi Klum, Cheryl Teigs and others.

Business & Legal In 2009, the NY Post reported a lawsuit filed by a former business partner, alleging termination without cause and unpaid equity in VL Cosmetics. Longo called the suit a shakedown, with the plaintiff exploiting the fame of Longo’s two Angel investors to obtain coverage. The case was settled in X, before it went to trial.

In 2007, VL Cosmetic and Sephora, its chief distributor, ended their relationship, resulting in a 50% loss of sales and a loan default for the Longo brand. When an investor purchased the debt and became Longo’s business partner, VL ceased operations, but continued doing business as Zaimu. Ultimately, Longo and his investor/partner fell out over the brand’s marketing and product quality, with Zaimu ceasing to do business in 2016. Longo exited, keeping only his business trademark. VL Cosmetics —with products neither formulated nor approved by Longo— found their way into secondary distribution.

Blue Beauty Since leaving Vincent Longo Cosmetics in 2016, Longo has resided between NYC and Ventimiglia, Italy, researching and developing green packaging and clean ingredients for the launch of his new cosmetics line in February 2024. Vincent Longo Blue Beauty Cosmetics (the term “blue beauty” coined in 2018 by Jeannie Jarnot founder and CEO of Beauty Heroes) manufactures ultra-high performance makeup made using 100% safe, non-toxic, ethically sourced and sustainable (Vegan) ingredients, packaged with 100% biodegradable, plant-based bio-polymers derived from Hemp.

References

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