In the Spotlight with Makeup Artist Davinia!

In today’s “In the Spotlight” I have the great honor and pleasure to have a chat with Davinia, a  make up artist that has worked in the industry for 15yrs!  

Welcome Davinia, it is a real treat to have you with us.

 

1, When did you realize that makeup for you, was something way beyond just something you put on your face?

I’ve always had a deep love for all things make up, hair and beauty.  From about 14/15yrs of age, I used to buy the Black Hair & Beauty magazine every month so that I could see women that looked like me and looked just as beautiful as the women that were showcased in the mainstream magazines and media.  Having the opportunity to work for a popular make up brand and helping your everyday woman to feel incredible with simple basic beauty tips was a turning point for me.  Makeup wasn’t just about supermodels and high fashion it was about giving a working woman or a mum with young children the confidence to leave her house and face the world when she only has 10mins to get ready.

 

2, Are you self taught or did you go to some kind of cosmetic school?

I am self taught and have been developing my craft over the last 15yrs.  During my time studying Beauty Therapy NVQ Levels 2&3 at college, I realized that I wanted to focus solely on my passion which was makeup.  I have been fortunate to work with some amazing talents in the make up industry and have learnt from some of the best.  The beauty of makeup is that its ever changing, new trends are constantly evolving and you’re always learning something new.  No make artist in the world knows every single skill and we are always learning as there are so many different ways to create the same look.

 

3, What is the biggest difference in doing someone else’s makeup rather than your own?

Doing someone else’s makeup over your own is what enables you to keep learning and developing your skill.  When you do your own makeup everyday you know exactly what colours work for you, you understand your eye shape and the dimensions of your face etc so it becomes easy and less of a challenge.  The beauty of creating a look on someone else is that no two faces are the same, not even twins. I could do the exact same look with the exact same products  on two different people and it would look different every time.  Looks will always have to be adapted to enhance an individuals features and products adapted to suit skin tones.  A true make up artist is someone that can look at an individual and work to enhance their features to make them look the best version of themselves.

 

4, What is the greater challenge? Doing a pre decided look for a show/event or shoot, or creating a look for the same sort of events, but with your own/clients vision?

Creating a look with a clients vision would probably be slightly more challenging as there is a slight pressure to get it right the first time.  However you also have more creative freedom. Working backstage, especially at fashion shows, a universal look is usually created for all the models.  This is great when you have a large number of models to get through in a short amount of time as your more organised and know the tools and products you need to create the look.

 

5, What is the advice you would like to give to everyone that is dreaming of a career as a makeup artist?

Get out there and practice on as many different faces that you can get your hands on, not just your own.  What looks amazing on you may not look great on everyone else.  Expand your skills and knowledge by working on a multitude of different ages, races and sexes.  Know the science behind makeup and understand colour theory, this will help build confidence and ensure your a master of your craft.  Talk to other make up artists and see how they do things.  Look at their favorite tools and products and exchange tips.  Most importantly practice, practice and then practice some more…you’re only going to get better.  And remember, it’s makeup not a tattoo.  If you do something and you don’t like it, take it off and start again. Thank God makeup isn’t permanent, because I’ve certainly had some make up mishaps in my time. 

Lastly, social media is full of makeup artist tutorials that you can follow, along with product reviews.  Some of my favorite make up artists on Instagram with great content are:

 

joyadenuga

 

danessa_myricks

 

victoriafoxmakeup

 

katiejanehughes

 

patmcgrathreal

 

 

6, What is the advice for all the younger people that are just discovering the world of makeup?

Don’t be afraid to be creative and use social media to your advantage.  Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube are amazing sources for inspiration and to get your name out there.  Explore old and new trends and create your own.  There are no rules when it comes to makeup so play around with it until you figure out what works for you.

 

7, What advice would you like to give to all the Male Artists that might be interested in using makeup on stage, in videos or publicity shoots, but are a bit unsure of where to even get started?

Make up is for all genders and sexes and I’d like to think we have come a long way from the prehistoric mindsets that makeup is just for women.  Whether its just a touch of concealer and transparent powder for some subtle male grooming or you’re inspired by a full beat like Boy George, the world is your oyster.  Some of the most iconic make up artists in the world are men.  Kevyn Aucoin, Ben Nye, Adam Burrell, Terry Barber, Rick Baker and Andrew Gallimore to name a few.  Social media is a great tool to watch tutorial videos and learn tips from others who have mastered it, also watch product reviews to see what products work best to recreate your inspired looks.

 

Thank you So much for taking the time from your busy schedule to share your thoughts with us and who knows, maybe we have inspired someone to see makeup as something more, than just something you put on the face.