The artistry of make-up

Over the last few years, social media has become a place where so many creatives showcase themselves and their talents and businesses. For those who take an interest in make-up, fashion, arts and creative content, social media is a place to see peoples’ work and network in different communities which belong to social media as a whole.

It may seem these days like so many people are becoming MUAs (make-up artists) and of course, some may find the work of MUA’s repetitive and boring. However, it is fair to say everyone has a hustle and a way of making ends meet.

Being an MUA does give you flexibility so it is a job that you can do easily on a full-time or part-time basis depending on the schedule. It can also lead the way for self-employment and can pay quite well. On average to get a full face of make-up done by a professional for a night out costs from £50 to £100.

Artefact met up with one of the many MUAs in Great Britain, and she gave her perspective on what it is like.

Rhoshill Remorin, is a London-based make-up artist, who loves the art she creates on people’s faces and she works along with the modelling agency Rich in Russia UK

What made you get into make-up?

There are art and beauty to make-up and, moreover, an endless possibility of how creative you can be. Cosmetics can make such a huge difference in the way a woman carries herself. The confidence gained from even wearing the tiniest amount of foundation is amazing. Being able to showcase my creativity and cater to clients who don’t all want a stereotypical ‘Instagram look’ is why I love what I do. I cherish every fine detail and appreciate how wide the subject of makeup is, there is way more to it than meets the eye. It’s not just about trying to look better it is about patience, individuality, stage, and in other cases, it can be for medical reasons.

Your social media name is different from your actual name is there a reason for this?

Doing make-up brings out a different side to me. It brings out my alter ego and that’s why I chose to go by the name ‘Mimi’ that name is purely focused on my business but it still allows me to carry myself as a respectable mother, girlfriend and woman. My business name and craft in make-up shows another aspect of me all together and space is created where my passion can shine.

There are so many make-up artists on social media how do you find the competition?

Undoubtedly the industry has always had competition but in a time of social media, the industry has grown bigger which has really shone the light on makeup and cosmetics as a whole. Social media has really put an emphasis on how big the ‘community’ is. This has really pushed me and I am sure many other make-up artists to showcase their individuality and uniqueness. It also pushes me to create a face of make-up that stands out.

You just used the term ‘stand out’ – what makes you stand out from others?

The clothing brand Tax3 approached me to design a logo for their new collection and this came from showcasing my sketches on social media. That attention to detailing has opened up the door, put my name out there and use my skill to branch into other art sectors.

Race and ethnicity still play major parts in whether or not a brand will hire you. Being a minority shows me how much harder I have to work. I have no choice but to make sure I stand out and make sure I am acknowledged for my work.

Having mentioned race although you are not a beauty guru, what is your opinion on race and beauty gurus?

It is always so sad to say but again I have noticed that white people get treated with greater respect from what I have come to witness.  Many more doors have been opened those with lighter skin. In the beauty guru scene, there is such a small percentage of gurus who are of colour. Even for a woman of colour if your skin does not fall in the spectrum of lighter shades you may find yourself facing and battling discrimination. ‘Barbie gutz’ took a decision to stop being a make-up guru because of this and even spoke about it on his Youtube channel. This only confirmed what I had experienced and seen.

Did you study make-up before becoming a make-up artist?

I have decided to go to university and study media make-up and character design not just to get the piece of paper but to further educate myself simply because that’s a choice of mine!

My knowledge of special effects, pastiche and the anatomically correct way of drawing make-up designs has expanded. I already built my brand and clientele before stepping my foot into make-up education. When I was in school doing a course like makeup was deemed as a subject that only ‘less capable’ students could do similarly to doing a construction course.

These ideas made the idea of doing a beauty course unexplorable. This status quo affected me in school. Now make-up is what I do, not the academic stuff which seemed the best option at the time. It took a while for me to explore my own creativity and venture into something I enjoy.

Since you were a self-taught make-up artist before you went into studying it can you say your techniques have improved?

There is always room for improvement, even from others. My work has improved. Before studying the subject, I was self-proclaimed. Over time my skills improved. I invested a lot of my money to really get the ball rolling and put myself on a platform. I am open to learning.

University is teaching me the industry expectation and structure. It is also teaching me about the opportunities for unpaid work and networking. Also, constructive criticism is of great importance to me. The glitz and glamour are highlighted to the world but in reality, the industry is very cut throat.

Does make-up provide you with good pay?

The income was far from great at the start. I could not charge people a high amount without having something to showcase. As time has gone on and I get recognised the income has gone up but without having a set job in such an industry income can have highs and lows. I put in daily efforts to show people what I am capable of. This way I get recommended for jobs weddings are an example. The busiest times of year are Graduation, Prom, Halloween, and Christmas.

So, what would your advice to up-and-coming MUAs be?

The advice is never-ending. I could even talk about permanent make-up! Time and effort always pay off. Just like any other career path think deeply about the decisions that you are making. Question if the choice is the right path for you.

Any last words?

I love working with the youth!

 

 

You can follow Rhoshill on social media:
Instagram (@reinamua_mimi) and Facebook (Reina makeup artist Mimi)

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Featured image by Rhoshill Remorin, other images provided by Rich in Russia UK