The Makeup Insider
The Makeup Insider is a fortnightly one-on-one podcast exploring the life and career of makeup artists, hosted by freelance mua Vanessa Barney.. Finding your community of other likeminded mua’s – the creative, artistic, talkative, flexible, adaptable with a good eye for colour kind-of-people, can often be daunting. Like, where do you start? The Makeup Insider is designed for just that. To build a collaborative online community of artists to build their confidence, connections and help drive their career to the next level.If you’re just starting out or have been in the industry for a long time, tune in now, check out the key takeaways in the show notes and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Find Vanessa @vanessabarney @the.makeupinsider
The Makeup Insider
How Liz Tieu Transitions from the Salon Floor to Live TV.
Join us as we delve into the remarkable journey of Liz Tieu, Sydney's hairdressing and makeup artist, as she shares her transition from a business student to a luminary in the styling world. From eager apprentice to salon owner, Liz's story encapsulates the essence of hard-earned success.
Discover the daily life of this styling star, managing a bustling salon, crafting looks for television stars, and championing the beauty of everyday patrons on social media.
Learn how Liz seized opportunities, whether through a recommendation from other industry professional or a simple direct message that led to joining the glam squad of 'X Factor'.
Explore the mentors who've shaped her career and the courage it takes to step into the unknown. Delve into the thrilling yet demanding world behind the scenes of television's most dazzling productions and how Liz balances it with family life.
If you've ever dreamt of expressing your artistic vision, Liz's story is the inspiration you need to start creating your masterpiece.
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Hi and welcome to the Makeup Insider. I'm your host, vanessa Barney, makeup artist, hairdresser, educator and all-round beauty junkie. If you've ever felt lost or lonely in your makeup career, this podcast is for you. I'm here to interview makeup artists and other industry professionals, to give guidance and be the mental I needed earlier in my career. It's a new episode every Tuesday. Don't forget to hit subscribe so you don't miss a trick, and if you like what you hear, please rate and leave a comment. I hope you enjoy. Today on the Makeup Insider, I'm joined by Sydney hairdresser and makeup artist, liz Teo. Thanks for being here, liz. Hey, lovely to be here, thank you. Do you want to start by introducing yourself to the audience and just tell them predominantly what you do day by day, week by week, in your job?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I'm mainly based in Sydney now and I own a small salon, boutique salon that has three chairs, two basin, in a suburb that's next to the Harbour Bridge on the other side of the city, in Willoughby, and I'm there from Tuesday to Friday mostly, but then the rest of the week is either photoshoots, admin or when I'm booked on TV. That would just be constantly beyond TV. But day to day it's pretty consistent of being in salon from a certain time between Tuesday and Friday, and then a few weddings and yeah.
Speaker 1:Cool, so a bit of a mix.
Speaker 2:That's why it's hard to know down what it is. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:So, and where? What is your Instagram tag? How can people find you?
Speaker 2:So I have an older Instagram account that mainly is a. I like to treat it as like a gallery of work and it's by Liz Teo. So BYLIZERTEU and I have a smaller one for my salon account, and I want to. I want them to be separated because I want the salon account to be celebrating normal women every day and it's not just all flashy, beautiful images and I mean, it's still beautiful, but you know more for salon work.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, all right, let's go back to the beginning, where it all began for you. How long have you been?
Speaker 2:a hairdresser.
Speaker 1:I look that young, but I'm not that young. You do look young. How long have you been a hairdresser and how long have you been a makeup artist?
Speaker 2:So because I just always had to think at my age point that I left Vietnam when I was 18, so that is like 22 years ago. That mean that I start hairdressing 21 years ago.
Speaker 1:Amazing, yeah, and when did you come into makeup?
Speaker 2:I'd say 10 to 11 years. Yeah, kind of don't count it anymore. Once, when you really like it, you really love it too. You kind of just passed the five years survival.
Speaker 1:I like that. The five years survival. I love that.
Speaker 2:So let's talk about how it began for you as a hairdresser leaving Vietnam and coming here, yeah, so I actually, my mum sent me to New Zealand to study business and I completed my diploma in business and everyone would think that I would continue that path until I was asked to be a practical model for my friends to blow dry my hair. And I got to the academy and I thought, oh my God, there was this girl. She's really tall, she's a chance and she has her hair done beautifully. And she was like trotting down the runway in the academy in Crazy in Love by Beyonce and I was like, oh my God, I don't want to wear no more clothes going to office every day. This is the life I want.
Speaker 1:Amazing, how excited, yeah. So you went there to be a model, and then you ended up becoming a hairdresser.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I was like mum, I don't want to be a do business anymore, I want to be a hairdresser. And for a good five years my mum never told my family, even my grandma, what I was doing, because she was like I could actually just send you to somewhere in Vietnam to learn that not overseas, ah, okay. But yeah, you know, I stuck around and she really I mean she said it to me now so I can say it is her word she's very proud of what I've done.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. So when you did your hairdressing, did you do an apprenticeship or did you do like one of those courses?
Speaker 2:So I did a one year course first in New Zealand it's a two years course, yeah, and I was. There was a two very dominant, like there's only two academy that I remember now it's Cut Above and Seville's and then I went through one and I decided to work as apprentice in a very big salon. But that path was a bit slow for me. I always knew that I need to start earning and I don't want to sweep the floor by fan. We actually have to wash the foil and tidy it and like clean the foil for the next day. So I don't want to start doing this forever.
Speaker 2:And I also actually saw someone that was. She was around 23, 25 and she was a senior hairdresser and she earned really well and I was like dad I was 22 at the time. So to be like her, I cannot be on the floor sweeping floor for the next 10 years. So I decided to fast track and went back to Seville's and do the second year and work with Seville's and work up from there. So I'm not. I didn't go through the apprentice.
