This week I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing make-up artist Emily Grosvenor. She spilled all on what tips and tricks help us to perfect our makeup, what it's like to work at MAC and some of her favourite beauty products! I definitely learnt a lot from this myself. Thanks Emily!
When did you realise you wanted to become a make-up artist?
I would say it started from a very young age. I would watch my mother put on her makeup and pretend to do mine. I was also a dancer between the ages of 4-16 where I would often perform in shows and take part in competitions. Make-up was an important part of the performance and I would instantly feel confident with my make-up done to perfection. The moment I realised it was more than just a passion was when I helped a close friend with her final fashion assessment. She asked me to apply the make-up on her models and I found the experience so enjoyable and rewarding that I thought that this could be the career for me.
How did you start your journey? Did you attend college and university?
Having completed a degree in fine art I realised that a career in make-up was the route I wanted to take. After university I did a college course at University College Birmingham in level 3 theatrical special effects hair and media make-up. I highly rate this course because it covers all areas of makeup and you also get a lot of opportunities to do placements. The lecturers there are professional makeup artists with years of experience in the industry.
How long did it take you to become a qualified make-up artist?
The course lasted a year and immediately after I went to work for MAC. I would say that if you want to become a professional make-up artist, MAC is the best place to start.The on the job training is second to none and you get to work with the most up-to-date products and trends. I've learnt so much during my time at MAC and will continue to learn.
What is your favourite part of being a make-up artist?
That's an easy question to answer.The best part of my job is making people look and feel the best they can and giving them confidence. Seeing my clients smile and not able to stop looking at themselves in the mirror is a job well done. Also being a part of some of the memorable moments in their lives such as their wedding day, proms, birthdays etc...it is so rewarding.
Your least favourite part?
I would say the worst part for me is the large number of people claiming to be professional make-up artists but offering a cheap mediocre service. I always think you get what you pay for. You're not only paying for someone to do your makeup, you are paying for their talent and years of experience. Added to that are the hours of training required to keep up to date with new trends and products. A good make-up artist should always use the best quality products and brushes. They should also be meticulous about hygiene to make sure you don't contract any infections from unsanitised products.
Where are you based? Are you freelance?
I am based in the West Midlands area. I work both freelance as well as working 2 days a week at MAC Cosmetics.
What makeup services do you offer?
I offer an array of services - Bridal, prom, special occasions, special effects, parties and makeup lessons.
Make-up trends are constantly changing, how do you keep up? Or do you prefer to keep your own signature style?
I get to keep up-to-date with makeup trends during product updates at MAC. These happen usually every 3 months. During these days we get to find out about all the new product launches happening over the next 3 months and get to play with them during demos. We also get to see what is happening backstage during fashion shows and what the latest trends are for the current seasons.
What are some of your favourite products?
I am a massive lover of perfecting someone's skin. When the base is right everything else tends to sit better.I love using skincare and primers to really prep the skin well, this is key in order for the rest of your makeup to last and apply smoothly.
Some of my favourite primers to use are MAC Timecheck Lotion, Laura Mercier Radiance Primer and Too Faced Hangover Face.
What advice would you give on skin-types and makeup?
Any advice I would give for all skin types is that skincare and prep are key for getting the best out of your makeup. Foundations and concealers will only cover so much and cannot hide the texture of your skin. I always relate it to when you are decorating a house. You wouldn't go straight in with the paint or wallpaper without prepping, priming and filling in the holes.
I am also a massive fan of using oils on the skin and yes, I even use it on oily skin types! It will not make you more oily, in fact it balances out the skin giving it the necessary oils it needs. The reason skin produces oils is because it's compensating for the lack of moisture, so using oils on the skin will reduce the amount of oil your skin produces.
My favourite oils to use are MAC essential oils and Clarins Lotus Oil.
What is your favourite makeup brand?
I do love MAC obviously working for them. I think they offer so much choice which is why it has such a diverse customer base. However, I do think other brands are coming out with good on-trend products such as Anastasia Beverly Hills, Tarte, Kiko, Makeup Geek and Morphe.
Any tips for us? Make-up hacks we could try at home?
A good makeup tip for making your lips look bigger without needing to overdraw them is to start your lip liner from the corner of your mouth and work up to the cupids bow. This opens up the mouth to make it look more rounded and open.
What is your skincare routine to help stop any blemishes appearing after wearing makeup?
I've always had blemished prone skin. In order to prevent break outs it's important to make sure you thoroughly remove all traces of make-up. Otherwise it can build up in the pores causing you to break out. I double cleanse my skin, the first cleanse is to remove makeup and the second cleanse is to clean the skin and the pores.
The best thing you can cleanse your skin with is either an oil or a balm. They break down makeup quickly without stripping the skin, stopping that tight feeling after cleansing. Some of my favourites are Vitamin C Brightening Oil Cleanser from Super Facialists, Clinique Take The Day Off Balm and Estee Lauder Advanced Night Micro Cleansing Balm.
What are your favourite seasonal make-up looks?
Autumn / Winter make up trends are my favourite! I love getting out the burgundy and deep red tones which work on all skin tones. One of my favourite looks is wearing a deep burgundy matte lipstick and having the rest of the makeup paired down and fresh, keeping the lip as the statement.
If you hadn't become a make-up artist, what do you think you would have liked to have done?
It would have had to be something creative. Probably an artist or photographer.
Would you like to spend the rest of your career as a make-up artist or try a different career later on down the line?
I definitely want to continue as a make-up artist. I love my job and I am extremely passionate about it. I would love to be able to offer and hold live demos in the future where people can book into watch a look, a trend, etc. I love being able to pass on my knowledge and skills to others.
We always hear of tips we can try, but do you have any advice on what NOT to do?
I would say avoid using tape around the eyes, the skin around the eyes is delicate and stretching and pulling at it with tape can damage it. I don't think it involves much skill in using tape and the end results can look harsh. Time, patience and lots of blending can achieve you a better look.
Got any ideas for Halloween makeup looks this year?
I love Halloween! It's my favourite time of year where I can really get creative. You don't need lots of time and money to create a wickedly scary Halloween look. Use a bit of latex, some tissue and fake blood to create cuts and wounds. For ideas on Halloween looks check out my personal Instagram -@emilylunajayne where I post all my special effects work.
Have you ever thought about doing makeup tutorials online?
I would love to create makeup tutorials for people to subscribe to off my website, that is something I'm looking into for the future.
Do you have any advice for anyone looking to get into the make-up industry?
The best advice I could give you is never give up! It takes years to build up a client base and you never stop learning. Experience is everything in this industry, volunteering and offering some of your free time to build up your portfolio is a great way to start and get your name out there. Also just have fun with it! And keep practising, it's only makeup, if you make a mistake you can just take it off and start again.
How can we keep up to date with your business? Where can we find you?
You can find me on Instagram - @emilygrosvenor_mua
As well as my website - www.emilygrosvenor.co.uk
I hope you all enjoyed this interview with Emily and learnt something new. I like to think some of you might have been inspired to maybe start a similar journey of your own.
I'd like to thank Emily for being such a pleasure to interview.
I had a lot of fun with this blog post.
Hope you are all well.
Much Love,
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