If you were given 15 Minutes with top makeup artists…what would you want to know?

The Sydney International Spa & Beauty Expo, the largest event in Australia for the spa and beauty industries, was held recently in Sydney Australia. This event brings together the highest caliber of talent, the best of the beauty business, and the highly anticipated beauty competitions! I was lucky to sit down with the three makeup artists presenting at the event and this is a snapshot of what I learned from each of them. Enjoy!

BECCA GILMARTIN
Sydney based hair, makeup and body artist. Just one look at Becca’s work will leave you in awe.

Becca Gilmartin (Photo Credit: Becca Gilmartin/ Sunrise)

Becca’s Top Tips: (these tips apply for your own makeup or if you work in the industry)

• Makeup is the same as art….there is no difference
• Observe other people and keep on learning
• Step back and look at your work, see what is missing and include next time
• Stop listening to the internal chatter, that voice that stops you doing things
• Your makeup isn’t complete if you haven’t addressed the brows

RACHEL MONTGOMERY
2011 AHFA Makeup Artist of the Year Rachel Montgomery has worked with Florence & The Machine, Cyndi Lauper, Collette Dinnigan, Akira Isogawa, Alex Perry and her work has been published in magazines Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Cleo and Oyster.

Rachel Montgomery (Photo Credit: Sydney International Spa & Beauty)

Rachel’s Top Tips: (these tips apply for your own makeup or if you work in the industry)

• When concealing, make sure to dot in the under eye area. Don’t highlight instead cover up
• Use a concealer color that is opposite the color you are trying to conceal on the color wheel. Eg Blue/Purple…use an orange base concealer
• Use a heated eyelash curler for lashes. Changing the battery to a lithium battery also helps as it heats a little more and helps you achieve beautiful curled lashes
• You don’t learn if you don’t make mistakes

Rachel is represented by Reload Agency Sydney

NICOLA BURFORD
Nicola Burford has created looks for celebrities including Dita Von Teese and Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas and has worked at international collections including Donna Karan, Oscar De La Renta, Alexander McQueen, Chloe, Balenciaga, Burberry, Vivienne Westwood, Missoni, Pucci, DSquared and Salvatore Ferragomi.

Nicola Burford (Photo Credit: Sydney International Spa & Beauty)

Nicola’s Top Tips: (these tips apply for your own makeup or if you work in the industry)

• Choose a range of makeup and makeup brushes from multiple brands. Find the products that suit you within each brand.
• Use a mascara that is not too wet but more creamy as it works well if you need to use disposable mascara wands.
• When concealing, use color theory and color very cleverly. Don’t try to cover with layers instead use color correction.
• When using an eyelash curler, use firstly at the base for 30 seconds, half way up the lash again and then on the tips. This will give a very natural and full curl instead of an unnatural curl.
• Nothing is “wrong” in makeup as it is all makeup artistry.

It totally amazed me to know that all three artists had worked their way up in the industry by assisting and learning all they could and in most cases for free to get where they are. They also focused on continually learning and learning from a variety of sources.

The one thing that stuck out to me the most was, they all said when they started believing in themselves, started believing that the work they did was an extension of them and the best they could do, when they stopped listening to the little voice that stops us from really showing who we are and being the best we can be then their careers started taking shape and forging ahead. I think there is a piece of that, that we can all learn from.

Guest post by Liz See

Liz is the founder of Get Threaded (a global business specializing in the ancient art of threading), The Eyebrow Experts (a beauty blog all about eyebrows), Get Mineraled Cosmetics (the largest range of brow makeup in the world) and The International Institute of Excellence (recognition for professionals).

Find Out More:
http://www.getthreadednow.com
http://www.theeyebrowexperts.com

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