By: Tamara Rutskaya, Smart Brand Agency.

Women always want to be beautiful, not just to please men but also for themselves. Today, there are many different methods and products available to make any woman stylish and attractive. The opportunities for this are abundant, both in the hands of the women themselves and in the hands of professionals working in the beauty industry. One of the most popular professions in this field is that of a makeup artist. It has long been considered an art, and makeup and hairstyling professionals are called magicians. We asked our guest, professional makeup artist and stylist, beauty expert, member of The International Association of Makeup Artists (IAMA) and the International Association of Professional Makeup Artists (IAPO), Liubov Trif, about the components of success in this profession, what it takes to become a true master, and whether there are trends in makeup.

Liubov, can you tell us how you became a makeup artist?

To be honest, I wanted to be a physical education teacher from childhood and never thought about becoming a makeup artist. Although in school, I enjoyed doing makeup for my friends because I was quite good at it. After school, I planned to enter a pedagogical institute. But circumstances led me to apply to the Odessa Higher Professional School of Service at the National University “Odessa Law Academy” for a hairdresser-designer specialty. At that time, I was firmly convinced that I would return to my dream and enter the pedagogical institute after a year. However, I enjoyed “creating beauty” so much that I decided to dedicate my life to the beauty industry.

Where did you work and how did your career develop?

Initially, I worked from home and also went to clients’ homes. When I built up a certain clientele, my friend and I rented an apartment and set it up as a beauty studio. After having a child, I had to work from home for a while again, while still pursuing my dream of having my own beauty salon. In July 2020, my dream came true, and until June 2022, I worked with other professionals in my own studio. For well-known reasons, my family decided to leave Ukraine and move to the USA. We first lived in Houston, Texas, where I worked as a makeup artist at LaRosh & Adel Spa Salon. After a year, we moved to Washington State, where I continued my makeup artist career at “The White Birch,” where I still work today.

Do you think a makeup artist should be a jack-of-all-trades or just a “make-up artist”?

By definition, a makeup artist is a specialist in the field of makeup, a master of creating looks using various cosmetic products. A makeup artist-stylist is a specialist in facial care, selecting makeup, hairstyles, and accessories. Most makeup artists are specialists who focus only on makeup. For example, I am skilled in both makeup and hairstyling. This is an ideal option when you need to quickly prepare a bride, a guest of honor, or a public figure for an upcoming event.

Is it important to clients what cosmetics you use on them?

Mainly, they care about the result. Although I can create beautiful makeup with any cosmetics, I still approach the choice of cosmetic products with responsibility. I prefer high-quality professional and luxury products. The final result depends more on the technique of applying the makeup and the professionalism of the artist.

Are there trends in makeup?

There are trends in everything related to fashion and beauty. They concern eyebrows, lips, eyes, and other areas of the face. However, the most important trend, which is always valued, is naturalness and authenticity. Even if bright makeup is in vogue, it should not be garish or tasteless but should fit the theme and match the image. I would say that trendy makeup is that which suits the client the most, accentuates their beauty and attractiveness.

Work is a significant and inseparable part of almost everyone’s life. But for some, it is merely a way to earn money, while for others, it is something more. What does work mean to you?

For me, work is a profession and an activity that constitutes not only a significant part of my life but also a part of my soul. It is my calling, my inspiration, my energy, my hobby, my mission.

How to become successful in a profession? Tell us about your achievements and victories.

Success does not come easily. To achieve the desired results, one must first dream and set specific goals, after which one can start working towards them. Certain heights in the profession are reached through hard work, accumulation of experience and skill, improvement of knowledge and self-development, mastering new techniques, and much more.

I consider the opening of my own studio, “One Touch Studio”, as my first success. My achievements include publications of my work in well-known fashion, style, and beauty magazines: Imirage Magazine-Spark (September 2021), Top Posters (November 2021), Style Cruze (December 2022), 6x (September 2023), as well as my participation as a speaker at the online makeup marathon in November 2022 (organized by Marafon_fest1, Marafon Makeup) and the online hair marathon in March 2023 (organized by stylist-makeup artist and wedding stylist Oksana Dan).

There are many other significant achievements. I am the author of the scientific article “ECOLOGY AND TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COSMETIC BRANDS AND THEIR IMPACT ON FUTURE MAKEUP”. While mentoring, I have trained dozens of students in makeup and hairstyle techniques. I am proud of my recent victory in the “Best Bridal Makeup” category at one of the most prestigious global online competitions, the IBI Beauty Awards. It is worth mentioning that thanks to hard work, I managed to surpass my result from 2023, when I reached the semifinals in the same competition.

The most recent achievement and success was organizing a personal exhibition of photo paintings of my work, which adorned the covers and pages of the magazines I mentioned earlier. It took place on July 13, 2024, at 8311 N Idaho, Newman Lake, Spokane, Washington State, USA. But I definitely do not plan to stop there.

It would be interesting to learn more about the exhibition. How did it go, and what stood out?

This was my first exhibition, and it went wonderfully. It featured my best works, each of which has its own unique story and is dedicated to both female beauty and its boundless inner world. For example, in the photo painting “The Modest Bride”, I aimed to show that brides come in many forms. Even without a veil and a full-length gown, one can look beautiful and charming. The highlight is that this makeup suits not only a modest look but also a festive one. A slight change in the hairstyle can completely transform the image.

In the photo painting “Spring”, the image of the girl is associated with the beauty of our nature. Freshly cut wildflowers are not just an aesthetic pleasure but a source of inspiration, serenity, and harmony.

In my works, I tried to showcase the world of beauty in makeup, and guests were able to fully enjoy this beauty. During the exhibition, I conducted a master class on trendy daytime makeup, which is relevant always, everywhere, and at any time of the year. I specifically used light techniques for applying cosmetic products so that every woman could master them. At the end, I demonstrated how to quickly create a light styling on a bob with the help of curling irons and hair styling products.

You talk about everything with such love! Where do you find inspiration for creating your masterpieces?

In the beauty that surrounds me. And it’s everywhere: in nature, in people, in art and music, in my inner values and dreams, in personal growth and self-discovery. I believe that inspiration lies in the most ordinary moments of our lives.

I can’t help but ask about your plans for the near future.

I have many plans that I want to bring to life right here in the USA. This includes expanding collaboration with top industry magazines, organizing personal exhibitions, conducting masterclasses, mentoring, publishing cosmetic guides I’ve developed, and, of course, my main dream — opening my own exclusive beauty salon, unlike any other.

What would you wish for our readers?

It’s no secret that a woman’s appearance is her business card. Therefore, to achieve her goals, she has the right to use any means, including makeup and hairstyling. I recommend not skimping on these services and finding a professional you can trust to create your perfect image. And here’s a fitting reminder from the strong and independent Coco Chanel: “At 20, you have the face that nature gave you, at 30, you have the face that life has sculpted for you, and at 50, you have the face you deserve”. From my side, I want to say: learn to love yourself, accept yourself, and don’t compare yourself to anyone else!

Published by: Martin De Juan