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
Losing Instagram, Finding Clarity: Penny Antuar’s Career Without Social Media
In this episode, Vanessa sits down with renowned makeup artist Penny Antuar to talk about the unexpected moment that reshaped her career: losing her Instagram account. What started as a digital disruption quickly became a powerful catalyst for realignment, reconnection, and redefining success.
Penny shares how stepping away from social media allowed her to rediscover the joy in her artistry, rebuild her work-life balance, and create space for more meaningful, offline relationships. From manifesting her dream career to navigating the fast-paced beauty world with presence and purpose, Penny’s story is both grounding and inspiring for anyone feeling burnt out by the pressure to stay constantly “on.”
In this episode, Penny shares:
- What happened when her Instagram account was unexpectedly deleted
- How the loss helped her reconnect with her passion for makeup
- Offline strategies for building a dream career in beauty
- Why networking in person still matters (and works!)
- Her views on manifestation, energy, and mental health in the industry
- Practical steps aspiring artists can take to join Fashion Week teams
This episode is a must-listen if you:
- Feel overwhelmed by social media as a creative
- Want to build a long-lasting career based on authenticity, not algorithms
- Are looking for tips on balancing artistry, ambition, and wellbeing
- Dream of working behind the scenes at fashion shows or high-end campaigns
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