One thing I love as a Makeup Artist is seeing how other makeup artist’s work – It’s amazing how two artists can come to the same end result, but take an entirely different application journey to get there…
Like any of us, we all have our own techniques and signature applications that make us the makeup artists we are, but it’s also nice to collaborate and get new ideas – you can never stop learning, no matter how advanced you are!
I sat down with LA based Makeup Artist Lilit (@makeupbylilit) who was visiting Australia facilitating makeup education workshops and it didn’t take long to see why she was booked out!!
With 13 years experience from weddings, studio, print and TV, to now holding master classes to give all her expertise to women, Lilit understands the art of makeup and excels in creating real life makeup looks for all occasions and I must say, I was impressed.
I follow a lot of international makeup artists on instagram – it’s nice to see what everyone is up too – but there are some I follow that take makeup to the extreme, so I was very intrigued to see if Lilit, especially seeing she has over 800k followers, believed in the same principles as most Aussie makeup Artists – natural skin with light contouring!
How much is too much when contouring?
Contouring on some large beauty Instagram accounts from LA and the Middle East are just out of control and almost drag like, something that is so foreign to me in my work as a Makeup Artist.
This made me very interested in Lilit’s take on the instagram ‘Contouring on Steroids’ looks…
“I think it’s hard to get that balance… We have working Makeup Artists who work with models/celebrities, that know trends, creating realistic makeup looks, and then we have Instagram makeup artists who only have that one little window to show their work and I call it Art…
They are creating an artistic makeup look, either with high contouring or a close up eye, but pull it back, zoom out and it would be not something you would be seen in realistically.
They do this as ‘Art’ style makeup images on Instagram get a lot of likes and followers, but would you wear this in real life? A working makeup artist would say no!”
Spot on, I couldn’t of said it better myself.
Instagram Vs. Reality
We also discussed the instagram type of artist have great lighting, they use full coverage and almost want to get attention by applying a severe version of contouring… Yes it can look flawless, but what about in real life and outdoor lighting?
I personally take my trends from Red Carpet looks, these are often started in daylight – contouring is meant to lift and sculpt, not take over your look and I feel its always important that the look you create can be received positively in day and night light.
Lilit also had some good news, people in LA are starting to lighten their looks and getting fresher, even Kim Kardashian – woohoo!!
Beauty Store Makeup Artist’s do exist…
Lilit’s start in makeup had a similar tune to my journey – working in the cosmetic industry, gaining experience with all different beauty brands – working on real women in a retail environment.
With mum being a hairdresser and Lilit offering makeup services to clients, working in a beauty store was a big learning experience for her…
“My best experience in my early days was working in a beauty store, you constantly have all different clients, with completely concerns and skin types/tones and with trial and error, you learn what works and what doesn’t…
Plus you are trying all different brands/textures so your product knowledge becomes so great!”
Having started in my career in the cosmetic, retail industry also, we both agreed that new, upcoming makeup artists should try a stint in a department or makeup store…
You get to apply makeup after makeup, try new techniques, play with great product and have real concerns that need to be addressed, so your skills grow very quickly, whereas in a freelance world, models are young with beautiful skin, so you are often not challenged – it made a huge difference to my makeup world and techniques.
Lilit’s top tip for makeup artists;
“You are not going to network by sitting at home posting on instagram, likes are one thing, but contacts are everything. Working in a beauty store connects you with regular clients and beauty brands, plus grows your techniques…”
This is something very easy to do part time and can incorporate your freelance work within the week.
Why Instagram?
Lilit is now a brand, a big one at that.
Starting with organizing (her own idea) 1-day seminars at the beauty store she worked at with regular clients, to continued makeup bookings on the weekends while working her 9-5 job during the week, Lilit finally had so many clients it became full time.
Facebook was Lilit’s first place of word of mouth and then when Instagram came along, she found it the perfect business platform to not only show her work, but also create word of mouth for makeup work on her regular clients and her now, ever so famous master classes which grew so quickly…
“I had too much knowledge and techniques, not only on my own face, but for everyone’s concerns to just do YouTube tutorials… My Master classes give personalized advice and not just for one face…”
To me, you can’t beat a personal makeup lesson – we all know that no face is the same, so why copy someone else’s look, when you can master your own!
MB and Lilt both agreed on the power of social media…
Social Media has replaced the old style portfolio’s that makeup artists used to carry to show their work to potential clients and it’s even replaced websites in a way… You can post your best work, create hash tags, so potential clients can search your work at any time!
Lilit’s new venture is her own line of makeup, starting with what she says is the one of the most important parts of makeup, foundation!
Elcie (meaning Unique) Foundation is smooth, silky and blends beautifully onto the skin, even with a liquid to powder finish – I was impressed, but a makeup artist creating a foundation = winning!
Lilit’s quick Makeup tips…
MB: Is there such a thing as your favorite makeup brand?
Do people only wear the same brand of clothing? No…
MB: What’s your top tip for any woman to focus on to perfect?
Skin – this is everything for makeup, it’s your base so don’t ignore it and understand it.
Foundation – this is what perfects the skin, there is really only one formula fir each woman.
Eyebrows – they frame, lift and add balance… (Although the LA brow is much more styled than the Aussie brushed up brow)
MB: What’s your take on using colour?
Right now its all about the face, the red carpet look on a regular basis – this consists of highlight and shade in nude tones. Colour if used, should be minimal if on the eyes, otherwise it can appear you are wearing more makeup… Keep it for your lips
