This year certified make-up artist Raisa joined our team of editors. Raisa started her own business Almira’s Beautique a few years ago and has worked for The Fashion Orientalist before as a MUA and hair stylist for personal style shoots. Read the interview below to get to know this beauty addict + Raisa answers a few beauty questions for us!
At what age did your make-up obsession start?
Actually not that young, I was kind of a tomboy. No Barbies but cars. I actually still love beautiful cars to be honest. On my 16th birthday my aunt gave me my first make-up box. You know, a suitcase filled with anything but the right colors, but boy did I love it back then!
When did you decide ‘okay, this is it, I’m going to be a professional make-up artist?’
I had just lost my job due to the recession. I always wanted to learn more about how to apply make-up. YouTube is great, but not so much when it comes to (honest) feedback. I had my doubts at first but spoke to a lot of loved ones about my ambitions and finally made the decision to go back to school. I was ready to become a make-artist and now I am also a beauty editor for The Fashion Orientalist!
What beauty questions you get asked a lot?
I get a lot of different questions but mostly about the brushes, lip colors and foundation/concealer shades.
Now you mention it, we have a few beauty questions ourselves. How often do you need to clean your make-up brushes?
Ideally, you should clean your make-up brushes once a week. You can wash them using a gentle shampoo (like baby shampoo) with water and let them dry overnight.
How do I determine my skin (under)tone?
We all have skin undertones that don’t change, this is hereditary and usually similar to your family members’. To find your undertone look at the back of your wrist. If your veins appear blue/purple you have a cool undertone. This also shows that silver jewelry flatters your skin tone more than gold. If your veins appear blue/green you have a warm undertone. Gold jewelry is more flattering in that case.
Our last question is about finding the right foundation and how to apply it?
First of all you have to know what your undertone/skin tone is. You can apply a little bit of the desired foundation on your jaw then step into natural (day)light. If it blends in, then it’s the correct color. The coverage is up to you. Also the way you apply your foundation is up to you. You can use your fingers, a beauty blender or a brush. Always apply outward and down so you flatten the tiny baby hairs on your face. Also don’t forget to apply foundation on your jawline and blend it onto the neck so your face doesn’t have a completely different color than the rest of your skin.
If you have any questions for Raisa, drop us a comment below or contact us at thefashionorientalist@gmail.com and Raisa will answer them on the website.