Speaker 1:Okay, it sounds like you still did a fair few years training.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but also so long story short when. So when I did that actually long story, seville's had. Seville's is a very well known Academy training hairdressers for New Zealand and in fact, like a lot of my friends in college that I know now in the industry, that's very. I can name a few, but they were trained in Seville's and they had six salons that recruits graduate and basically they handpicked the best to be working for them. So that was how we fast track If you got chosen to work at Seville's, you get going through another training system, just like if you work for Tony and Guy. They will retrain you and you work on the floor until you're a junior and then you build up and being seniors. So that I went through that way, okay, after graduating for two years.
Speaker 1:Okay, so how many years training do you think you did?
Speaker 2:So two years training and hairdressing and then when to work in Seville's, and I took six months to complete their course. It's all came down to how much practice you can do, how many models you actually get in there and do it and get signed when you passed. So, yeah, I could say I was pretty determined to finish it.
Speaker 1:No, no. You seem very determined and really entrepreneurial very early in life, Would you agree?
Speaker 2:My mom would say differently, because I study business but when I finished as like training as hairdresser, I never wanted to open my own salon. So, that's my non-entrepreneur, because I just want to do these creative like you know, clown, nine kind of level and moms like, just are you going to start earning money? And like having concrete Monday to Saturday job, and I was like no, I don't want that responsibility. So I thought maybe I'm not entrepreneurial.
Speaker 1:Oh no, I think, I think from when you said that you looked up at the girl who was like 25 and she like, oh, she's earning really good money. I want that to be me. So to me I was like, oh, she's so entrepreneurial, so early.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but you know also that the level of the confidence that she has as a young senior stylist get me thinking. I was like you know, I'm 22 and I'm just starting because hairdressing, won't you agree? Hairdressing and makeup artists started very young and I started at 18 and consider a little bit older at the Academy already.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I know what you mean. Yeah, hairdress is. I mean, I started hairdressing at 17.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, I know, you can start in New Zealand. You can start at 15, 16. So I was 18 when I started and I was like how long is that going to take me to be a seniors?
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, and the pay is pretty, pretty sad. As an apprentice, yeah. Did you do any talking about?
Speaker 2:21 years ago, though, oh yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think mine. I think mine was. I started in 1997 and the pay was $177 a week. So anyway, did you do any competition work?
Speaker 2:Yes, I had enter, it was just we just have to when and at the time when I was young. I think back about my career path now and I thought I did want to make a name for myself, but then I used to think, oh God, listio is not a good name for award, it's so short and it just doesn't have a ring to it. I enter a few, I've got a few, but the trophies are in New Zealand and one to do with L'Oreal color trophy back in. You know, l'oreal color trophy is huge, huge thing and because Seville's really encourage all the artists to own desks, their employees to enter. We were nurture from being junior, being helped with senior artists and then, just, you know, encourage to enter very early on. But I never enter. Weller, I don't think.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that one came a bit later. I thought so when did you end up in Australia?
Speaker 2:Australia in 2012. Okay, yep, god, yeah, 2012. So what is that now? That's 12 years, yeah, wow.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so how did you end up in Sydney?
Speaker 2:So, living in New Zealand, I never wanted to travel to Australia because when you are in a small pond and you hear about great thing across the ditch and you're like what if I go? And I really like it and don't want to come back. So I never wanted to go. And then one day, well, my husband moved here for work first and I went and stayed with him and he put me in this very nice Mariton apartment in Sydney and I was like let's move here. On the first trip, 10 days in Sydney, I'm like let's move moving.
Speaker 2:So yeah, but because also the time of our life, that time my daughter was three, my career was at a bit of a standstill because Seville was the best salons in New Zealand but I was off with having my daughter never really came back full time because I really enjoyed being a mum and I also I think I hit a bit of a creative block that I don't know what else I want to do and I know that I don't want to do hair as much as I love it, not seven days a week and not seeing improvement progression.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, so we move. And Sydney is just because it seems to have a better opportunity and bigger, and beaches, and I love the hot weather?
Speaker 1:Yeah, because New Zealand would have liked Melbourne, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and everyone's like oh, you'll love Melbourne. And I do love Melbourne, but I love to visit Melbourne, not live in Melbourne.
Speaker 1:Yes, fair enough. So talk to me, tell me what you did when you got to Sydney. What was your first work?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so, yeah. So I fully. Before I left for Sydney I asked Paul Seville's, who owns Seville's. And I was just saying to Paul you know I'm going to Sydney, do you have any salons? You recommend me to go. And we're very lucky because Paul, in the industry he's so well known, seville's name is so well known, that I come here.
Speaker 2:And I went to Brett in a Gossy Murphy and I said to him look, I've just been recommended to come here and I don't know anyone. He said you know, I trust his recommendation. I don't have anyone, I don't need anyone right now, but my mate, stevie English in Bondi. I might need someone. So I went to Stevie English, had a trial and work with the team. I love the team. I still am in contact with Stevie and actually have my best friend you know a few of my best friend from that time worked there. Then I, then a few things happened and then I decided to work freelance because I live on this side of the bridge, because we choose this side, green leafy, similar to New Zealand, but I work in Bondi and my daughter was three at the time. So back and forward and no one. We have no family or relatives here still, it's just impossible. So I made that decision to go freelance and, yeah, never look back. Wonderful.
Speaker 1:When did you? When did makeup happen for you? When did you start doing makeup?
Speaker 2:I think I have always dabbled into makeup, even when I was at the Academy, because we have a few units that we had to do photo shoot, so we do all the hand styling, and then I also decided to do makeup for my model. So I love that, but more so when I'm working with CV English and he does a lot of photo shoots and he get everyone involved in the whole process and then I start doing makeup and then I just collecting makeup. I have always loved makeup, but I start collecting products and play with it and, having given the chance to do it, and one day I just say to my friend who is a makeup artist I'm like do I really need to go back to school and get this qualification? Because I can see I'm doing both. But what if I'm being asked for my qualification? And she said to me well, you're already doing it.
