How Halo 42’s co-founder, Tim Quinn, Helps His Clients Connect to Confidence
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Tiempo de lectura 4 min
Over the course of his career, celebrity makeup artist and Halo42 co-founder Tim Quinn has worked with some of the world’s most recognizable women, from Hollywood icons to First Ladies. But after decades spent helping people prepare for life’s biggest moments, he’s come to believe that confidence has very little to do with makeup—and everything to do with how we see ourselves.
We sat down with Tim to discuss what confidence really looks like, the rituals that help us reconnect with it and why makeup’s real value may be more internal than external.
Q: You’ve worked with everyone from Hollywood icons to First Ladies. When you think about confidence, what have you learned from the women who seem to have it in abundance?
A: One thing I’ve noticed is that many of the women who carry themselves with the most grace have an inner belief system that sustains them. They may be mothers, leaders, caregivers or professionals, but they all seem to have faith in something larger than themselves.
Rituals seem to help, too. I remember watching Tina Turner prepare before a performance. She had this breathing ritual that was transformative. It was as though she took a deep breath, released everything else and stepped fully into herself. We forget to breathe. My mother used to say, “Just suck it up,” but I think what she really meant was: breathe. You’ll get through it.
Q: People often assume makeup creates confidence. In your experience, is that actually true, or does makeup simply help people reconnect with confidence that’s already there?
A: I don’t think makeup creates confidence at all.One of my favorite things is watching women do their own makeup. They’re not creating someone new, they’re recreating the person they already see themselves as. As a makeup artist, I’ve never been interested in transforming people into someone else. The goal is to help them reconnect with who they already are.
Q: Can you remember a moment when someone sat down in your chair feeling uncertain and stood up feeling transformed—not because she looked different, but because something shifted emotionally?
A: Absolutely. Years ago, I worked on an editorial piece involving a woman recovering from cancer. Her hair was growing back and physically she looked healthy, but in her mind she still saw herself as someone who had been through a devastating illness.
I gave her a little eyebrow definition and some mascara. The change wasn’t dramatic, but emotionally it was profound. Suddenly she could see herself again. It wasn’t about makeup. It was about reconnecting with the person she knew she was inside. Sometimes we let the outside world dictate how we see ourselves, and we forget who we really are.
Q: What are the biggest misconceptions people have about confidence, particularly as they get older?
A: One of the gifts of aging is that many of the barriers we carry start to fall away. We become less dependent on external validation.Some of the most confident people I know are the senior swimmers at my gym. They’re not wearing makeup. They may have wrinkles or sun damage. But they’re completely at ease in their own skin because they’re fully present in their bodies.
Q: After decades in beauty, what do you think separates people who feel comfortable in their own skin from those who are constantly chasing perfection?
A: Acceptance. At some point you realize you’re on your own path and you stop wishing you were somewhere else. People who are constantly chasing perfection are often comparing themselves to others. The people who seem most comfortable in their own skin focus on their own journey instead.
Q: Is there a common thread you’ve noticed among women who age well emotionally?
A: Community. The women who age well tend to have strong pillars in their lives—friends, family or a small group of people who genuinely support them and share their values.
But it starts with listening to yourself. Every person I’ve met who has lived an extraordinary life trusted that small inner voice. I know that whenever I’ve ignored mine, I’ve ended up moving backward and having to start over. Learning to trust yourself is one of the most important things you can do.
Q: You’ve spent your career helping people get ready for important moments. What rituals, habits or practices help people feel grounded and confident before they walk into a room?
A: Breathing is number one.Staying hydrated helps too—and I don’t mean with wine!Music can also be powerful. Put on something that shifts your mindset and helps you feel like yourself.I think the most important thing is maintaining rituals that make you feel at home wherever you are. You may be in an unfamiliar place or facing a stressful situation, but if you have a ritual that grounds you, you'll be okay.
Q: Has your own definition of beauty changed over the course of your career?
A: Absolutely. What I’ve come to appreciate most are qualities like confidence, resilience and joy. The most beautiful people I’ve known tend to choose happiness. They choose to engage with life.
I’ve also become more aware of the power of ritual. I remember watching my mother get ready for a board meeting. It wasn’t just the lipstick or the moisturizer, it was the process itself.
That’s something we’ve carried into Halo42. The magic isn’t only in the product. It’s in taking the time to care for yourself. The ritual is what creates the transformation.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to someone who feels disconnected from their confidence right now, what would it be?
A: Take some quiet time for yourself.Listen to your thoughts. Pay attention to your dreams. Think about what genuinely makes you happy, not what other people think should make you happy.
Sometimes it’s something very simple, like taking a 15-minute walk around the block.I’m also a big believer in box breathing. Anything that helps you slow down, reconnect and become present can help you find your way back to yourself.
Q: What’s something you’ve learned about confidence that would surprise people?
A: Even the most confident people experience moments of self-doubt. The difference is what happens next.
That last moment before someone steps onstage, walks a red carpet or enters a room can be a vulnerable one. That’s when outside voices can become loud. If you let those voices take over, you’ve given away your power.
The key is reconnecting with yourself and remembering why you’re there.
After all these years, I’ve realized that my job was never really about makeup. More often than not, it was about helping people feel good about themselves before they stepped into the world.
