Professional Makeup Artist Interview - Jennifer Toy

Jennifer Toy of JT Artistry is a makeup artist based out of San Francisco, California. She has a beautiful soft-glam style that she has graced many brides and models with. Some of her clients include Sony, Microsoft, Farmers Insurance, Sandisk, PG&E, and she has also worked with photographers and talent from Disney, Vogue, Atlantic Records, and the Golden State Warriors among others. I discovered Jennifer's work on instagram, and it is my great pleasure to share it with you now!


Q: How long have you been a working professional and how did you get started in your career?
A: 
I have been a professional makeup artist for about 8 years. I started my makeup career with MAC Cosmetics as their go-to artist for special events. After 3 years with MAC, I decided to go freelance. I haven’t looked back since!
 

Q: When did you know that you wanted to be a makeup artist?

A: 

It all started when I was in school getting my bachelor’s degree in Business. I loved beauty blogs and watching beauty videos on Youtube. All my friends knew me as makeup obsessed! It wasn’t until I was booked for my first small wedding during college that I fell in love with the makeup process. Seeing how confident and beautiful these women felt was priceless! 

Q: What do you love most about makeup and about your job?

A: I love meeting people from all walks of life, like successful girl-bosses to teenage prom queens. It’s always fun meeting new people and hearing their stories. What other job unites people all in the name of makeup?
 

Q: What is your signature makeup style and what trends/looks have you been loving?
A: 
My signature makeup style would be classy-glam. Think J Lo meets Beyonce. It’s timeless and looks amazing on everyone! I have been a huge fan of bold lips and soft eyes with minimum liner and lots of lashes!

Q: What are some of your go to, must have, all time favorite kit products?

A: Brow pencil is my secret weapon. It not only helps you shape beautiful brows but can be doubled as a liner. I use Anastasia Beverly Hills brow pencil. I love multi-purpose products! Concealer is another product that is perfect for a quick makeover. My favorite is MAC Pro Longwear Concealer. I use it to prime lids as well as blur imperfections on the skin.

Q: What products have you recently discovered and can’t live without?
A: 
One of my newest obsessions is the Tarte 'Tarlette In Bloom Palette'. It has the best neutral shades for all skin tones. It’s basically all you need for any eye shadow look. I also love the IT Cosmetics 'CC Cream' for a natural coverage with a dewy finish.

Q: Where do you draw your inspiration from?


A: I get my inspiration from my friends. I am constantly learning from the people around me. I imagine beautiful makeup looks to go with different outfits. 

Q: Who are some people that have inspired or influenced you throughout your career?
A: 
I have always been inspired by beauty gurus from Youtube and blogs. I started off with beauty blogging and have formed such a close bond with so many people, some of which are still my friends to this day.

Q: What is your most important piece of beauty advice and/or makeup tip for women?

A: Try something new. If you don’t like it, wipe it off! It’s makeup, not plastic surgery. Be open minded and don’t hate something you don’t know.

Q: What is your most important piece of advice for aspiring professionals?

A: Practice, practice, practice. There is no handbook for becoming a successful artist. You need to feel confident in your craft and be versatile in all faces. Speed comes in handy when working with celebrity clients or huge bridal parties. However, don’t compromise quality for speed.

Q: What is one thing you wish you had known starting out?
A: 
I wish I knew that my makeup journey would be like a roller coaster. There were times when I wanted to give up and then there were times where I was high on life. At the end of the day, I knew I was destined to do this.

Q: If you weren’t a makeup artist what would you be doing instead?

A: I would want to create customized palettes for every kind of woman and man. It would include everything you could ever need in one palette: skin, eyes, lips, lashes, brows. How cool would that be?

***

Website: www.jtartistry.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jtartistry

instagram: www.instagram.com/jtartistry

YouTube: www.youtube.com/jtartistry

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jtartistry

Professional Makeup Artist Interview - Kristina Gasperas

Fluent in three languages and national 'bridal makeup' winner  of The 2013 Wedding Industry Awards, Kristina Gasperas doesn't mess around. She and her team are based in London, UK and travel to the surrounding areas. 

I first found Kristina's work on instagram and was instantly drawn to it, especially because she is also a photographer like myself! Read on to hear her interview and make sure to visit her links!

Q: How long have you been a working artist and how did you get started in your career? 

A: I have been working as a makeup artist for 7 years and started my career after being inspired by my bridal makeover on my own wedding day. Shortly after my wedding I arranged a course with the same makeup artist who was in charge of my bridal makeup and have never looked back! It’s been the best decision I ever made.

