How did you get into makeup artistry?
I trained as a beautician originally but showed more interest in the makeup side of things. I loved all things fashion and couldn't stop looking at beauty shots in glossy magazines! I was always working on friends and eventually started working with fashion photographers to put a portfolio together which led to getting an agent. I went to Europe (Milan) straight away which is a fast introduction to fashion that's for sure, and the rest is history!

You have worked with a number of celebrities - who have you most enjoyed working with and why?
That's a hard one - they've all had their moments!

Probably Cindy Crawford as she was extremely down to earth and let me get on with my job without lots of unnecessary drama. She is very professional and treats her role as a job to be done not brain surgery! Which is how I like to work too. She was great fun when we had downtime and we went Xmas shopping together in Hong Kong. That was quite an experience as we arrived in a limo and they closed the whole store for us so we could take our time and she could have some privacy trying on clothes etc. There was quite a crowd outside when she came out!

I also loved working with Cate Blanchett as she has amazing bone structure and is a makeup artist's dream. She is also willing to try new looks and experiment, which is great.

What favourite products do you always have in your makeup kit?
I always have Joey NY Super Duper Lips Kit for great natural looking lips, Pout Illuminator to mix with foundation to give a healthy glow to the skin, Cargo lip gloss tin in Xai Xai (great nude tones), Cargo One Base for all imperfections, and Pout Flush Blush - a great creamy blusher in a tube that lasts forever and is super easy to use.

What is your philosophy on beauty?
A healthy lifestyle (or lack thereof) shows in your skin.

Less is more when it comes to make-up, and everyone can improve the way they look with the right makeup you've just got to know how.

What is the most common makeup mistake you see?
Put simply, too much makeup, which is badly executed. A lot of people see the latest trend and copy it from a magazine straight onto themselves without adjusting it to their own lifestyle and features. They forget that it was done for impact in a beauty spread and should not be taken literally but adjusted to suit the individual. Then you can wear it every day!

Do you have any makeup tricks that you would like to share?
Spend time and money on your skin, as a good canvas is the secret to great looking makeup.

On the same vein, spend most of your application time on getting the skin looking healthy, natural, and glowing - and then any amount of attention you put into eyes, lips etc will look better instantly.

 An illuminator either mixed in with foundation or dotted in key areas, such as; along the top of cheekbones and the inner corner of eye gives an instant glow and freshness to your skin and overall appearance.

A lip pencil all over your lips with matching sheer gloss on top is a great alternative to lipstick as it lasts longer and you only need to touch up with gloss during the day. No mirror required.

What made you want to set up your own store and training facility - The Makeup Studio?
So I wouldn't have to answer the 'most common makeup mistake' question anymore!!

Seriously though, I love helping people to look their best and this was the motivation behind my personal workshops for women.

I also want to pass on my 20 years of freelance knowledge to my professional students; there was nothing like this available to me when I started down the fashion road and I think it's a great opportunity to get a head start in a career in makeup. Plus, I love product and have made it my mission to seek out new and exciting products and makeup ideas to pass on to the public and my professional students.

The Makeup Studio
Level 1, 270 Victoria St
Hamilton
Ph: (07) 839 3851

Below: The Makeup Studio

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