Featured Makeup Artist – Queen of Blending

Interview by Akua Boakye for Makeup and Mane

Lauren S. is a talented and prolific freelance makeup artist. Her ability to create futuristic and fresh looks using exotic and unlikely colours has earned her the title ‘Queen of Blending’.

In a quick interview with Makeup and Mane, Queen of Blending shares some of her favourite beauty must-haves and shows readers how to create gorgeous and exciting looks.

Queen of Blending

MM: How did you get started as a makeup artist and how long have you been doing makeup?

LS: I got started from basically just practicing on myself and anyone who would volunteer their face for me to practice on! I mainly started doing it just for fun and to kill time. I have been actively freelancing for about four years now.

MM: Where do you draw inspiration for some of the looks you create?

LS: I don’t really have a singular inspiration. I draw inspiration from anything and everything that catches my eye, or has a pattern, or unique color combination. I find myself looking at things and mentally interpreting it onto a face.

MM: Who (if any) are some of your favorite celebrity makeup artists?

LS: My two all time favorite makeup artists are without a doubt, Pat McGrath & Kabuki. Their work is breathtaking.

MM: If you had to choose only THREE of your favorite beauty products what would they be and why?

LS: My favourites would have to be:

1. Make Up For Ever Duo Matte Powder Foundation because it’s light enough to have on all day, but gives wonderful coverage.
2. Benefit’s Babe Cake Liner, because it’s long lasting and is the best sanitary substitution to liquid liner.
3. Chanel’s Inimitable Mascara because it adds so much volume and actually gives a slight curl & lift!

MM: In your opinion, what are some of the most common mistakes women make when buying and/or applying makeup?

LS: I’d have to say the biggest one is buying a new foundation. I always hear from clients that they didn’t seem to get the right shade because when they got home it didn’t match. The trick is to try (the foundation)on in the store, but take a step outside to see what you look like in natural lighting.

Also, if you’ve gotten help from someone at a counter or makeup store, don’t be afraid to speak up if you don’t like something or are not comfortable with it!

When it comes to applying makeup, I think a lot of people forget or just don’t know about applying an eyeshadow base. A base helps the eyeshadows to last for hours and brings out their true color. I highly recommend MAC’s Beige-Ing Shadestick to help eyeshadows pop!

MM: Would you please share one of your magnificent makeup tutorials with our readers?

LS: Here’s one of my favourite color combinations:

 

MM: What can Makeup & Mane readers expect to see from you in the near future?

LS: In the near future my personal website/blog ( www.queenofblending.com ) will be up and running and I am also still working on developing my own makeup line!

To find out more about Lauren S. aka Queen of Blending check out the following sites:

www.queenofblending.com
www.myspace.com/iheart_makeupartcosmetics
www.youtube.com/queenofblendingmua
www.modelmayhem.com/queenofblending