Gina Brooke (left) and Soul Lee (right)

shu uemura is known throughout the beauty world for its luxurious quality, amazing skincare and hand-crafted brushes. Sadly, the man behind the brand, Shu Uemura, died last year, but he left behind a legacy of wonderfully trained artists. We would like to share a little about two of shu uemura’s premier makeup artists: Gina Brooke and Soul Lee. (Read about these artists after the jump.)

“Beautiful makeup starts with beautiful skin.”

Both Shu Uemura and Gina Brooke share this beauty mantra. Gina has been the artistic director for the company since 2005. Originally from New York, Gina became a makeup artist, while attending the Fashion Institute of Technology, and ever since has had an amazing career.

In 2002, Madonna commissioned Gina to reinvent her look and to overhaul her hair and makeup team. Gina has continued to work with Madonna, including two world concert tours, as well as music videos and red carpet events. In 2006, Gina was awarded a Music Video Production Association award for best makeup in Madonna’s Hung Up video, and in 2006, she created a pair of diamond and mink-encrusted lashes for Madonna. After overwhelming interest from customers, the shu uemura lashes were created and sold exclusively at Neiman Marcus for $10,000 a pair.

Gina’s down-to-earth attitude and no-nonsense approach have put her in high demand in the fashion industry. She has worked with some of the most respected photographers and directors, as well as for many celebrity clients. Her magazine credits include Elle, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, GQ and Vanity Fair, to name a few.

“Every woman is beautiful and by using the right products and tools, every woman can be their own makeup artist.” – Soul Lee

At a young age, Soul Lee, the atelier manager for shu uemura, developed a passion for color and makeup. When she was 16, she decided to turn her passion into a career. Her desire was to go beyond just applying beautiful makeup, but to create the perfect canvas and frame for the face.

Soul teaches that brows frame the entire face, and that lashes are the finish to your makeup. Her love of teaching has taken her to over 10 countries. She is in high demand for fashion shows around the world. Soul has worked with many celebrities and has been featured in magazines, including Vogue, W, Glamour, O, Nylon, Seventeen and USA Today.

Soul shares her favorite shu uemura products and tips below:

Tweezers

Every person who is serious about their eyebrows must own these tweezers. They have a rounded tip, but are precise enough to remove each brow hair painlessly.

Seal Brown Hard 9 Formula Brow Pencil

This quick and easy pencil works beautifully on all surfaces, including areas with sparse or no hair. It gives a natural, groomed finish.

Luxe Brown False Eyelashes

I love these lashes because of the way they look. They create such a beautiful finish to your eye makeup, and the brown color makes them look soft on all eyes.

UV Under Base SPF 10

This lightweight mousse creates a perfect base for your concealer, foundation and powder. It keeps your foundation and concealer looking like skin, and keeps it on all day long.