CONFESSIONS OF A MAKEUP ARTIST: ELOISE PARKER
Eloise Parker has worked her magic on celebrities from Zoella to Rick Edwards and successfully manages to juggle her career as a makeup artist with being a wife and mum to a beautiful little boy.
We think she’s absolutely killing it, so we got in touch to find out what her craziest moment has been on the job and which beauty products she thinks no one should be without!
How long have you been a makeup artist and how did you get your start in the industry?
I’ve been a makeup artist for 14 years now and I’ve loved every moment of it; I’ve had a love for makeup ever since I was a little girl!
I started off working for Benefit and then Dior on a makeup counter which allowed me to gain loads of experience as I was constantly working with different faces and women of all ages. I remember I would book holidays from work to go on makeup courses, it was such a thrill to learn new techniques and trends.
After this, I started assisting some amazing makeup artists in the industry which was the best experience I could have asked for as I learnt so much from them and met so many talented people which started my journey to becoming a freelance makeup artist!
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I love all the iconic Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren as well as all the A-Listers on the red carpet; I’m always interested in seeing what makeup looks they go for.
When I was younger, I was very close with my nana’s, my mum and my sister, they have been my true inspiration. My mum has always been so glamourous, I used to love watching her apply her own makeup, I learnt a lot from her!
What do you love most about makeup?
I love everything about makeup. It’s amazing how you can make someone feel prettier and more confident, that is the best feeling ever!
Makeup is never about concealing someone’s beauty but more about enhancing their features. It sounds cheesy, but I see the beauty in everyone and get super excited to do their makeup to enhance their natural beauty.
If you weren’t a makeup artist, what would you be doing?
Hmm probably another form of artist, maybe painting portraits. Or a dancer, that has always been a passion of mine!
Which products do you think should be a staple in everyone’s makeup bag?
I think it’s key to find your perfect foundation, easier said than done as it can take years to do this, there are so many out there to choose from! I personally love the Nars all day luminous weightless foundation, as it looks so natural on the skin and literally lasts the whole day.
I have a few key products in my kit that I use on all my shoots. One has to be the Charlotte Tilbury ‘Eyes to Mesmerise’ cream eyeshadows, you can literally swipe these across the eyelid and you have instant shimmer and gorgeousness with minimal effort. I always like to add shimmery pink on the apples of the cheeks to add a healthy pop of colour to your skin; I use the Bobbi Brown shimmer brick in rose, it’s soooo pretty!
The Laura Mercier translucent powder sets the makeup so well without looking cakey which is super important. I love using CODE VLM mascara on my shoots as it’s tear-proof, smudge-proof and really separates the lashes and adds length without flaking.
I also love a bit of Dr Paw Paw cream, as it’s so multi-functional, I find it works great on both cheeks and lips.
If you could give any celebrity a makeover who would it be?
I would absolutely love to do a wedding makeover for Meghan Markle. How exciting would it be to get her ready to walk down the aisle for the royal wedding?!
What has been your craziest moment on the job?
It would have to be meeting my husband. I never thought I’d meet the perfect man, let alone on a photoshoot! He was an art director for a magazine and it was my first shoot working for them. We talked all day and I had total butterflies, he asked me on a date at the end of the day and we’ve been inseparable ever since; we’re now married with a beautiful baby boy!
What is the most important beauty advice you could give to someone?
Always wear a smile as you will look beautiful from within and drink plenty of water, it’s good for your skin, hair and nails. If your skin looks great, your makeup will always look better!
