Raquel Siders Make-up Artist – VIP-CAT Academy of Cosmetic Arts
An informative and truly passionate interview with someone who truly loves makeup and creating beauty: Raquel Siders of of Image Provocateur and VIP-CAT Cosmetics.
Q: Tell a little about yourself personally and if you attended school or you are a self taught makeup artist?
A: Originally I was self taught but over the last 10 years have attended classes all over the world learning as much as I could to perfect my skill even more.
Q: Do you think going to school for make-up artistry is important to excel in the business later on?
A: Yes I very much think it is, you should never stop learning. This is an ever changing and enhancing field.
Q: Did you always want to be an artist, or did you stumble upon your talent by chance? Who or what inspired you to become a makeup artist?
A: Oh my gosh… I was in love with makeup since I was a small child. There really was no other option for me.
Q: What is your favorite or most exciting aspect about your job?
A: I love to make people beautiful… I see each face/body as a canvas to create a new work of art on.
Q: What surprises you most about working as a makeup artist?
A: everyday is something new and fun… it’s never the same. I love making people feel good about themselves or capturing that look that they were going for.
Q: Describe your “Classic Approach to Beauty.” how do you define beauty?
A: Every person is beautiful, I don’t make them beautiful, I just bring it out and show it, help them own their own beauty.
Q: What individual products and brands you’re “addicted” to at the moment and you use on a daily basis?
A: I am totally addicted to VIP-CAT Cosmetics, not just because I am one of the creators, but because it’s truly an amazing product… that and Revlon Color Stay Foundation… you can’t miss with that one.
Q: What are some of the most basic but effective skin care tips in general that you have, that are really important?
A: Please please please properly cleanse and moisturize your skin… every morning and night. Don’t forget the sun screen.
Q: What is the biggest skin care don’ts?
A: do not go to bed with your makeup on.
Q: Have you had an extreme, crazy or bad experience with a skin care product or during a makeup session? If so, what happened?
A: Yes… ask people for allergies before you use products. I put a moisturizing product that was new I was trying on my sister and she broke out in hives… luckily it was my sister. Know your ingredients and ask your clients if they have any known allergies.
Q: What do you find to be the most common mistakes women make with makeup? What’s the worst thing a woman can do to her skin?
A: the worst thing a woman can do to her skin is smoke. Often I see women intimidated by makeup; makeup is supposed to be fun and is a form or paint and adornment. Have fun with it, play around, get wild. There are no mistakes, it washes off.
Q: What do you think are best/worst trends in the makeup / skin care industry right now?
A: Right now pretty much anything goes… there isn’t one thing that I think is bad… its all about how you wear it, apply it and most of all rock it.
Q: Do teenage girls needs to splurge on high-priced makeup products, or are drugstore items are just as satisfactory?
A: there are some drugstore items that are good, as well as some higher end items too. The person should take into account their needs, and desired goal and performance of the cosmetics.
The main thing with the drugstore brands is that generally they don’t deliver the same staying power, hydration, pigment and color purity as the more expensive brands.
Q: What feature(s) do you love to accentuate?
A: The eyes are my favorite… always the eyes.
Q: What are your steps for the perfect, flawless, natural look?
A: Start with well moisturized skin, and work with colors that have a golden or peachy undertone to get the natural dewy look.
Q: What is a really quick way to change a day look to a special occasion or nighttime face?
A: An espresso shadow in your crease and a deeper lip stick will turn any day or natural look into a more smoldering evening our going out look.
Q: What are the differences between applying makeup on models and on real women?
A: People are people; models are most of the time used to having makeup applied and tend not to blink as much as people who do not have makeup applied on an everyday basis… but both are wonderful and always fun.
Q: In terms of eyeliner, if you had to choose between a pencil, liquid, or crème/gel based, which one would you choose? Why?
A: Cream/gel hands down. You get the fluidity and depth of liquid, the staying power of powder and its smoother then pencil and doesn’t rub off or move with body heat like pencil does.
Q: Lip gloss or Lipstick. Which product is best? Why?
A: Both are the best… it all just depends on what look you are going for and what your desired end result is.
Q: What should a client consider before deciding to try permanent makeup? What is the difference between permanent and semi-permanent makeup?
A: I hate permanent makeup… most people think its a one time shot… they don’t realize that you have to get regular touch ups every couple of years or it fades and changes colors and you end up with pink eyebrows. Permanent makeup was the biggest mistake I ever did… plus hello, how good do you think it feels with a tattoo needle on your eye?? Don’t do it.
Q: What brand/type of concealer is your favorite for covering up the after effects of a late night out i.e. under-eye circles, blemishes?
A: VIP-CAT cream base, its light and fully pigmented so it go on weightless and gives you 100% coverage and doesn’t travel/melt and move around with body heat.
Q: How about airbrush spray makeup trend? Are these products better or easier to use than standard sponge or finger application? If yes when would you recommend using them?
A: Airbrush is great for special effects, not for bridal. Bridal makeup needs to look good up-close as well as far away, in color and black and white photography.
Airbrush just hasn’t been good on brides in my opinion, once it’s on, it’s on… there is no blending or retouching, your done. However for special effects and cool photo shoots you can do amazing work with airbrush!!! Love it for that.
Q: What do your clients think of you? What are some individual testimonials?
A: My clients love me… most of them would like to put me in their pockets or have me sit on their bathroom counter to get them ready every morning.
Testimonial: This is a message for Raquel and her FABULOUS team of hair and makeup artists who worked on me. You guys are extremely talented and I just had to send you a message to thank you because you made me feel absolutely gorgeous on my special day. And not only that, but I felt just as beautiful at midnight as I did right after you finished my hair and makeup…your waterproofing system REALLY works!! We were all so amazed by your system! I will definitely be recommending you to anyone and everyone getting married and/or who just wants to look fabulous!!
Q: Would you share some of your future goals, your life motto, any words of wisdom that get you by in life and professional career?
A: My future goals??? To make the world beautiful!!! I just launched the first makeup academy in Northern California (10/08) and will be opening a salon and makeup academy in Vegas (10/09) and then moving onto Miami.
I just want to share my love and passion for this industry with other professionals and help them have a fun and exciting career doing what they love.
My professional motto… the sky is the limit, do what you love and you will never work a day in your life. People ask me what I do for fun, and I tell them this is my fun. My career is my ultimate fun… who wouldn’t have fun making people beautiful every day?? I have the greatest job in the world!!
Q: What tips and advice do you have for aspiring makeup artists just starting out?
A: Learn as much as you can, read as much and watch movies… pay attention to the makeup. Also always stay on top of the current trends are, always try new products so you will be able to answer your clients questions honestly and advise them properly.