April MUA of the Month – Josh Collier

 

Meet our guinea pig! Err, very first Makeup Artist of the Month– Josh Collier! :)

I’m Josh! I currently work as a District Trainer with Hourglass Cosmetics in the Mid-Atlantic Region (DC, MD, VA), a freelance makeup artist, and a general makeup and skincare enthusiast who shares his passion for the industry on YouTube.

If you had to pick a “specialty” for yourself – what would you say you specialize in?

Education, definitely. In both my career and my hobby (Youtube), I focus on educating my clients/subscribers so they’re capable of making the right decisions, whether it comes to purchasing the right foundation or how to battle their acne.

Where (or for whom) do you do makeup? Have you worked with any celebs or well-known people?

Everyone! I’ve yet to work with a major celebrity client, but who knows, I’m certainly open to it. :)

Did you have any sort of formal training or are you more self-taught?

I’m completely self-taught. I went to undergrad for statistics actually, so, my background and my goal weren’t to end up in makeup, but hey, life happens and I’ve embraced my newfound passion.

What beauty product are you loving the most for yourself right now?

Hourglass Film Noir Lash Lacquer — It’s like a killer pair of patent leather knee-high boots for your lashes. Given my hooded eye shape, I tend to keep shadows to a minimum and put the focus on my lashes, and this really amps them up.

What are the most-used items in your kit?

NARS Copacabana and Laguna Illuminators — they really just give the skin the perfect glow. Fair or light skin will appreciate the pearl sheen of Copacabana, where tan or deep skin will love the golden glow Laguna imparts on the skin. Also, Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer — a product I couldn’t live without. It’s perfect at keeping the complexion shine-free for hours, reducing redness, and actually making anything applied on top water-resistant, all while being perfect even on the most sensitive skin (It’s free of talc, fragrance, parabens, sulfates, phlates, and gluten).

Are there any stereotypes/misconceptions about being a makeup artist that you’ve encountered?

Absolutely! A lot of people I’ve run into consider makeup artists to be a bit vapid. While yes, the cosmetic industry can be a bit vain, it’s a lot of science, especially if you’re as big into skincare as I am. You’ll never hear me recommend a product without the science behind why it’s being recommended.

Do you have any advice for anyone who might be aspiring to be a makeup artist?

Know the skin — working with makeup is a fun job, but as I mentioned before, it’s a lot of knowing how products work. If you can understand why different moisturizers or foundations are needed on different clients, you’re on the track to being a makeup artist.

What is a beauty trend you wish would just GO away?

Concealer lips. As a makeup artist, I’m open to a lot of things, and while this can look good on some people, it’s not for everyone (and I mean most people). Don’t get me wrong, I love nude lips, but there is definitely a difference.

What do you love besides makeup? If you weren’t doing makeup, what would you be doing?

Dogs (I don’t have one yet because I’m always on the go, but I do want one!), food (I’m definitely a food enthusiast as well), and of course, my boyfriend Matt, who supports all my makeup adventures. If I wasn’t doing makeup, I’d want to continue my education and eventually work in consumer studies.

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You should all go check out Josh’s youtube channel, JoshCollierMUA! He is also on Twitter (@JoshCollierMUA) which is a great way to reach him if you have questions while you’re at home or out shopping. He also says that’s a quick way to find out where he’s working and come say hi if you’re in the area. I certainly would if I were out there! ;)