Lindsey Bergfalk: The Beauty Expert "Dancing With the Stars"
One day while working on “Dancing With the Stars,” we saw a woman cross the CBS studio parking lot with beachy waves in her hair that were absolute perfection. We ran into her inside and asked her who did her hair. She had done it herself; and she gave us all the products she used, told us where to buy the curling iron at a discount, gave us her cell if we needed more help; needless to say, she was a true girl’s girl.
Lindsey Bergfalk has been a professional makeup artist for 15 years and despite her Hollywood resume, she is still a Midwest gal at heart. When we spoke to her about doing an interview, she insisted on discussing everyday tips useful for all types of women.
INTERVIEW WITH LINDSEY BERGFALK
Q.
What’s your approach to makeup?
A. My approach is definitely to go with what God gave you and enhance it naturally. Everyone has something they like about themselves, so the thing is to play that up and utilize those features. Whether it be hair, or eyes, etc., play them up with makeup. If you’re not sure what your best feature is, go to the eyes! Everyone has things they don’t like about themselves, but focus on the things you do like.
Q.
What mistakes do women most often make with cosmetics and what are the fixes?
A. Older women should stay away from shimmer. Use matte shadow on the eyes, like a mauve, maroon, or brown, and apply it a little higher than the crease to lift the eye. All women should use mascara because it really makes a difference on the lashes. Always do your makeup in circular stokes with your brushes, so the edges are naturally blended.
“If you’re in a rush, dust some bronzer over your eyelids to brighten the face. You can also use blush on the eyelids instead of eyeshadow; it creates a natural look.”
A quick way to add a some color if you’re running out the door: apply some blush on eyelids, mascara on the lashes and a little chapstick.
Q.
What are everyday tips for applying eyeliner?
A. Women often do eyeliner wrong. They throw it on the top and bottom of the eyes and it’s the worst thing you can do if you’re not wearing other makeup. If you’re not applying any other makeup, just do mascara without liner. In general, most people should avoid black eyeliner; it’s too harsh a look and if the application isn’t precise it doesn’t look good.”
Most people should only wear brown eyeliner during the day and use a pencil, not a liquid. Give it a try; it creates more of a shadow and it’s softer. It enhances the eyes without making a hard line. No matter what your eye color or skin tone is, brown eyeliner will enhance the eyes in a more natural way. You’ll notice the eyes and not the liner.
Q.
What are some makeup tips for small eyes and large eyes?
A. Small eyes – use a brown liner on the top lash line only. The thing that is important with small eyes is to not line the bottom, because it closes the eye in, and black liner is too harsh unless it’s night time.
Large eyes – use either blush or natural tone shadow on the lids below the crease. Line under the top lashes and along on the waterline on large eyes to make them appear smaller. Add mascara to complete the look.
Q.
What’s your recommendation for blending foundation? Should a person blend all the way down the neck?
A.
“Always bring foundation down about two inches below the jawline and blend!”
Use a misting toner after you apply your foundation to make it a little moist and blend out any lines. A misting toner will re-wet the area, so it’s easier to blend, and sets the makeup.
Q.
What makeup is worth splurging on and what can a person save on?
A. Foundation is something you should definitely invest money in. Everyone has different skin types and you have to be careful because, if you have acne-prone or dry skin, you want to use a better foundation. I like Origins Foundations; I’d say go to one of their counters and get matched up. A good tinted moisturizer is worth the money; it blends easily and everyone looks better with tinted moisturizer on. Skincare is worth the splurge. Also, a BeautyBlender to apply foundation makes such a difference. It’s a must!
Products you can save on and buy at a drugstore are blushes, bronzer, and a great mascara like the classic Maybelline Great Lash.
An inexpensive eyeliner that I prefer is Rimmel Exaggerate Auto Waterproof Liner with the blending tool at the end. It lasts long because it’s waterproof.
Q.
What are the best products to cover uneven parts of the skin like acne scars, psoriasis or birthmarks?
A. Psoriasis or acne scars are pink. Physicians Formulas Concealer Correct & Cover it's a green concealer and it neutralizes pink or red tones.
Birthmarks are brown, so you want to use something on the blue side and Physicians Formula has a formula that is blue. Use these concealers after skincare but before foundation, and then touch up the areas with the concealer after applying foundation.
Q.
What are your finishing touches to set the makeup so it lasts?
