Make-up Constantly Evolving

The South Bend Tribune recently interviewed Rebecca Maalouf, founder of Camellia Cosmetics, who has been a makeup artist since 1994. Who has watched makeup trends go from glam to grunge, and everything in between.

How long have you owned Camellia? Why did you decide to start the company?

What kind of education, certification, and experience do you need to have to be a makeup artist?

Makeup artistry is just that, an art. Most of us are also artists outside of the makeup industry. It's an apprentice education. You work closely with a successful artist until they decide you are ready to run with it. Then you continue to work under their guidance.

Can you explain what you do as a makeup artist?

What we see that you don't see is how to translate facial features to capitalize on one or another. We find balance, and can even create an illusion to trick the eye into paying attention to one feature over another. Women come in wanting to cover up; as an artist we can provide them with better options. I offer women an easily accessible fashion and image statement through makeup.

What do you like best about what you do?

I love it when a woman just will not take her eyes off of the mirror. The wow factor. It's being able to look at someone objectively, and give them the gift of finding their signature look, or self expression.

What's most challenging about being a makeup artist?

Women have had bad experiences. All too often I have to re-assure women I understand they have no interest in looking like they just came out of a makeup store, I understand they really just want to look pretty, without too much work. We actually just started offering a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee on all of our event makeup applications, just to be able to give women some power back. We want to let them know we are different and are not going to give you a look that is not absolutely beautiful. We want to celebrate the face, not the makeup.

Do you have advice for others who would like to be a make-up artist?

My college, Gabrielle Thompson, always tells would-be artists they might want to start with some art classes. And there are a few good schools that come into Chicago and Detroit with Emmy-award winning makeup artists. Artsy people always seem to want to start at the top, but you have to be humble and work under a successful artist to learn even a portion of what you need to know.

Looking to get a start as a make-up artist or looking to talk with others in the industry? Sing up for EbuzzSpace to network with the hottest new talent in the make-up and modeling industry.