‘One Woman 100 Faces’ a model for fantastical makeup creations

Makeup artist Francesca Tolot and her photographer husband, Alberto, had been working with model Mitzi Martin for 10 years when the idea struck. With such a plethora of intriguing, eclectic images, surely there was a book in there somewhere. It took another decade — and many, many more beauty campaigns and magazine shoots featuring Martin — before Francesca Tolot could compile the book, “One Woman 100 Faces,” published by Goodman on Sept. 11 with a list price of $50. It is a lush, glossy coffee-table tome made up of 100 striking photos that Alberto Tolot shot of Martin in looks that range from the stark to the fantastical. Francesca Tolot, who regularly works with A-listers like Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lopez, took time out to talk about her debut publication.

Why did you want to do this book?

We had been taking all these amazing pictures, and all of a sudden, I realized we had book material. The title just came into my brain. It just sort of happened. After that, I had to work towards it with that purpose in mind. But it didn’t start as a book project.

What do you hope for readers to take away from it?

That they will flick through it and see that the photography is as beautiful as the makeup. After that, I would like for women to feel free to experiment, to transform themselves maybe, to realize they have other desires within them. A lot of women repress themselves, trying to be subdued and natural. I want them to realize they can have fun and let out the parts of themselves they keep inside. Women have to remember that makeup washes off if they think they are getting too crazy with it.

Do you think every woman can have 100 faces like this?

As much as I would like to say yes, probably not. These photos are the result of a lot of teamwork — hairstylists, lighting and photography. Lighting changes everything. You can have amazing makeup, but if you take a photo with the wrong light, it can look horrific. And bad makeup can look fantastic in great lighting. But even if women find three new faces, that’s good enough.

What beauty product do you never leave home without?

I actually don’t wear that much makeup. I use a black eyeliner pencil that I put inside the rim of my eye and smudge with my finger, and my M.A.C. in Extreme Dimension Lash mascara, which makes lashes really long and beautiful.

What is your top tip for any woman to achieve the best makeup look possible?

Definitely always wear some foundation, or CC cream or BB cream, with sun protection. And if you don’t have anything else, then mascara is the most important, and maybe a little lipstick.

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