Modern Makeup Mogul Mally

By Reena Jana
November 3, 2011

Mally Roncal

Like many of the superstars that she has worked with—Beyonce, Angelina, Rihanna—makeup artist and beauty mogul Mally Roncal is known by her fans by her first name only. It’s not just because she is a celebrity in her own right and has a well-loved makeup line named—what else—Mally Beauty; it's that despite her glamorous career, Mally Roncal is one of the most down-to-earth people you’ll ever meet.

At a recent breakfast she hosted for beauty bloggers in Manhattan, Roncal talked to the crowd about her brand’s newest products as well as her personal makeup secrets. Dressed in an elegant deep fuchsia sheath, her perfectly-done hair cascading down her shoulders, she looked like a movie star or rock star herself, but spoke to the group as if sitting down with her closest girlfriends. “I stay organized because I’m a Ziploc queen,” Roncal said candidly, referring to everyday plastic bags most people use for packing sandwiches or carry-on liquids bottles when headed to the airport.

“I keep makeup for different looks together in labeled Ziploc bags. There’s one for my mommy look, one for my going out look...” she explained.

Mally Roncal

Mally Beauty Cancellation Concealer System

Given the growth of her beauty empire—she’s constantly adding new products—Roncal has to be ultra-organized. She’s also the mother of four-year-old twin girls and a one year old daughter. Yet she finds time to stay in touch with her numerous fans, from her 15,000 Twitter followers (find her @mallybeauty) to the models and celebrities she does makeup for at events like New York Fashion Week and the Academy Awards.

Mally Roncal at Tracey Reese show

Mally Roncal backstage at the Spring 2012 Tracey Reese show

As a little girl growing up in upstate New York, Roncal first fell in love with makeup when she would practice putting lipstick, eye shadow and blush on her mother. Roncal told us she has a fondness for vintage makeup equipment, which she often searches for on eBay. “I just bought a makeup mirror on eBay from the 1970s,” she said, in a voice that brims with excitement and energy, no matter what the subject. "Girl, I live for eBay. It's the most exciting place, where it's all about finding things that nobody else has."

Mally Roncal

left: Mally Beauty Lip Magnifier Duo Nude Rose Petal Pink; right: Mally Beauty Undermakeup Perfector Duo Light

Beauty tips is one particular subject Roncal approaches with exceptional enthusiasm, and she isn't shy about sharing her secrets. “One thing I feel strongly about is that everyone does eyeliner wrong. It's a pet peeve. They put it on too thick. Just define the eye; don’t draw a big line. The goal is just to help give the eyelashes a look of thickness.”

Roncal said she often uses products meant for one purpose to achieve another. “I use lip gloss as eyebrow gel. You know that Oh Baby gloss by MAC? I used to use that in Beyonce’s eyebrows!” she said.

Mally Roncal

Mally Beauty Celebrate Eyeshadow

When asked what one product she’d want to have with her if stranded on a desert island, she said it would have to be blush. “I am one color: beige. When I put blush on I look more alive,” she said. “Can I have people on this desert island? Because I’d love to have my children and my husband with me, too!”

Want to stay as beautiful—and beautifully organized—as Mally herself? Here’s a list of some of her favorite makeup secrets, products, and tools, as well as some of the cool collectibles she’s searching for on eBay.

Set of 100 Ziploc Bags

(buy it now price, $7.65)

“I’m a Ziploc queen," Roncal said. "I organize makeup in bags and label them for different looks—the mommy look, the going out look.”
Dr. Brandt Lineless Serum

(buy it now price, $36)

Roncal's favorite skincare brand is Dr. Brandt, namely the Lineless serums and lotions.
Vintage Makeup Mirror

(starting bid, $19.88)

Roncal recently scored a makeup mirror from the 1970s on eBay, where she likes to shop for unique items related to the beauty industry.
Vintage Fashion Photo of Twiggy 1960s

(buy it now price, $29.99)

“I am obsessed with fashion pictures from the 1960s and '70s,” Roncal told us. “I tell young people I work with that when I was a kid, I had to go to the library and photocopy pictures! We’re lucky to have the Internet now for research.”
MAC Oh Baby Lip Gloss

(buy it now price, $24.41)

Roncal often uses advises makeup products in unexpected ways. She used this MAC lip gloss in place of eyebrow gel on none other than Beyonce.
Mally Blush

(buy it now price, $16.95)

If she were stranded on a desert island and could only have one makeup item with her, Roncal would choose blush to make her more healthy and lively looking.
Circa 1940s Diamond Cocktail Ring

(buy it now price, $955)

Mally loves bling. She cites eBay as a favorite source for one-of-a-kind jewelry, like this circa 1940s cocktail ring with diamonds.