Lisa Johnson – Freelance Make-up & Hair Artist Interview
Q: Tell a little about yourself personally and if you attended school or you are a self taught makeup artist?
A: Self taught makeup artist – Lancome freelance makeup artist – Background in art and painting.
Q: Do you think going to school for make-up artistry is important to excel in the business later on?
A: A school is only as good as the instructors’ portfolio and ‘working’ resume – so not necessarily. I think a business background is more important. You’re either an artist or you’re not.
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: I’ve always been an artist – i have a business background and work history. A chance job opportunity brought me back to the fold and back to makeup and artistry.
Q: What is your favorite or most exciting aspect about your job?
A: The chance to create something beautiful.
Q: What surprises you most about working as a makeup artist?
A: How varied my day can be – every single day is different!
Q: Describe your “Classic Approach to Beauty.” how do you define beauty?
A: Beauty is found in the oddest places sometimes.
Q: What individual products and brands you’re “addicted” to at the moment and you use on a daily basis?
A: There are SO many! Face Atelier foundations are AHMAZING as are DIOR lipsticks and MAKE UP FOREVER anything.
Q: What are some of the most basic but effective skin care tips in general that you have, that are really important?
A: Cleanse, tone, moisturize, mask – my mantra. Please do not sleep in your makeup.
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: Not yet. I get to know my products very well.
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: Too much of the wrong kind of makeup or color. Not blending and not base matching. Wearing every color on the chart ..at once..NO!
Q: What do you think are best/worst trends in the makeup / skin care industry right now?
A: Clean beauty – naked makeup – looking like you have no makeup is my favorite at the moment.
Q: Do teenage girls needs to splurge on high-priced makeup products, or are drugstore items are just as satisfactory?
A: Every good makeup artist will tell you – spend your money on a good skincare regime (I love Lancome and there are so many good lines) and spend your money on foundation and powders. Drugstore lines have some amazing buys! L’oreal, Revlon, Cover Girl, many other lines.
Q: What feature(s) do you love to accentuate and why?
A: The skin – making it flawless makes all the other features pop. Eyes are the windows to the soul.
Q: What are your steps for the perfect, flawless, natural look?
A: Cleanse, tone, moisturize – the appropriate foundation product for YOUR skin.
Q: What is a really quick way to change a day look to a special occasion or nighttime face?
A: Accentuate your lips or your eyes – pick one and make it perfect. Add a touch of shimmer.
Q: What are the differences between applying makeup on models and on real women?
A: Models are rare creatures with perfect skin and bone structure and they tell really bad jokes.
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: They all work differently – I’m biased on using all lightly for most. I favor a felt tip based eyeliner product most days.
Q: Lip gloss or Lipstick. Which product is best? Why?
A: Both! Lipstick for pigment and depth – Glosses for sheer shimmer and shine.
Q: What should a client consider before deciding to try permanent makeup? What is the difference between permanent and semi-permanent makeup?
A: ACK! NEVER DO IT! SO BAD. SCARY, and I’m not kidding…
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: Eve Pearl Salmon concealer is a great find.
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: It’s a TOOL. I am a reluctant airbrush makeup artist – I’m more partial to hand applied – I like a little porosity and the real look of skin. If you can’t blend and hand apply traditional makeup, you probably can’t do airbrush well either.
Q: What do your clients think of you? What are some individual testimonials?
A: You’ll have to ask them! :)
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: It’s only makeup – it washes off. :) My goals are to continue learning and doing what I love, makeup.
Q: What tips and advice do you have for aspiring makeup artists just starting out?
A: Assist a professional for your education – save your pennies – get a business degree. NEVER UNDERCUT!!!
Visit Lisa’s official make-up artist website and Twitter profile.