Speaker 2:Why do you want to go back to school and get the qualification? Unless you want to take on special effect work in TV? There's a few skills that you need. I said no, I don't see me doing that.
Speaker 1:So then like, yeah, Awesome, I can't remember what I was going to say. So you decided to go freelance. Had you done any freelance work or made contacts or anything Before that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh sorry, how did I make contact? It was really scary, but at the time, again, because of my family situation, I'm very lucky that my husband is fully support me of doing whatever I needed to do, preferably not too busy that I can't look after our young Stella back then. So I didn't have the pressure of working full time. And, funny enough, I actually approached the head of hair for X Factor at the time through her Instagram. Instagram was so new, but I've seen that I've just clicked a few click and know that she's the one that was doing X Factor. And funny enough it was because now, thinking back, it's all thanks to Dami.
Speaker 2:I was watching X Factor and I can see my Asian representation. She's doing so well and she looks so great. Her voice is amazing. So I start looking and I was like who does her hair? Who does the makeup? And click, click, click, click. And then I DM head of hair and I said you know I really love what you're doing and you know if you are looking for hairdresser, I love to work with the team. And she replied I try out. And I made a lot of my friends during that time. We all worked together.
Speaker 1:Ah, cool.
Speaker 2:And X Factor is so long ago, right, but yeah, that's the start of my TV career.
Speaker 1:Really so. That's where it all began for you. So when you were working on that team, were you working full time or just during, like additional?
Speaker 2:I was employed pretty much full time, which is pretty rare for the first season, because I was told that a lot of us working on experience first and I was like I'm a mum, I can't really afford full seasons of experience. You know that's been my full time job.
Speaker 1:But also, I think hairdressers are harder to come by, aren't they in the TV world?
Speaker 2:Because, yeah, because if you are working in salon, you have to be in salon. You can't do it, or it's. That would have been fun. But you know, I think back. I don't know how I don't. I didn't have any fear of asking, maybe because, like I said, I'm lucky that it's not that I have to make a certain amount a week. I also have a bit more flexibility because my daughter was at daycare. The problem is only if she's sick or anything that I have to go and get her. But I also think, well, nobody knows me. It doesn't hurt to ask someone that doesn't know me. My face value saying no to me on Instagram.
Speaker 2:That's good that you didn't have any fear I mean I do, but because I was just like, well, worst case, they say no.
Speaker 1:Yeah, true. So what come after that for you? What else have you worked on?
Speaker 2:I hate this part because I never remember what I do. And then my agent was like you know, you gotta go right down, maybe like year to year, what do you do, oh my god, and actually turn out you know when you do that it feels very good about yourself.
Speaker 2:But then I'm like, oh my god, I actually do that. So I work on the voice as well. Australia got talent Bachelor Bachelorette. What else? The biggest gig that I'm a head of department for was Australia Eurovision, australia Decide, which I got you work on as well, and I work on, I think. Show me the movie with Roe McManus, a few other shows and actually another shows that I sat much earlier on was I don't think anyone remember it, but one of my clients that's still coming to me from that show. She's bringing Sexy back. So she like she found me because I did a. I was responsible for her color change as part of the reveal and to remember the color that's like five years down the track she found me and I was like, oh my god, it's just been coming to me ever since. I love that. I love you know it makes you feel like you made a different.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, so we met. Oh yeah, how did we meet? Because I was thinking about so there was, you're in Melbourne and With Mal and Bernicole, yeah, with Mal and Bernicole, and it was some Swachkov thing.
Speaker 2:Yes, it must be one of those. Yeah, with Grant. With Grant must be Swachkov, because, yeah, mal would have got me on that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so was Mal like head of makeup or something? And then she, yeah, and then you were there too, and then I don't know how, I think someone gave my number, I think someone gave put my number on to Mal and then, yeah, I met you in Sydney, just that once, and then we kept in contact, work wise, and then you asked me to do Eurovision on the Gold Coast.
Speaker 2:I know it's like wild, it's like to go because instead Wild.
Speaker 1:How fun.
Speaker 2:Do you know you go yeah, no, no, I'm just saying because I think I don't have a very good memories. But when I do have a connection with a person, whether you know, I come with faith, value always and with a work ethic. I mean, some someone said to me, and it stuck with me, that a lot of people can do hair, but not a lot of people that have that people skill and also would make up the same thing. So your face to face with someone you're in this small space for them is how you make that person feel before they go on their wedding, their show and they have to put on their persona. That's how I choose my artist that work with me, you know, and also how we work together. We're not competing with each other, which is here for the same goal. So that's how I remember people.
Speaker 2:Oh, I'm flattered, thank you, I mean of course it's their skills as well, you know, no, no.
Speaker 1:I think that's really nice, because for me, I'm really about really genuine people as well, so that means a lot that you say that. But anyway, how did you end up with the gig of Eurovision? How did you end up as head of department?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so Eurovision. How did that happen? I met Dami after she won't expect her, and we talk about this quite often because we're like did you do my hair make up on expectors? And I'm like, no, I met you after, but I voted for you. And then, so I first did Dami's make up for her first Aria debut Aria award. And then she said we seem to get on really well. She keep calling me back and I work with Dami. So that was 2015, so 2016. I still remember we work together very closely now. She's very popular, was very popular and very busy at that time. And then she called me and she sing an Abba song I can't sing, so I'm going to say the word. She's like what's that song? I said all over the world tonight. And then I was like what are you traveling over the world? Are you going to Eurovision? And she's like I don't know. And then I'm like, oh, my god, fucking, I'll get. I'm sorry, I just swear. Then, but I was like please take me, I'm coming. So we did.
Speaker 1:I'm sorry, you just cut out for a second, so where did you? Get cut out. It cut out.
