Carmen Luisa of San Joaquin, CA – Make-up Artist Interview
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 made up my mind at the age of eight to become a make up artist, i have kept that goal since, but when i become fourteen years of age, i wanted to enlist in the Army. I was inspired by a local beauty shop to become a MUA.
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 life motto: Earth is your runway, the sun is your spot light.
Q: Tell a little about yourself personally and if you attended school or you are a self taught makeup artist?
A: I am 19 year old make up artist, who attend Milan Institute of Clovis in California. I have worked with many local photographers as well as local designers. I have been interested in being a make up artist since the age of eight, I have kept that goal to this day and I am happy with what I have chose to become.
Q: Do you think going to school for make-up artistry is important to excel in the business later on?
A: It is very important. It is good to know what type of chemicals products contain, it would be a lot easier that way for when it comes to working on some one who might be allergic to some of the stuff in the product. You also get the knowledge of how to hide flaws as well as to know how to work with people’s eye shapes and bone structures.
Q: What is your favorite or most exciting aspect about your job?
A: The different people i work with, everday is a new experience.
Q: What surprises you most about working as a makeup artist?
A: How creative i can get. You use pretty much anything when it comes to make up.
Q: Describe your “Classic Approach to Beauty.” how do you define beauty?
A: Beauty is not created, one is beautiful as they are, make up helps them define it.
Q: What individual products and brands you’re “addicted” to at the moment and you use on a daily basis?
A: I love using everything from Sephora except for the foundation and mineralizer. My foundation and mineralizer are from MAC. Those two stores are beyond amazing.
Q: What are some of the most basic but effective skin care tips in general that you have, that are really important?
A: Wash your face twice a day, morning and evening, if you work out, wash right after, this will help keep your face clean. When you use make up, be sure to use a mineral cream before application.
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: Thank goodness i have not.
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: Women tend to get any type of foundation with out taking in consideration their skin type, that leads to acne or black heads.
Q: Do teenage girls needs to splurge on high-priced makeup products, or are drugstore items are just as satisfactory?
A: Teenage girls, should not use make up at all. They still have their baby faces and they are only causing pre-mature aging with out letting their pores breathe. If they do apply make up, they should not use anything from a drug store, drug store make up may be old or not good enough for skin.
Q: What feature(s) do you love to accentuate and why?
A: I love working with the eyes, you can do so much.
Q: What are your steps for the perfect, flawless, natural look?
A: Always use sunscreen and always wash your face. For all the heavy make up users, be sure to let your face rest at least once a week from any make up.
Q: What is a really quick way to change a day look to a special occasion or nighttime face?
A: Your eyeshadow should be light during the day, and when it comes to the night, apply dark eyeshadow.
Q: What are the differences between applying makeup on models and on real women?
A: Models need ALOT of make up for photoshoots, the more the applied the better, women who are just going out should not use the same amount of make up or they will look like clowns. (No offense to the clowns)
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 is my fav, truthfully i have not tried creme/gel base, so i dont know if i’d like it, but pencil is so hard to work with when it comes to a clean look.
Q: Lip gloss or Lipstick. Which product is best? Why?
A: Lipstick gives you a strong look.
Q: What should a client consider before deciding to try permanent makeup? What is the difference between permanent and semi-permanent makeup?
A: Once its on, it never comes off. Semi-permanent eventually comes off.
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: Gel based from MAC, it last longer and you do not need to touch it up.
Q: What do your clients think of you? What are some individual testimonials?
A: I have never had complains. They all come back to me.
Q: What tips and advice do you have for aspiring makeup artists just starting out?
A: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!
Visit Carmen Luisa’s MySpace and ModelMayhem profiles.
