Soaps In Depth
March 20, 2001
Picture Purrfect
Catherine Hickland (Lindsay) unveils her own make-up line, Cat Cosmetics

When Catherine Hickland arrived in Hollywood 22 years ago, the aspiring actress made ends meet as a make-up artist. Five soaps and countless TV, movie and Broadway appearances later, she is back in the beauty biz with her own company, Cat Cosmetics. "I've always loved all the make-up lines that are out there, but no one made a kit that works for nearly every type of woman," says Hickland, known as "Cat" to her friends. "People were constantly asking me what to buy, so I took all of my favorite things, made them better, and put this line together."

About Face
Working with a San Francisco-based chemist, Hickland personally formulated every product--from blushes and brushes to lip glosses and eye pencils - to her satisfaction. "I developed everything," she acknowledges, "and I'm terribly proud of it because it took unbelievable amounts of work."

"I own the company," she adds. "I took no investors and have 100 percent control. It took years of my earnings, but it was worth it because nothing had to suffer in the process of making things."

The two years that Hickland spent in research and development included testing her products on such "guinea pigs" as her fellow OLTL actresses, and even the occasional woman on the street. Naturally, no products were tested on animals - the pet lover wouldn't have it any other way.

The Cat Walk
Hickland makes up Lindsay's face herself each workday morning with the signature Cat Kit, a slim, portable case which includes bronzers, eyeshadows, blush and lip gloss. The OLTL stylists are now using the products, and the Cat Kit has even made its way into the dressing rooms of OLTL's sister soap, ALL MY CHILDREN.

But the Cat Kit is just the beginning. "I'm developing new things all the time," Hickland says. "It's an on-line catalog [catcosmetics.com], and you can also order toll-free at (888) 868-5477. We'll be going into stores at some point this year, and are going wholesale around May or June."

The Kitty Within
Cat Cosmetics may have an array of products, but Hickland explains that it's more than just a make-up line. Its philosophy is best summed up with the company's logo: a kitten looking in the mirror who sees a lion. "You are what you think, so think great things," she says. "There's a piece inside the kit that says just that, and I want women to put it up on their refrigerator or their desk, because at any given moment of the day, since you are what you think, you can change what you think!"

"Think beautiful, and that's what you'll be," she concludes. "My products are just gilding the lily. The bottom line is, when you believe it, other people will see it."

FYI FYI FYI FYI
Born: February 11 in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
All her soaps: Prior to joining OLTL in May, 1998, Hickland played Tess Wilder on LOVING and THE CITY, the dual roles of Julie Clegg and Jenny Diamond on Capitol, and Dr. Courtney Marshall on TEXAS.
TV guide: Hickland has guest-starred on numerous primetime shows, and most recently appeared on LAW & ORDER.
Cat's dogs: With husband Michael E. Knight (Tad, AMC), Hickland has six cats and two dogs.

Cat Chat
Catherine Hickland shares a few tricks of the beauty trade

Although the multimillion-dollar cosmetics industry would have you think otherwise, Catherine Hickland maintains that when it comes to make-up, there are no rules, just good tools. "You should wear what you like and what makes you feel good," she says, adding that the key often is in the application. Here the actress shares some of Cat Cosmetics' expert advice:

Begin with a make-up primer: "Velvet Purrfection is one item you truly should have, especially if you have tortured, dry skin. Your skin will feel like velvet! It will make your make-up last for hours. I use it on my lips, my face, my hands - even my hair every now and then. It is incredible."

Use sponges for application: "Blending is absolutely everything to great make-up," says Hickland. "And Cat Cosmetics' eight-piece sponge wheel is an absolute must-have if you like to wear foundation. The wheel is precut into eight perfect pieces, and the sponge is washable with soap and water, making it a prodcut that will be reusable and long-lasting. I also like to use these sponges to apply powder (dry, of course!) - in fact, I prefer it to a powder puff! Because of the sharp corners, it makes applying product in the hard-to-reach areas of your face easy."

First invest in a few good brushes: "Your makeup is only as good as your brushes. So I designed a mini-brush set with a smudger, eyeshadow and eyeliner, eyebrow and contour, all of which I use to do my face on the show. With blushes, bronzers and eyeshadows, always remember to tap extra powder off before application."

For more information, log onto catcosmetics.com.