Speaker 2:You were singing the song, so she told you so she told me yeah, it hint in a song because there was speculation that she's going to go on Eurovision. But you know, dami, never tell me everything until it happened so yeah, yeah yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:And then and I was like, oh my god, oh my god, you are going to Eurovision. And she's like da, da, da. And I'm like, oh my god, am I coming? Am I coming? So you know, I was the first, and pretty much the only the first that year in the four Australia someone bringing their own hand make up person, because Eurovision has a big budget and lots of sponsorship from hair company and make up company, so they use the whole MAC team and the whole swatch cough team, so I'm the only one like following Dami everywhere.
Speaker 2:So after that, the head of delegation for Eurovision in Australia is now a very good client of mine, paul Clark. He saw my potential, he saw how I work with Dami and my work and, you know, has been really kindly, I think, a lot of it. If you ask Paul, he will say very nice thing about me, which I'm flatter, but I think he just say that I deliver, I care, I really do care and yeah. So people, just again, you just have to get your foot in the door, you show that you're committed and you your work ethic and you show up amazing, amazing.
Speaker 1:That cut out again, but I think it's been recorded, but I got the gist of what you were saying. Paul was a client and he trusted you and he asked you to do the job, basically, and yeah, so that was the first, your first sort of one, that you headed up. So how many?
Speaker 2:I can't remember how many of us there were, how many artists wait so artists as in, like us, all the candidates no, us make up, because we did hair the first year as well yeah, I think I've got up to six plus me, yeah, and then we had some students as well that's right, see I, because I did the two years with you and the second year we had Moroccan oil, we had Pete.
Speaker 1:I just they wanted, they kind of can't remember which was what and then I think the next are you still doing it?
Speaker 2:I know COVID affected no, I think they don't. They decided to not having the Australia Eurovision, australia decide version anymore and just go straight to the public vote and jury decide for who represent Australia okay, okay.
Speaker 1:So when you went overseas with Darmie, where did you guys go to?
Speaker 2:we were in Stockholm and that was my first European country, really 26 hours away later and how long were you there?
Speaker 2:for I was there for two weeks straight and now thinking back, like the moment that the so the day it finishes. The next day we all flew out of Stockholm and that was the first moment when I thought to myself I should have actually extended another week and see Europe. But I flew straight back, also because my daughter was so young at the time. I can't believe I left her for two weeks. That was the first time ever leaving her with my husband for two weeks.
Speaker 1:He's still working well, she's, she's, he must have done okay yeah, she's the vibe I'm can fish yeah, I'm can fish when it comes to the looks for what you created for Dami for that, how so? Who came up with the looks? Is it? Was it a like a collaboration between star a stylist yourself, dami? Can you remember the process?
Speaker 2:yeah. So Dami is very loyal. Once you find someone that you know she worked well with and she's very creative, she comes up away, come up with something new. She always want to try new things and she have one of those faith in the amazing body that she could actually put on anything. That's you know. But Heather was her stylist at the time and Heather had pulled together a lot of amazing clothes. So I actually like to go with the styling and then I have a few looks that I know she looked great in and then I'll just change it up. But when we were in Stockholm, dami was traveling without, without Heather, so I was pretty much her hair makeup friend.
Speaker 2:Wardrobe, yeah. Dress carrier, yeah. Fan girl, yes. But it's fun though, it's like, I love it. I just did it. Today I went to my friend's house and my friend just went through surgery and you know she's like I just don't feel like I look good in any of my clothes anymore. So I'll come over and we'll go through your clothes and, you know, go through each of it and sell, throw, keep it's just great. So I did the same for Dami and you know, on the day we were like what should we wear for this occasion because also the event is there for two weeks, there's main dresses for the event, but also there's a lot of side events, so she had to decide the look and what she's wear for that too. So we just decide what's appropriate and go from there cool.
Speaker 1:And what about with the? When you were the head of department for Eurovision, did you come up with the looks or the looks? Then I know you did actually, because I was there. Yeah, yeah, do you want to talk me through that process?
Speaker 2:yeah, so I did. And Eurovision you've worked with Eurovision team before and you know that is like nothing else we have the scale here for for television. It's so extra. So I want to bring in how to say my aesthetic is always, you know, minimal and then throwing something. I'm not just throwing everything at once. So I was just. I had I always had meeting with the artists to see where they want to take their creative. And then I have meeting with the you know, we have meeting with every department and to see where they want to take this performance. And and then my, my small part of hand makeup is very small comparing to everyone else in that machine and then I would have a few looks proposing to the, to the director and and creative director, and then they will say yes or no, but usually is a yes, that's good.
Speaker 1:That's good, and how long does that process take you?
Speaker 2:yeah, so here here the honest truth if I am going to be involved in the big show again and to choose between just turn up and create and to or manage a team and going through the all those meeting are probably choose to just turn up because it takes months, hundreds of emails unseen, work back and forward and you are including included in every email. Oh, there's a lot like even with the light changing. Or like we have a car on stage but the next day, no, we can't have the car, we have fire, the dress that's just gonna have fire, so your hair can't have down, but the next day, no, fire, you can have it down. You know, like all these little things so a lot of admin.
Speaker 2:Okay, I get you, I hear you but I love that, but I love that. That's probably I think it's like also the next progress of your career, if you choose to go there.
Speaker 1:Hmm, so you've done a lot of work in television shows, so maybe live TV a lot, yeah, yeah. I love life to you. Yeah, um, I love you. Worked in other areas as well, like shoot commercial.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah yeah, so I'm. I was also a hit of hair for husk, which is a American hair natural brand that sponsor for the actor awards. So every year I would be leading a team a smaller team but actually involving a lot more than just doing hair. So I don't have to come up with the look for the talents because they just turn up on the day, but I need to have a team that understand all sorts of hair, know how to do for have that last all day red carpet, but also be able to answer to media with any question that they have for the looks and predicting look for the red carpet.
Speaker 1:On behalf of husk oh fun, yeah, that's where. I met Melissa Leon good, yeah, you look up to Melissa when she's in town. Yeah, yeah, yes, so was that recently. When did you do that, I feel? Like the last three years yeah, yeah, I can remember seeing it on Instagram. What is, what's the awards?