Q: When did you know that you wanted to be a makeup artist? 

A: Having a great experience and makeover on my own wedding day planted the seed. I knew very soon after that this career was perfect for me instead of the corporate role that I was in at the time. I wanted to be able to make women feel and look amazing - just like my bridal makeup artist had done for me.

Q: What was your first memorable work as an artist?

A: You always remember your first paying client. I still remember receiving that first phone call about a week after my website went live. My hands were trembling with excitement! It was a bride with a small wedding party. I had the biggest sense of relief when the makeup trial went well and she booked me for her wedding day.

Q: What do you love most about makeup and about your job?

A: I love that the right makeup application can make women feel younger, more radiant and glow not just with beauty from the outside but also within. I like making my clients feel better about themselves and believe there is always a way all of them can look incredible! I really enjoy it when they look in the mirror and tell me they look the best they ever have, some even that they look 10 years younger! I know then that they’ll feel super-confident at whatever occasion they’re to attend.

Q: What is your signature makeup style and what trends/looks have you been loving?

A: The whole makeup world is into sculpting and strobing - shaping and reshaping the face with highlighters and sculpting products. Using light and dark sculpting tones can enhance, lift, give someone cheekbones, a temporary eyelift, reshape the nose and give a sharper jawline. Women love these makeup tricks and when applied well nobody needs to know that they are actually wearing corrective/enhancing products and application techniques. I also love using individual lashes to add instant but discreet glamour.

Q: What are some of your go to, must have, all-time favorite kit products?

A: MAC Paint Pot in “Painterly” for eye-base - makes powder eyeshadows stay put all day long!
Sublime de Chanel mascara - a perfect all-rounder with an incredible brush for smooth and easy application.
Shu Uemura eyelash curlers - nothing beats curled lashes, they take 5 years off the eyes and create an illusion of gently lifted outer corners and bigger eyes.
Charlotte Tilbury lip pencil Lip Cheat in “Pillow Talk” - the most perfect nude pink that works for most skin types.

Q: What products have you recently discovered and can’t live without?

A: Cosmetics à la Carte Silk Radiance Super-Fine Powder - it’s a perfect setting powder that doesn’t cake and makes the skin glow with radiance and health.
Charlotte Tilbury lip gloss Lip Lustre in “Seduction” - my brides absolutely love this colour, it’s a perfect nude tone and so beautifully glossy. It makes the lips look super-seductive.

Q: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

A: I follow lots of makeup artists whose work I enjoy in magazines and on social media; I subscribe to Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar; I check out the latest trends at red carpet events; I go to makeup masterclasses run by celebrity makeup artists to get the latest news and application tips; and I read lots of beauty blogs and product reviews. I have a small team of makeup artists - the K-Team - and we’re always experimenting with new looks and drawing inspiration from them.

 
Q: Who are some people that have inspired or influenced you throughout your career?

A: My makeup and photography teacher/mentor in Lithuania: Viktorija Vaišvilaitė-Skirutienė. She helped me change my life.

Q: How do you continue to grow your career as an artist?

A: I work hard, continue to improve my skills and keep it current. I treat each and every one of my clients with the love and attention they deserve, I want them to have the best experience at my hands and not just look amazing at the end. If they enjoy their time with me they’ll recommend me to their friends and the demand keeps growing. My small team keeps growing too because I’m lucky enough to have more work come my way than I would be able to deal with on my own.

Q: Where would you like to see yourself as an artist in the next 5-10 years?

A: I have started an academy of makeup and hairstyling which provides professional training and would like this to flourish and become a renowned institution in the industry. I would like to continue producing quality makeup artists and hairstylists who will raise the standards in the industry.

Q: What is your most important piece of beauty advice and/or makeup tip for women?

A: A good skincare regime will ensure that the skin is looking great and great looking skin is always more attractive than having to use lots of foundation to cover imperfections. Regular facial massages improve skin elasticity, get the blood flowing and give a younger, more radiant look.
Also have your eyebrows nicely shaped - it’ll enhance your eyes and make your overall makeup look flawless and clean.

Q: What is your most important piece of advice for aspiring professionals?

A: You should only choose this career if you are prepared to invest every spare moment into practicing and perfecting your skills as the room to grow is endless! Only the most determined and devoted makeup artists make it through to become someone special.

 
Q: What is one thing you wish you had known starting out?

