Celebrity make-up artist and hair stylist Sally Van Swearingen, author of “It’s Not Over Yet – Reclaiming your REAL Beauty Power in your 40s, 50s and Beyond!,” will host a celebrity-studded book signing event 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Valencia.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita Valley.

Scheduled to appear at the event will be Lawrence Zarian, celebrity stylist and author of “Lawrence Zarian’s 10 Commandments for a Perfect Wardrobe,” and former CNN anchorwoman Bella Shaw.

Sally Van Swearingen

Van Swearingen, who is leading the charge in the revolution by women to take back their “Beauty Power,” is the creator of the Studio Essentials Cosmetics line and owner of the A-List Hair and Make-up Studio in Newhall.

Celebrity make-up artist Sally Van Swearingen of Santa Clarita will appear at a book signing at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Valencia.

She was named by Allure Magazine as “One of the best make-up artists in the country.”

Van Swearingen is a native Southern Californian. She was born in Northridge and is a graduate of Chatsworth High School. She attended Pierce College and California State University, Northridge.

After she decided to forgo a career in nursing, Van Swearingen set her sights on becoming an actress. That career goal also went by the wayside when she found her true calling.

Her “journey to beauty” began at age 19 when she discovered her passion for working with make-up when she took a stage make-up class in college.

“I discovered I was really good at working with make-up,” she said.

Van Swearingen worked with the Long Beach Civic Light Opera with a goal of becoming a make-up artist for the Broadway hit “Cats.”

“I was disappointed to learn that the actors do their own make-up in ‘Cats’,” she said. “So I moved on to other areas of make-up artistry.”

In her mid-20s Van Swearingen decided to specialize in bridal make-up.

Sally Van Swearingen at work.

“I loved working with brides,” she said.

She opened The Bridal Make-up Studio in Encino which she operated for 15 years.

“I’ve done thousands of brides in my career,” said Van Swearingen. “Working with brides is wonderful. You get a chance to make a bride into a ‘princess.’ For every bride her wedding day is her ‘red carpet’ moment.”

After 20 years working with brides she decided to shift her focus away from weddings in an effort to “take back my weekends.”

Van Swearingen began teaching make-up artists how to do bridal make-up and started working as a “platform educator” at make-up and beauty shows.

“Because of my expertise in bridal make-up I was invited to speak about the subject at events across the United States,” she said.

Celebrity make-up artist Sally Van Swearingen and former CNN anchorwoman Bella Shaw.

Van Swearingen soon became the “go-to” person on everything bridal and made numerous appearances on television as a bridal make-up expert.

She found herself in demand as a television make-up artist as well, working on commercial shoots, music videos, infomercials and commercial promos.

Van Swearingen also is a specialist in make-up for men, which led to her landing the job of making up announcers for NBC Sports.

After moving to the Santa Clarita Valley Van Swearingen decided to add hair styling to her repertoire of skills.

“We often have to reinvent ourselves,” she said.

Van Swearingen said many of the tricks she has learned as a professional make-up artist can be used by women in their everyday lives.

“There are specific make-up techniques that are used universally in the entertainment industry, used by all make-up artists, that enhance every woman’s face,” she said. “These are easy, simple tricks that can be used by every woman,” she said.

“It’s Not Over Yet”

Van Swearingen decided to share her “beauty power” secrets by writing “It’s Not Over Yet – Reclaiming your REAL

Sally Van Swearingen at her salon, The A-List, in Newhall.

Beauty Power in your 40s, 50s and Beyond!”

“I would say that my life’s work has been to bring out the total beauty in every woman with whom I have worked,” she said. “I truly love my job and have never tired of it. I also know a thing or two about growing up a pretty, vivacious blonde, and being content with it, taking it for granted, then seeing my beauty power slipping away after childbirth, weight gain and aging. People treated me differently. In my business, doors didn’t open as easily as before.”

Van Swearingen said women don’t need to get a facelift or endure other cosmetic procedures to reclaim their “beauty power.”

“I’ve been that invisible woman, when I was in my 40s, that I thought my time was over,” she said. “But I learned that it’s not over yet and I want every woman to embrace her authentic beauty. It’s not about facelifts or liposuction; it’s about using what you have and enhancing your own ‘Beauty Power.’”

Book Signing at Barnes & Noble

Sally Van Swearingen autographs her book, “It’s Not Over Yet…” Photo by Michele E. Buttelman.

Guests will enter the Barnes & Noble book signing and meet-and-greet event by walking down the “pink carpet” and women will be treated to a make-up touchup by a studio make-up artist.

Van Swearingen will share her story in a Q and A session hosted by Bella Shaw.

Journalist Shaw became one of the early stars of the cable news revolution when she moved from an NBC affiliate station in Oklahoma City to CNN in Atlanta in 1983 where she became the anchor of “Newsday.” She moved to Los Angeles in 1989 to anchor CNN’s “Showbiz Today.” Shaw continues to be a familiar face on television as the host of numerous infomercials, crime expert on Investigation Discovery’s “Blood Relatives” and is breaking ground in the new media landscape as the principal behind BzS, the Business Spotlight Webisode Series.

Van Swearingen will be joined by special guest Lawrence Zarian, author and lifestyle and fashion expert.

Zarian is one of the most sought after on-camera lifestyle and fashion experts in the television industry today with numerous appearances on “Live With Kelly & Michael,” in addition to appearances on “Steve Harvey,” “Rachael Ray,” “The Doctors” and “Entertainment Tonight.” He has also made appearances on ABC’s “Live at The Academy Awards,” “Inside Edition,” “The Early Show,” “Extra,” “KTLA,” “Good Day LA” and “Dr. Phil.” Zarian has also hosted his own shows including “Red Carpet Fashion Wrap” and “The Fashion Team” on the TV Guide Network.

He will appear on ABC’s “On the Red Carpet” at the 2015 Academy Awards telecast on Feb. 22.

The book signing event will also feature raffles, giveaways and other freebies for attendees. The first 25 guests to purchase “It’s Not Over Yet” will receive a free t-shirt.

For More Info About Sally Van Swearingen

“It’s Not Over Yet” by Sally Van Swearingen book signing/meet and greet event at Barnes and Noble Valencia, 23630 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita will be held 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan 23.

For more information about Sally Van Swearingen, click here or visit here.