Speaker 2:which awards is it? So that's the actor awards. Is the Australian actor? Yeah, award for film and TV? I think I'm pretty sure. Yeah, more yeah, film and television. So the areas is for music and I don't know what's the equivalent from the actor with, because the American has so many whether Grammy yeah you know, yeah, one of those for television yeah, and do they have, like another person, other people, taking care of makeup for that?
Speaker 2:yes, yes, cool, leanne what's her last name? She's been doing it so many years and I have a few story like great backstage story as well, but maybe it's fun. It's like a different world to what I'm used to. So I would say that I I'm used to doing a lot of music musician, singer and talents and then you know actor and actresses. I get to see them once a year. I don't watch a lot of TV and, to be honest, I only get time. I have time to watch the TV. I'm actually involved in doing it, yeah yeah, I'm like who's who's?
Speaker 2:buzz lemon. That's funny. They actually asked me to touch up his hair at backstage and I was just still pinching myself, like hell is like to do a bit of research, this thing down. He's the loveliest person and everyone introduced him just just bars and I'm like okay no, I think that's great.
Speaker 1:I think because he's just a person anyway, after all, and you know, that's yeah but, I, was also it was at the areas with rebel Wilson.
Speaker 2:Elsa was there, and who else like who and who? Everyone. But again, the question that everyone asked me who's the celebrity I'm?
Speaker 1:I don't know, because there's just people to me yeah, yeah, I hear you and I think that's really important actually, I think that's really good advice. Actually, what you're sort of saying without saying it is they just you just obviously have no clue who these people are, which is completely fine, so you just treat them like normal people, which they love, because my, I just think my job is not make a big deal, because that is such a it really is such an intimate space and they.
Speaker 2:I feel like if I, if I were in that situation, I would like to be as much as myself as possible and not being asked to take selfie. I'm not being asked, I don't know. Funny question, just leave me alone, my like my corner so I can learn my lines yeah, yeah, yeah, no, definitely, definitely.
Speaker 1:Um, now you are ripped by an agent. Yeah, yeah, have you. Is this the first time you've been rep? To be been rep?
Speaker 2:before. I was aligned with another agency before and I'm still. I'm in a very good space with Jodana, who I was with before. The way I approach the agency is very different. I use the thing that's really important to be represented by agency, and it might be still be for a lot of people if you want to work in glossy magazine, if you want to work in and if you're not confident in reaching out and have contact. But for me, because I have a salon, I have a established client that I work really hard for, I I only sign an agency agreement when it's benefit both of us. Yeah, and and it's. I say this with great intention. That is the one that I signed with was based on a religion, shit, not what they promised me, because they can't promise me more than what I'm already doing. It's just a trialing out and and see where it go, mm-hmm. So yeah, is it the concierge agency? Yeah, the concierge.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love the girls there yeah, I mean I I've had an email actually about doing a job when I was living in Melbourne for someone and they were delightful. They were so lovely. Now you also do. Do you like online stuff? What is it called on Instagram? Do you do anything any? Is it influencey, influencey kind of stuff? I don't know if you could. You do lots of stuff online, you're so good at?
Speaker 2:yeah, are you? Are you asking me, are you? Do you want to call yourself influencer or content creator?
Speaker 1:that's it. Concurrent creator. I couldn't find the word, couldn't find the word, I don't care. You've influenced me, so influence you would you call yourself a concrete content creator.
Speaker 2:Yes, in a way that it's what's the word, it's validate what I do. But I don't do that because I want to say that I'm doing it from the professional point of view.
Speaker 2:And offer what I know in a bit more. What's the word I'm trying to find? I want so okay. So if I'm looking through tutorial video online, I hate long video. I hate people starting with a long story. I watch something very snappy, something very catchy, and that's what I produce. And if it sends someone to find a good product that suits them, it's create a bit of attention, it's create brand awareness. I'm happy and I didn't want to do a lot of pay posts. I still say no to a lot of pay posts because I don't want it to limit what I can say. So, yes, in a way, I'm influencing. No, in another way, I'm not fully influencing, because that's not my full-time job and I'm relying on it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Okay. So it's kind of like you like doing it yeah.
Speaker 2:I like doing it and I think the more you do it, the more natural you become. And I have a lot of people asking me and telling me, you know, and I encourage my makeup friend and my hair friend to do it all the time because they were like, oh you know, I have content, I put it, I do this and that, but I don't know if I want to put it up, just do it. Yeah, at the end of the day, you critic your own videos the most. I do it, I post it. I do not look at my video again. I do not look at statistic, because what I think best feedback is when people de-game you and talk to you.
Speaker 1:And I have that a lot, and that's enough I love that. I love that. Liz, that's great advice With the agency you're with, what sort of work do you do through them?
Speaker 2:So the agency, again, the concierge, is very, very different to other agency because Danielle thrives on production. She has the whole team actually producing campaign and brand awareness. So they are doing a lot of what would I call it I don't know the technical term but the whole creative process. So having someone in-house is very useful to be able to just say to the client you know, I have the right person and I know that she wanted to stay with small and stuff, which is me, and then we now have Steph and Victoria Anderson. So it's a very small team and I like that. We, even though we slightly compete with each other, we are very different. So then I know that my interest is not going to be compromised. In a way, I don't want to be just another number.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you do makeup with them, both hair and makeup.
Speaker 2:Both hair and makeup.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah Cool. Before we jumped online, we were talking about being a self-trained makeup artist and I know I've heard recently from somebody that, no, I have to do a course, because if I don't do a course then I'm not going to be a makeup artist. Being a self-trained makeup artist yourself how has that ever bothered you?
