Name: Laura Campion
Age: 38
From: Bathgate
Job: Self-employed MUA & Social Care
What do you enjoy most about being a self-employed MUA?
I do makeup appointments from home and rent a room at Facelook Hair and Beauty in West Lothian, on Saturdays. I also work 3 nightshifts per week in a care home – social care has been my main career all my life. I am hoping that being an MUA will be my main job in a few years once I build up a client base, gain more experience in the industry and get my name out there!
Being a self-employed MUA is great, but there is no slacking off! Everyday I need to be organised to manage my appointments, admin, social media, cleaning brushes, sanitising my kit and being prepared for clients.
What’s your favourite and least favourite thing about working with clients?
I love seeing my clients reaction when they look in the mirror after their makeover – I love making people look and feel good about themselves. My least favourite thing is clients who fidget and get distracted!
What do you love about being an MUA?
I am literally living the dream! My career originally took me on another path and I had always wished I could have become a makeup artist – with hard work and dedication I’ve made it happen. I love being creative, trying new looks, products and techniques but most of all it is the reaction of my client at the end of the makeup.
What is your favourite style of makeup to apply?
My favourite style of makeup is soft glam. I like makeup to look a a bit more than natural with a little pop of colour, pigment and smoke on the eye! It makes you look glamorous and feel empowered without looking too cakey or overdone. Soft glam is wearable for everyone – not everyone wants or can pull off the big colourful Instagram-style makeup!
I love the PrimaLash false eyelashes in the style #Sis, they’re fluffy but not too dramatic as with some other styles. I feel these tend to suit most people – especially those who are not sure of wearing strip lashes.
I also adore the Illamasqua Beyond Powder highlighters, I have them all! No other highlighter compares to how smooth and perfect these look on the face. ‘OMG’ and ‘Electric’ are my favourites – especially for inner eye and brow bone highlight.
What are your top 3 products in your own makeup bag?
For day to day, I like to wear really natural makeup. I love the Korean brand Missha M’s Perfect Cover BB Cream, it gives a tint of colour to my skin and blurs imperfections beautifully. It’s a great product for brides who want natural makeup too.
I love a fluffy brow and use the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze, it has good hold and lasts much longer on me compared to Soap Brows. I also love the Peaches and Cream lip glosses, they’re really affordable and smell amazing!
Do you prefer neutral or colourful makeup & what are your favourite colours to work with?
I like both – sometimes it’s fun to play with colour but most people ask for a more neutral makeup look. Sometimes I like to mix it up as neutral makeup can look amazing by adding a red lip or some coloured liner to the waterline – P.Louise paints are amazing for this!
What was the first makeup product you ever bought?
I feel like I’ve always had makeup, so this is hard to answer! I did Avon from ages 13-16, so I always had loads of Avon makeup. I remember buying a Bourjois single eyeshadow in a shimmery lilac shade (and used it over my entire eyelids…cringe!) and it was my favourite eyeshadow. I felt so luxurious because it was more expensive than my other products at the time.
Who in the industry inspires you & why?
I always look to other MUAs in real life and online with admiration for their craft, you’re always learning in this industry and there is so much to learn from one another.
Rebecca Capel really inspires me, I follow her on Instagram and YouTube – she was the first YouTuber’s makeup tutorials I loved to watch and felt I could really relate to. She has built up her business and works really hard, I’ve also done lots of her masterclasses too which are brilliant. I have learned a lot from her – she is such a lovely human!
I would love to be successful in the bridal makeup industry where my diary is fully booked years in advance! I want my name to be well-known for being an amazing makeup artist.
What advice do you have for an aspiring self-employed MUA?
Practice, practice, practice! Makeup is expensive, building a kit takes time – if I can do it you can too.