Salina Marie – Painter and Make-up Artist Interview
Q: Do you think going to school for make-up artistry is important to excel in the business later on?
A: Personally I don’t believe schooling is necessary to make it in the industry where you want to go. If your art is great and its self taught, that takes far more work than going to a class.
Yes, schooling is important to learn new techniques but for those who cannot attend dues to financial reasons, its hard. Those who teach themselves and really take the time to study others and practice their talent have respect from me.
Q: Tell a little about yourself personally and if you attended school or you are a self taught makeup artist?
A: I just turned 21 and am more than ready to get my makeup career up and running. I haven’t had the opportunity to be certified through a school but I am working with my God given talents and I practice everyday to perfect my gift. I’ve been practicing makeup for 6 years. I absolutely love color!
Pigments make me the happiest because the color is so bold. I really enjoy working with new people, new faces, new personalities. A trademark I have is to give each client I work with a compliment. Its a confidence booster and who doesn’t like to hear something nice :).
Everyone has a special trait about them and I like to bring that out. Just recently I updated my portfolio and have been networking with new photographers as well as new clients. Life is good :)
Q: Did you always wanted to be an artist, or did you stumble upon your talent by chance? Who or what inspired you to become a makeup artist?
A: Art has always been in my heart. Before I discovered makeup I painted. I am a talented painter and makeup is just another art form from that. Makeup allows me to incorporate my painting skills with pigments to put art from a canvas, to a face. There’s no one person who first inspired me to become a makeup artist, but color did. Being able to experiment with different colors made me want to do more with tools other than paint.
Q: What is your favorite or most exciting aspect about your job?
A: Seeing the end result. Naturally beautiful girls come to me with self doubt. No one can believe they’re beautiful anymore because media forces them to believe there’s always something that needs to be improved. Even the simplest makeup can make someone happy, and I love to bring that smile to their face by showing them how beautiful they really are.
Q: What surprises you most about working as a makeup artist?
A: The things you can create with eyeshadow. I’ve seen some crazy stuff :) Its always fun to experiment
Q: Describe your “Classic Approach to Beauty.” how do you define beauty?
A: Beauty is self love. Its cliche but its true. Even with all the makeup on the outside you can’t truly be beautiful if you don’t love yourself. To me, my classic approach to beauty is creating a clean face, hair pulled completely back, and let your beauty radiate…oh yeah and a touch of rose blush ;]
Q: What individual products and brands you’re “addicted” to at the moment and you use on a daily basis?
A: I use soooo many different kinds of makeup. I’m addicted to new things :) Currently I’m addicted to these organic bamboo brushes from Walgreens. So soft, and that’s good for the clients too! Also I love my Scandalous Cosmetics shadow base. Makes all my shadows pop!
Q: What are some of the most basic but effective skin care tips in general that you have, that are really important?
A: Take off your makeup at night :) and moisturize daily.
Q: What is the biggest skin care dont’s?
A: Don’t wash your face with bar soap. It’s damaging to your face because it will dry your skin out. If you have to, use Dove, its pretty moisturizing.
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: Recently for a magazine cover I had to work with an older woman who kept telling me how she does her makeup at home, and she likes it this way, and do it this way to make her eyes look bigger. Obviously I knew what I was doing, I’m the makeup artist and I’m in charge of the creativity, however I bit my tongue and worked with her. Instead of saying, No I’m doing this my way, I incorporated what she preferred with my own style. I’ll just say she ended up loving it :)
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: Not blending. I see a lot of women with the potential to have really nice eyeshadow but they just apply it with the cheap sponge applicator and in one solid color not blending the harsh lines. The worse thing she can do to her skin is keep using a bad foundation that doesn’t react well with her skin. If it makes you break out, change it up!
Q: What do you think are best/worst trends in the makeup / skin care industry right now?
A: Makeup is always changing, I cant pin point one specific trend I like, but I always enjoy some high fashion runway eyes.
Q: Do teenage girls needs to splurge on high-priced makeup products, or are drugstore items are just as satisfactory?
A: Yes and No. To get a really good foundation and concealer I’d spend the extra money at a makeup counter. It’ll be better aimed at your skin type and offer more coverage. A lot of powders and concealers at drug stores are less coverage, which might be good for those who don’t need full coverage. Eyeshadows you can buy anywhere, as long as you buy even a cream base to match the powder shadow, you’ll be fine. Lipsticks you can purchase at drug stores and save some money. Same great color :)
Q: What feature(s) do you love to accentuate?
A: The eyes and the cheek bones.
Q: What are your steps for the perfect, flawless, natural look?
A: Moisturize your face. Apply concealer just in the problem areas. Then brush on some powder. Apply a dark black mascara, put on some bronzer and a touch of peach blush. finish with some clear gloss :)
Q: What is a really quick way to change a day look to a special occasion or nighttime face?
A: Eyeliner and lip stick. Any plum eyeshadow on the lid, a nice cat eye or just liner on the top and add a nice red or pink lip stick :)
Q: What are the differences between applying makeup on models and on real women?
A: Models tend to look “perfect” their skin is treated more with tighteners and moisturizers, they usually get the high end product treatments. Its easy to put any dramatic colors on them and get a pretty flawless finished look each time. Real women have many more different skin types and problems that need to be covered. They are a bit more of a challenge. All women are beautiful though.
Q: In terms of eyeliner, if you had to choose between a pencil, liquid, or creme/gel based, which one would you choose? Why?
A: Liquid because it provides a clean sharp look that I love. And also a creme liner for the waterline, its more gentle and will stay longer.
Q: Lip gloss or Lipstick. Which product is best? Why?
A: They are both good for their own reasons. Gloss if you want a soft look, and lip stick for more color and more drama.
Q: What should a client consider before deciding to try permanent makeup? What is the difference between permanent and semi-permanent makeup?
A: I’m not too familiar with permanent and semi permanent makeup. But with anything like that I believe the client should consider if it’s really necessary.
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: Anything from MAC or Clinique. MAC for super coverage. It’s a full coverage product so it’ll be heavier. And my Clinique concealer is a step below full coverage. Its creamy and natural, really blends into the skin well.
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: Yes I believe so. Air brush will always create a flawless even look. You can sometimes look un-even with sponge or finger application. Also it’ll blend the line of makeup between your face and neck. The jawline is usually a trouble area for some women creating a mask. Air brushing would eliminate that problem.
Q: What do your clients think of you? What are some individual testimonials?
A: Lately I’ve been told that I’m inspirational :) I’ve said that to many other makeup artist but to receive that kind of feedback, it’s awesome.
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: I’d like to be certified, build a career with my photographer fiance as a makeup artist/photography studio duo, and continue to inspire future makeup artists.
Q: What tips and advice do you have for aspiring makeup artists just starting out?
A: Do it. If you love makeup, practice. No one starts off a pro, don’t get discouraged. Like any other talent, do your homework, study, and practice :)
Visit her MySpace profile here.
I would like to be a part of your database of makeup artists. I live in Atlanta, Ga and professionally doing makeup for 8 years now. i am self taught, although I have most recently found that certification was needed to excel. I was blessed to go to epro.com. Great school i will graduate this December.
Question is; will the job market change? I want to work on set, and do more editorials, backstage at Fashion Week NYC. got any info or how to’s?