Speaker 2:Yes, at the beginning Because I worried that I don't know enough and I still don't know enough, but I know that I can. If I can't get their straight line, I can go then a long way and that's a downside of self-taught. But if you just you know, if you keep getting at it probably not on your celebrity client, but if you keep practicing on other people, you'll get that. I think the main thing is, I say to my younger assistant is that you've got to be hungry enough you know and try to learn everything. They have so much information these days to actually be learning from. And I'm still learning from internet, from social media, so that's that is my upside. I learned from all source continuously, so that's what learning from Academy won't teach you. Yeah, because a lot of school is still sticking to format of the old steps and products and products is continuously improve and changing and that's the perks of me being receiving a lot of new product to try out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, I agree, I don't think you need to do a course to be a makeup artist, especially now, but you know, yeah, but you know I also think I decided much earlier on that I don't want to do special effects.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Don asked me to do Halloween makeup. Unless it's glitter, I'm the most quiet makeup artist doing Halloween and Madagascar.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I have to say I'm not into how I thought I wanted to do special effects and then I went and learned to and I'm like what are you doing? I only want to make people pretty. I'm not interested in putting my third eye on it?
Speaker 2:Yeah, because there's also, you know, those question, that there's a few questions you want me to look through, and who's inspired me on my Instagram and social and I look actually is a big variety. However, the main people are still editorial, beautiful precision, makeup and making people look beautiful. I look at the people that make you know transformation and I was like, yeah, it's good to look at, but where do we go from there Once you don't walk out looking like that to the product sell, but for what, though? Do you know me Like? There's only a small market for it and those people master that market and grateful them, but we don't need to have hundreds of you know amazing transformations.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah yeah, who does inspire you? Like which makeup artist?
Speaker 2:Oh my god, so everyone's talking about Pat McGraw right Right now the runway. Oh my god, oh goosebumps. Have you seen the Mason Mojela? No.
Speaker 1:Let me look now.
Speaker 2:Okay, so have a look.
Speaker 1:So is it on Pat's page or is it on Mason's page?
Speaker 2:Yes, it's finally on Pat, but it was also because it's Mason Mojela, but it is John Galliano, so he is couture d'or before and so his direction of fashion couture is just so exciting. So the makeup is like I. Before she name it, I was like it looks like a AI postlin doll. Oh, really, I haven't seen this Like how do you walk down the runway looking like AI? Oh, is it this one? It's perfection. Oh my god, it's perfection. Like that face, that wax, the wax on the skin. What is that? What?
Speaker 1:does she do? It actually looks like a mask Doll, yes, like a wax doll, yeah, wow, that is amazing. I haven't seen that.
Speaker 2:I know so if you go on to Pat's page.
Speaker 1:By the time this comes out, people probably seen it.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know. I'm like yes, wow, that's incredible.
Speaker 2:So you know those moments is like yes. And she must be like oh, my god, I got, oh, but what is on top?
Speaker 1:I know, I know what you're saying. What is on top the shine? It honestly looks like she's put masks on everybody.
Speaker 2:So you know. But you know we look at it now we're like, okay, there's so much layer because that contouring it, all that layer on underneath before she put a blanket of thing on.
Speaker 1:I'm going to go on to talk about. I'm going to go on to study that later.
Speaker 2:Yes, I think we're all going to try to create it. And then I like Nikki Wolf. Have you heard of her?
Speaker 1:Yeah, nikki make up, so her.
Speaker 2:Instagram is Nikki make up. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know Nikki the British make up. And then James Muloy I actually learned I had to workshop with him three hours in a flew to Perth to see him and who else? But then I like, also like, mae Pang. Her Instagram is Microsoft. She's the one that have no hair and she's just like paint with brush and it's just incredible.
Speaker 1:What's her page called?
Speaker 2:at Mac M M E. I cross off like Microsoft but Microsoft.
Speaker 1:Oh, I have to look for her later. Yeah, I'll send you a. Send you this list.
Speaker 2:And then, and then there's Patrick that you know, the. I mean, it's not that he he was the word, it's not that he invented doing powder and then cream blush, but just become a thing. And now I have to have all his makeup.
Speaker 1:I mean, his blush is a beautiful. They really are beautiful. I know he just marketed and cream right. He marketed it as a product Speaking of which?
Speaker 2:are you a powder fan or cream cream?
Speaker 1:Yeah, me too, me too, but I do love our glass blushes. Oh is that? This is that part.
Speaker 2:Right, yep, this color I would never reach for Get on there Tiny bit.
Speaker 1:Look at that, it's amazing, yep. This is got a beautiful blush on and the color is quite vibrant, would you say.
Speaker 2:Yeah, really vibrant and yeah, blush without caution, I got used to her blushes, but I've read a lot about them.
Speaker 1:People love them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but I can't, I can't depot. Oh yeah, you can. You can if you break enough to break this. I don't know how much they are.
Speaker 1:Yeah, oh, that's your product. Oh, you got a question, you go.
Speaker 2:I have a question. You are decant or depart, as in like what do I say? Yeah, no, do you? Sorry what I'm trying to say? You like depot them into different pan or you just take them out and put in the new. Like do you downsize?
Speaker 1:your kit. Yeah, I do downsize my kit, but I downsized every single eye shadow I owned and I put them into those shadow Bibles and I actually hated them. I never, ever, reached for them, because they just look like they belong to a five year old child because they got so dirty and dusty. I did that too. I think we did it at the same time, and now I've thrown them out with the move because I'm like I was gonna like, yeah, I'm gonna, you know, make them look good and I'm just like the actual packaging is kind of what inspires me. So I leave my eyeshadows in packaging, but not blushes and stuff. How about you? I just noticed you've got yours there.
Speaker 2:Oh no, this one I just made especially for my mom and my sister because they're coming, but also, this is what they this is the leftover of my depotting. But I thought, instead of them trying my, my sister is mom of one and a half. Two is coming and my mom just know one color she would use. So I was like, well, why don't I just like get a little palette for you so you don't have to have all the color you would ever use, whatever you would need as a present and in this little thing, so you don't have to have a hundred product that you use only one color you know do you?