A: That it takes time to achieve results and to be patient and not beat myself up when the going gets tough. Don’t expect perfection from the start.
People wrongly expect to become great at what they do in too short a space of time. Give yourself time to learn from your mistakes and to perfect your skills by practicing the same things over and over again, you’ll eventually become a master in what you do!

Q: If you weren’t a makeup artist what would you be doing instead?

A: I’d be a photographer. I’m a professionally trained portrait photographer and just love it! Photography is a key part of my makeup service - I send my clients professionally finished photographs of their completed look, so not only do they get a great makeover but also a nice memento. I’d be a beauty photographer as it gives me so much joy capturing women in the most flattering ways.

Website: www.kristinagasperas.com
Blog: www.kristinagasperas.com/blog
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KristinaGasperasmakeup
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kristinagasperasmua
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/krismal123
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Kristina_GaGa
Pinterest: uk.pinterest.com/KristinaGaGa

Heat-Free & Effortless Summer Hair

Today I partnered with the talented Deanna Mackenzie of Asanda Spa in Manhattan to bring you this super cute and easy-to-achieve hair tutorial. 

Deanna is a Senior Stylist at Asanda and has been in the hair industry for eleven years! She specializes in coloring, styling and cutting, and if you're looking for a fresh & modern short style, there is no one else you should turn to! Deanna says: "Being greatly influenced by both my mom and my sister, I had a love for hair at an early age. Lucky for me, I was able to pursue it as a career that I absolutely love. Doing hair for me is one of the many outlets that I'm able to express creativity."

Read on for the instructions, and follow Deanna on instagram: @colorcreatedesign

 

1. Create an ear to ear headband parting & clip away back center hair.

2. Grab hair from front sides, pull back and tie into a knot.

3. Let clipped hair down

4. Grab hair from sides and tie another knot on top of the hair just let down.

5. Tuck and secure ends underneath with a Bobby pin or hair pin.

6. Finish with Aveda Air Control for light to moderate hold or Aveda Control Force for a strong hold and humidity defense. 

What are your favorite effortless summer hairstyles?

 

Professional Makeup Artist Interview - Emily Hawtin

Emily Hawtin of EmMe Makeup Artistry is an on-site bridal and beauty makeup artist based out of Chattanooga Tennessee. I love the way Emily uses bright shades for a 'pop of color' on the cheeks and lips. That flushed, romantic style happens to be one of my personal favorite looks to create on bridal clients as well.

Emily and I connected over instagram and I could tell that she possessed a super sweet soul and would be the perfect kind of artist a bride would want for her wedding day. So all you Tennessee ladies, check her out!

Q: How long have you been a working professional and how did you get started in your career?
A: I’ve been a working professional makeup artist for over six years and I started my company (EmMe Makeup Artistry) three years ago. I started studying makeup in college where I got a B.A. in two subjects because, truth be told, I couldn’t pick just one. However, my favorite major was Theatre with a concentration in makeup artistry and costume design. After graduating, I became a Teaching Artist for schools in the TN and GA area, teaching stage makeup techniques while also working as an Executive Administrative Assistant (which is really just a made up title for secretary). While sitting at my desk one day, cranking out excel sheets, I realized I hated this job and I didn’t want 20 years to go by and still find myself sitting in a cubicle. So, with not a lot of money and a huge nudge from my husband, I started EmMe Makeup Artistry while studying additional makeup techniques at AMUA and MAC Pro and reading through a giant stack of business textbooks every night. Three years later, I’ve never been more grateful for that nudge.

Q: When did you know that you wanted to be a makeup artist?
A: My dad, a beautiful artist, inspired me to be artistic in my career pursuits. I’ve always been drawn to makeup, even as a little girl. So, naturally, I fell in love with makeup artistry as a career path. I remember being mesmerized as I watched my mother apply her makeup each morning; playing with her empty compacts when she got through with each product. When I was 12 she took me to MAC and got me my very first makeup brush (which I still carry in my brush belt today). It was then that I realized being a makeup artist was an actual job you could have. Every birthday and holiday, I would always ask for makeup (something that still holds true today).
 
Q: What do you love most about makeup and about your job?
A: I love that makeup is always changing and evolving. Each season has different trends and each brand is coming out with innovative ways to apply and wear makeup. Being a makeup artist means you always have something to learn whether from fellow artists or clients. I love that each job is different and that I never feel stagnant; I’m always growing and moving. It’s one of the few jobs that I think pushes you to constantly keep learning and developing.

