INTERVIEW with Marie Le || Makeup & Hair Artist
Above: Marie Le
SD: Hi Marie, for my readers who don’t know you yet, can you please introduce yourself?
ML: Hi everyone, my name is Marie Le and I am a Makeup & Hair Artist running my makeup business, with the passion of helping people feel their most beautiful and confident selves. Apart from my glamour job, I have the biggest love for food as well ^^.
SD: What is your number one piece of advice for brides in the lead up to their wedding when it comes to skincare and makeup?
ML: Having done so many weddings and glam up for so many brides, my biggest piece of advice for brides is to start your skin glow-up journey months in advance rather than a few weeks. The journey is tailored for each person, and it really doesn't need to be complicated, the simple rule I have is to Stay Hydrated; Moisture and Protect (with your skincare routine and sunscreen). If you have specific skin concerns, don't hesitate to see a skin specialist or dermatologist for the best-suited treatments.
Remember that the earlier you start, the more time you have to improve your skin to achieve that glowing skin and the simple method for makeup: Good skin = Good Makeup!
Above: Photo supplied by Marie Le
SD: Name your favourite products:
ML: My current favourite products in my kit at the moment:
Moisturiser: Bobbi Brown Enriched Vitamin Moisturiser and Base
Foundation: Dior Forever Skin (love them both in Glow and Matte); Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Foundation (all time fav); and Giorgia Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (love love love)
Blush: Hourglass Ambient Lightning Blush (all time fav)
SD: What are your plans for the near future? Anything exciting in the pipeline?
ML: So many to be honest... I have a few plans for the big picture, however, for the next few years, my plan for my business at the moment is to focus on upskill my and my team's skills, as well as more value to our clients. For a bigger picture, I have this passion to start on projects that help empowering woman to feel beautiful and confident in their own ways.
SD: When did you first get into makeup and why?
ML: I always have had this love for Makeup and Art since I was a kid, I remember going through my mom's makeup bag when I was 6 trying to do my makeup, and for every free day I had, all I wanted to do was doing my hair, tried to paint my face with whatever I found in my mom's makeup bag. But the spark that lit me up was the first time I did makeup on my cousin when I was 14, I got excited to see how her features were slightly standing out more compared to how I usually saw her.
Past forward up until 2020, with my husband's support, I finally have the guts to start this business and to do it as a full-time job and just like that with so much love and support from so many people, I am here now doing what I love everyday and grow my team with amazing people.
SD: What do you wish the makeup industry could be doing better or differently? What are your hopes for the future?
ML: Being in the industry by now not too long but not too short, I would say that I have seen so many changes and trends that have both positive and negative effects on a lot of people. I love the fact that makeup can be used in so many different ways to either enhance someone's features or change someone's look completely.
However, throughout my career, I have seen a lot of women compare themself (either their skin or their shape or their features) to "inspiration photos" taken online and wonder why they don't look like that or why their skin doesn't look as smooth as in the photo; but the ugly truth is so many of those flawless photos are edited (and it is nothing wrong with that), and there shouldn't be a comparison at first as we all are beautiful in our unique ways and we should cherish that instead of comparing ourself to another one.
Hence, my biggest hope is that all of us as beauty consumers can embrace our features and selves that we love how we look in either good days or bad days or special days, and we don't have to compare ourselves to anyone else but our old self.
SD: How does an aspiring makeup artist start a career in the industry?
ML: As someone who started the makeup business from scratch, I have tried every single ways to get my works recognized and grown through trial and error and lessons. In the beginning, "No" was never my answer, I said yes to any opportunities that came to me (both paid and free), even though I did not make any money, but in returns I could collect experiences not only about makeup and hair, but also about connecting and networking.
SD: Do you have assistants? How do you pick them? Do you always work with the same team?
ML: Yes, I am fortunate to find lovely artists to work alongside with me. I do have a fixed team of artists that go together to bookings. And my only rule to pick someone is their attitude and energy, I love being with people that shares the same value and vision with me
Marie’s social media presence:
Website: http://www.marielemua.site/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mariele_mua/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marielemua1512
Above: Marie Le in action