Speaker 1:How do you feel about your depotting decanting situation? Do you like it?
Speaker 2:I. So I went through that. So I, you know, we went through the stage of like pressing and changing and making it all uniform in a different palette. And I look at them for a year and I don't reach for them because I don't know what brand they are. I don't know. Yeah, it doesn't inspire me anymore. So I've used, I've also get sent a lot of products which is accumulate over time and it looked really mismatch.
Speaker 2:So this month I've done oh my God, I had to show you, if you want to see that I haven't shown Susan yet, but this is Susan's little baby and she's a very good makeup artist. Oh, yeah, so this is Smith Kit. Yeah, and I haven't. I haven't finished this one yet, but this is Pasha Fah. Oh, and then I just bought. I just bought another two in here, so then they will go in there and fill that space.
Speaker 1:So hold on. Have you put your both the cream and the powder in there?
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:That's a cream.
Speaker 2:That's a powder and that's their name?
Speaker 1:Okay, so it's the Patrick Tarr and Liz's pop them into the. It's what's it. It's a Smith Kit, isn't it? What's the? What's the?
Speaker 2:Yeah, this is Smith Kit, and they're in a big size. See, that looks good, though that's deep. They lay flat like this, and then you can put your other one on top.
Speaker 1:Oh, I like that. See that eyeshadow one looks great too. Show me your eyeshadow one, can I see please?
Speaker 2:I'll show you, I'll show you the eyeshadow.
Speaker 1:So are these we press or just de-potted?
Speaker 2:No, they just de-potted, because you know what? The most important moment when Zep palette release, the one that we can use in Australia, mmm, you know the what do you call it?
Speaker 1:The induction cooker you know, the one that mounts. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it mounts it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so this one. It's broken so I'm not gonna open it. But I have this tart here. I'll see you know what it is. Yeah, I have tart. I line them with matte and then shimmer and this is all matte and then I have this. I wanna show you because you'll get this. This is so satisfying.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that looks good. What are those shadows? Are they Patrick Taras one.
Speaker 2:These are Patrick Taras contour, and then one left I just put. This one is Makeup Forever. Ah, and then that's my lips. See, that looks good you also? I know they look good. These are the pan that comes with smith kit and that's Shallot Tilbury Rare Beauty Makeup Forever. They're decent size, yeah. And I so now I love you know I've depotted all my Patrick Taras in here too, so you've got it all together. And Makeup by Mario.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, yeah, but yours look good. See, you know, when I did them into the shadow Bible they just got all dusty and they just they didn't fit, I think because it was they were round, I don't know, the size wasn't big enough for me. I like that. I might consider doing it again, I'll see.
Speaker 2:I don't, I don't want to show you my Bible. Do you use the Bible? It looks so bad. It looks so bad.
Speaker 1:You know what. You know what I mean, though, when I say it looks yeah, it looks like your five year old child's makeup anyway, and then my powder, like that's Shallot Tilbury. They look beautiful. I love it. I love it and Susan would be proud she would be. So, now that we're onto some products, let's talk about some kit favourites, because you know your product. You know lots of products. Should we start at foundation? Actually, no, let's start at skin prep. What's your? What do you go to skin preps at the moment?
Speaker 2:I have to have Lana lips. Oh yeah, Then I also most of my client will get magic cream as base. I don't do eye primer. No, okay, I also don't do face primer. Unless they ask for yeah, I don't. I just think that the way yeah, the way I layer the makeup, it would last.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't do face primer, but I do do eye primer. Do you use a concealer or anything as an eye primer?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I usually use a very thin layer of concealer and pat it on and dab or whatever, and then I almost like take most of it off too. Yeah, just even everywhere, because not a lot of time I actually feel colour all the way to the eyebrows, so I just need that space to be even.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, Okay, so we've cut. Okay, what about foundations? What are your favourite Foundation?
Speaker 2:is such a hard question. I stock shellet Tilbury mostly in my kit. Then I have Giorgio Mane still yeah, and I have Face Atelier.
Speaker 1:Do you have Face Atelier? I used to. I've got it, but I don't carry it in my kit anymore, just because and then Too heavy yeah. Just because I'm trying to carry less and I always pretty much reach for luminous silk. Anyway, yep, sorry, keep going.
Speaker 2:See again, depend on the work that you do. What else I have? Kat Von D the serum Apple Serum foundation. Yep, it is so good. So what are you talking about? The downside is there are too many shades, so if you are going to carry it in your kit, you might just need four shades. I've got given the whole thing, so it confuses me. Yeah, so what do you like about it? You need like literally one pump for entire face, and if you want to cover more, you just need a little bit more. If you want to thin it down, you can just add moisturizer to it.
Speaker 1:But it's seamless, so you can add moisturizer to it. Yeah, yes, and let's go on to concealer. What should I go to concealer?
Speaker 2:Concealer. I've just only discovered the duo, and Laura Mercier the which one? So good, laura Mercier. Laura Mercier, which one? The one with the black fleece? Sure, you know? Oh, the one that have one brightening and one is concealer.
Speaker 1:Oh, I don't even know about this one. Oh, do you get Santa Fe? No, I bought that one myself. You bought that one. Okay, wow, it must be good, then you know.
Speaker 2:It is really good. I try to try it out myself first if I like the brand before you know. Even bother saying yes to all these being sent out, because you accumulate a lot of product over time as well. And what's the other one I really like? Oh, have you ever tried Anastasia Beverly Hill Magic Touch Concealer? Oh, Really really good. I like tart shaped tape, but I always find it's a little bit too thick and then it's a bit dry. If you don't have control with how much product you use, it could be disaster. But the Magic Concealer is very the consistency is beautiful and it still do a lot of coverage and you can buff it out and you can have it heavier and it has a bit more time in terms of working, so you don't have to like hurry up, it's just quick.
