In this fourth installment of our series of interviews exploring what makes women shine in a variety of fields, we feature makeup artist Rie Omoto, who serves as the makeup creative director for the cosmetics brand THREE. The location of the interview, REVIVE KITCHEN, the cafe in THREE's Aoyama store, strongly reflects Rie's New York lifestyle. Apparently, Rie is deeply involved in the menu at REVIVE KITCHEN. That's right. Even now, if the staff spotted me, they might think, "Oh, here comes the noisy one again!" (laughs). My daily diet is gluten-free, wheat-free, and sugar-free. I use maple syrup for sweetness, rice instead of wheat, and vegetable and seasonal fruit juice for breakfast. What's more, in New York, they have bread made with rice flour and pasta made from brown rice, so it's not like I'm starving or frustrated (laughs). There are so many options. And I choose organic ingredients whenever possible. Of course, I avoid GMOs.

--Was that the lifestyle you were aiming for originally?

I only became really strict about it after I started working for THREE. We had about two years of preparation before launching, and during that time I was traveling back and forth between Japan and New York once a month. Maybe because of that, I suffered from severe jet lag, and I was just so tired and sleepy, and my body wasn't moving the way I wanted it to. That affected my mental health, and I couldn't work the way I wanted it to. That's when I thought, "If I keep going like this, I can't keep going."

--It's true that if you're not feeling well, nothing goes well.

Our industry is all about physical strength. It's not okay to take the day off because you're not feeling well, so I realized that I needed to properly manage my health. In fact, if you approach work in good physical condition, it works better and lasts longer. Otherwise, you'll collapse halfway through.

--So, when you reevaluated your lifestyle, you saw results.

That's right. Some people say they eat meat to feel more energetic, but I try to listen to my body. When I'm really tired, I find that it's better not to eat too much rice, and if I continue to drink juice or eat soup, I feel better and more energetic, so I think that's the right approach.

--Do you do any other exercise?

Yes. I do yoga. Yoga helps regulate my body's rhythm and is like a reliable medicine for both mental and physical health. Before, I would catch a cold once or twice in the winter, but since I started living this lifestyle, I don't catch colds anymore, and I've started to feel like I'm in much better health (laughs).

--I imagine your work schedule is unavoidable; what do you think about that?

I go to bed late. Ideally, I'd like to be in bed by 10:30, but I always end up going to bed around 12:30 or 1:00. I go out and dance at night. But I also really like going for walks in the park and being in nature.

I'm rarely at home on work days, so I like to be home on my days off. I love cooking, so I often invite friends over and we'll all have dinner and drinks together. There's always someone at my house.

--THREE offers a wide variety of products, mainly makeup and skincare. What is the common concept behind all of these?

THREE is a place that makes people beautiful. Currently, we offer a wide range of products, including base makeup, skincare, haircare, and bodycare, but I think there are many other things that people need to consider in order to live beautifully.

Even with a cafe, if it's run by THREE, it has to be something that makes you beautiful. It's centered around things that make you feel more human and are close to nature. When you come here, you'll find a menu that will make you beautiful. That's why maybe there should be a THREE exercise machine (laughs).

--That sounds appealing too (laughs).

Actually, I'd love to own a THREE bicycle, but unfortunately, no one is interested (laughs). It doesn't use gasoline or electricity, and it's good for your body. You can get to all sorts of places quickly, and best of all, it's very close to nature. That's why I want to design a THREE bicycle. I'd love to spread that kind of thing.

--It's based on the concept of living beautifully, after all.

Until now, the main topic of conversation has been about how this cosmetic product is effective or that is more effective for beauty, but now people in New York are passionate about detoxing, running, and juicing. It's because it really revitalizes the skin. It's what we call inner beauty. I think it's becoming more popular in Japan as well, but in New York, there are plenty of shops and products for that, so it's easy to live that kind of lifestyle and make those choices.

--RIE, what do you usually think about when choosing your makeup?

I match my makeup to the clothes I'm wearing, but I also consider where I'm going and who I'm meeting. For example, today I'm wearing jeans for a casual look, so I used some color in my makeup. I think that balances things out. But when I'm dressing up, I tend to wear more subtle makeup. My style is to not add too much makeup when my clothes are supporting me.

--Finally, please tell us if there are any makeup items you're paying attention to this fall.

As with the THREE collection, eyeliner is trending again, and I think makeup that combines sharp eyes with feminine elements is very autumnal this year. By feminine, I don't mean feminine or anything like that. I imagine a woman who is well-balanced, rather than overly strong.

[RIE OMOTO Profile]
Makeup artist. She moved to France in 1992 to explore her own potential in the European fashion scene. Her talent was discovered by top artists and photographers in Paris, and she collaborated with Paolo Roversi, Steven Klein, and Peter Lindbergh on editorial and advertising projects. In 1996, she moved to New York, where she worked for magazines such as InStyle. In 2005, she was selected as one of the "100 Greatest Makeup Artists in the World" by the American magazine WWD.