A. I like using Aveda’s Botanical Skin Toning Agent or rose water, after applying makeup, to set the look. You spray a couple spritzes over the entire face, as the final step, after the makeup is done.
Q.
Your work on-set can call for early mornings. Any tips you give clients to wake-up looking refreshed?
A. When you lay on your side, fluid goes to one side, so lay on your back with the pillow elevated. This is very important for people needing to look their best first thing in the morning. If you did sleep on your side, wet green tea bags in cold water and put them over your eyes. This constricts fluid and invigorates the skin. A cold spoon in the freezer can work too.
Also, exfoliate once a week. It makes a big difference; do it before you go to bed. It’s also important for people with acne. Exfoliating helps clear clogged pores and removes the dead skin cells that further clog the skin.
H A I R
Q.
How do you find the best color for a person?
A. What you’re born with is usually the best color of you. Take out a photo of yourself when you were young and examine the color. Usually after puberty is the best timeframe, around 15 or 16.”
Q.
For people coloring their hair, how does one pick the best formula for their hair type and desired results?
A.
- Permanent – should only be applied at regrowth for retouching, people trying to cover gray, a blonde trying to be a brunette, or if you’re brown and want to be blonde. You need permanent hair color to accomplish all of these.
- Demi-Permanent– lasts about 3 months and coats the hair shaft. Then, it fades out.
- Semi-Permanent- you don’t need a developer. It lasts about 2 weeks and it will gradually wash out. A gloss with no color to increase shine is usually semi-permanent. Never use a demi-permanent gloss, though; it will damage hair and not preserve long hair.
Q.
How does one prevent over-highlighted and brittle hair?
A. Highlight touch-ups should only be applied at the roots, where the regrowth is, to avoid over-processing the hair. If someone with blonde highlights is getting their roots retouched, the colorist should apply conditioner to the highlighted hair to protect it and, then, only apply color to the untouched roots, so there is no overlapping to cause hair breakage.
Any easy way to enhance light hair during the summer is John Frieda for Blondes product, Go Blonder Lightening Spray . It creates a nice, natural result.
Q.
How do prescription drugs effect hair color?
A. Any drug, even vitamins, can effect hair color. Everything you take comes out through your hair and nails, so tell your colorist if you’re taking something. It can cause hair to not take the color or to take it more. Always be clear with your colorist. Some medications make skin sensitive and certain brands can cause scalp irritation.
Q.
What are the specifics to look for in a hair dryer? Is Ionic or Thermal better and is there a product you recommend to protect hair before blow drying?
A. Ionic, I feel, is better. Always get a blow-dryer with a nozzle and always use it. If you are putting the blow-dryer right on your hair without a nozzle you are frying it. Hair is like a rope, and once the fibers of the rope come undone, which is like hair splitting or breaking, it has to be cut. To have long, healthy hair, you have to protect it so the damage doesn’t occur in the first place.
I do think it’s important to use products before blow drying. Brilliant Damage Control by Aveda is good and it protects the hair from drying out.
Q.
What are some of your unusual maintenance tips for hair?
A.
“If you have allergies, use a clarifying shampoo. Hair can carry pollutants and allergies, so it’s best to wash it before you go to bed because it can worsen your allergies while you sleep.”
A swimmer should always detox their hair to remove the chlorine and chemicals that will cause dry, damaged hair. Every time you swim you should detox the hair after, and then shampoo and condition. If you swim all the time, use a regular, heavy conditioner before you put your swim cap on.
Q.
What are five products you swear by?
A.
RevitaLash Volumizing Mascara – it’s a great mascara. It doesn’t have a treatment in it.
Rimmel Exaggerate Auto Waterproof Eye Definer (eyeliner) – soft texture that’s easy to blend. It’s waterproof for up to 10 hours.
Aveda Products – Aveda’s Botanical Kinetics Toner absolutely! It’s a skin firming/toning agent and the one I like the most. Also, Aveda’s New Dry Remedy Moisturizing Masque is brand new in their Dry Remedy™ line. There is also an oil that’s works well Dry Remedy™ Daily Moisturizing Oil.
Lindsey Bergfalk is a makeup artist and hair expert who made her mark in primetime television. Her work has been seen on over 100 episodes of the hit series “Dancing With Stars” and “America’s Funniest Home Video’s.” She has also worked on “New Girl,” “The Emmy Awards,” “American Music Awards” and more.