Speaker 1:Okay, which one was that? That was the Anastasia and the Laura Mercier. I'm going to have a look for the Laura Mercier one. Have a look for that one. And the Laura Mercier doesn't have like 40 colors, so it's good, yeah, when there's too many colors, it's quite tricky, isn't it?
Speaker 2:Because, like I love Fenty, but they have too many, I mean it's a good problem. They have 40 something color. It's not a good problem. It's not a good thing for makeup artists to carry and have to, like, figure out what you want to stop, because it's different from brand to brand how much oxidation, what's their cool, what's their warm, what's their?
Speaker 1:neutral. I agree, I have the same problem. Like I go and I see them all and I'm like, oh my gosh, there's just so many shades. Where do I begin? So I'm glad you mentioned that and with your, you mentioned you like cream blushes and you're loving the Patrick Tar.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but I also, you know, I also have a lot of my red beauty, which I love.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I haven't. I haven't actually used the red beauty, but people love them. I can't go past the still convertible colors. I always go back to them. I love them.
Speaker 2:Do you know what, though the? I don't know how many hundred phases you need to actually go through this bottle, because you need less than a dot, so they really should just sell us like the half size, or all of us just get half size?
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's really concentrate the red beauty yeah, really concentrate, yeah. And what about lips? What about lipsticks? Have you got any favorites there?
Speaker 2:Um, yes, last year I worked on fashion week and was generously given a whole kit by makeup forever, and you know that's makeup forever is known with makeup artists but not known with, you know, consumer, and I'm so glad because I get to try everything. And then lips the lipstick is so, so good. I have one on today, this one and then the lip pencil. I don't know what's the formulation like before. The formulation is so good.
Speaker 1:And the shades, their shades. I've tried to find dupes, actually because they sell out quite a lot and I can't I can't find any. But yeah, love their, love, their liners. And last one, what about mascara? What's your favorite?
Speaker 2:mascara. I, yeah, I, I prefer mascara not to not to wet, because then I don't have to spend ages trying to do that. But professionally, I, if I were given, I use. I actually really like Charlotte Tilbury one and Anastasia Beverly Hill. But if I have to buy, I actually buy M-Core Beauty, Because we're going to use a different applicator anywhere. But for my personal, but for my personal use, I actually use this one. Have you seen it? I love it.
Speaker 1:I love it so it's.
Speaker 2:I say to you you need to get, actually get more of this and actually sell that. I've told her that too.
Speaker 1:I've told her that as well. I'm like can we buy them? So what Liz was just showing was the if you haven't seen Sandra Glame's fabulous mascara I'm pretty sure that's what it's called. It's got two, two different, one size either end and there's a really tiny little skinny end which is amazing for getting really close to the lash line. Yeah, definitely have a look at it if you haven't Did you like the Kevin Unclean? Mascara, any other kit favourites?
Speaker 2:I think you know my unsung heroes are actually those art brush. So I, like a good, I have a lot of brushes, the Japanese one, well known brushes one. But you know, sometimes I actually I go through a lot of lip brushes and eyeliner and always trying to find that size brush for liner. And yeah, arts and crafts Cool.
Speaker 1:Yeah, are you talking about like a little pointy brush?
Speaker 2:No, I have a variety. I have like a lot of anywhere I go that have a $2 shop, art shop. I'll just go and collect a few, Like the angle one, square one, flat one, Ah, okay.
Speaker 1:I'll have to have a bit more of a look in the arch I did years ago. I used to buy the art shop ones. They were great. Liz, do you still use assistance?
Speaker 2:When it is when they have the budget for paid assistance. I feel like this generation there is is hard to find someone hungry enough to work For free. Also, I find that I think like I, I don't feel good having someone working for me for free. So when there's budget, yes, the short answer is yes. But also I'm so used to you know this, used to working on my own, that almost like on a job. If I had to say out loud everything I want and need, it would be slow me down and sometimes I like I just rather do it myself.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I understand that for sure. Any words of wisdom for artists wanting a career like yours, wanting to work in TV, wanting to be repped, wanting to be a content creator.
Speaker 2:What do you suggest? I think the most important thing, really really want it and it doesn't happen overnight. There might be a few luck, you know, playing in place. So if you look at someone and you think that they might have the same starting career point and they got further than you, it's probably because of a few lucky points, but also working really hard. So don't compare you to them. And also, I think what's more important is that our career there's up and down, and when it's down it's okay to feel down, but also just remember there will be up Every year.
Speaker 2:20 years, I should say 10 years, on freelance. In January I was just like what am I doing with my life? What is this? Do I clean, clean brushes? What more can I do? Why everyone else doing cool job? Why am I not doing this job? But it will come soon enough then that I'll be like oh my God, I don't have time to brush my teeth, so just enjoy it. It's easier said than done, but really, if it go down, there will be going up. That was such good advice.
Speaker 1:Thanks, Liz, because I don't think it's good to hear that. You know, 10 years on freelancing, you still have those moments. What am I doing with my life?
Speaker 2:100%. But you know, I said to my husband next year let's take longer holiday because I don't want to spend January thinking what am I doing here? I'd rather work till Christmas and take the same amount of time, but in that quiet time and nobody needs me, I agree, I think take longer in January off.
Speaker 1:It's quiet then.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but everyone is in the same boat as well and you know, sometimes we don't admit it because I don't know for what reason, in this culture of being busy all the time, you know I am busy because I make my client wait for me from middle of December until middle of January, so everyone's coming back in salon, just like Christmas time right now. But if you're quiet because you've been so busy, then you know those people are coming back slowly, yeah. So, yeah, just enjoy the quiet time, because be careful what you ask for.
Speaker 1:Liz, thanks so much for chatting with me today. I didn't know your story, so I'm glad to do now.
Speaker 2:I hope I wasn't just like blah, blah blah.
Speaker 1:No, we need you to be blah blah blah. So thank you so much.
Speaker 2:Thanks for having me.