Q: What is your signature makeup style and what trends/looks have you been loving?
A: My signature makeup style is to enhance, not hide. I believe that makeup should be used to highlight and accentuate each person’s natural beauty, not diminish it. We are each individually made and wonderfully beautiful; so let's celebrate that! My favorite trends of the moment are bright, satin/matte lips, dewy/highlighted skin and a full, natural brow.
 
Q: What are some of your go to, must have, all time favorite kit products?

Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer
BECCA Backlight Priming Filter
Stila Convertible Cheek & Lip Color (all colors)
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle
MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack and Dip Down
MAC Lipsticks
 

Q: What products have you recently discovered and can’t live without?

Colour Pop Ultra Satin lips (all the bright colors)
Too Faced Natural Matte Palette
Tartelette In Bloom Palette
Clinique Cheek Pops
Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Highlighter

Q: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
A: I find inspiration in everything: other artists, film, books, the seasons... Most recently I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole of Netflix binging and I’ve been watching a show called Phryne Fisher that’s set in the 1920’s so I’ve been obsessing over twenties makeup and finding inspiration there.

Q: Who are some people that have inspired or influenced you throughout your career?
A: The people that have inspired me along the way and made the biggest influence on the way I view my art and my business is other makeup artists. To name just a few: Harriet Hadfield, Sanni Sorma and Lisa Eldridge (of course).


Q: What is your most important piece of beauty advice and/or makeup tip for women?
A: Spend time and money on your skincare and base products (i.e. foundation, concealer) and everything else can be lower priced (i.e. lipstick, mascara). I realize not everyone wants or can buy the $50 tube of lipstick so spending time and money on your base products will make all the difference in how your makeup looks and feels.

Q: What is your most important piece of advice for aspiring professionals?
A: Practice, practice, practice! And, say, “Yes,” your first year to every opportunity that comes your way - no matter how small. You never know what that opportunity could gift you with. Always be open minded; you are never too old to learn.

Q: What is one thing you wish you had known starting out?
A: I wish I had gotten a business degree in some capacity because starting a business with no prior knowledge made everything a mountain of learning that I had to scale.

Q: If you weren’t a makeup artist what would you be doing instead?
A: I think I would have been an elementary school teacher. It’s the only other job that I feel I could have fallen into and still been happy. It holds the same draw for me that makeup artistry does: constantly learning and growing.

***

Website: www.EmMeMakeup.com
Blog: http://emmemakeupartistry.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EmMeMakeupArtistry
instagram: @EmMeMakeupArtistry
Twitter: @EmMeMakeupArt
Pinterest: @EmMeMakeupArt

Soft Pink Eyes (Guest Artist)

A few days ago I got my makeup done by my amazing and beautiful friend Jennie. We work together at Sephora and I've always admired her makeup style. It was so much fun to be sitting in the makeup chair instead of working behind it, and the experience made me see my own features very differently. She did my makeup in a way that I never would have thought to do, which is helpful as a makeup artist because it keeps on your toes. It's so easy to slip into the same pattern or style when doing your own makeup but having it done by someone else really spices up your vision. She did my whole face with the Too Faced: A Few of my Favorite Things palette.

This palette would make an amazing holiday gift for someone 

who likes to experiment with color!

                                               

1. Prime the eyes to ensure long lasting, intense color and prevent creasing. Jennie used the Urban Decay Primer Potion.

2. She laid 'taffy' all over the lid and extended the color past the outer corners of my eye to make them more elongated.

3. She then placed 'coquet' on the roundest center part of my eyelid to highlight it. This color is amazing, neither Jennie or I can get over it! 

4. She layered 'chocolate milk', 'bluff', and 'dark chocolate' into the crease to build up intensity and definition.

5. She highlighted my browbone with 'cream colored ponies' and then blended it into the darker crease colors.

6. She lined my eyes with the Bobbi Brown's Gel Liner and extended the inner corners for a more arabic inspired look. 

7. She placed 'tinsel' along my lower lashline for some extra sparkle.
8. Finish the look by adding mascara. We used the Too Faced 'Better Than Sex' mascara that came with the palette.

Face
Foundation: Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation
Concealer: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
Blush: Too Faced 'Raindrops on Roses' (from palette)
Bronzer: Too Faced 'Chocolate Soleil' (from palette)
Highlight: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in 'Diffused Light'

Lips
Lipstick: Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Sheer Candy in 'Cool Guava'

***

Here are some of Jennie's past Halloween looks: