There's a bit of tension in the beauty world as we know it.
Gone are the days that you have to be a makeup artist, editor, etc. to crawl your way into the beauty industry. Blogging, YouTube, and Instagram have made it possible to pursue your passion makeup and fashion while earning on the side. In the comfort of your own home! Okay, there's only a handful of those who made it to the millions upon millions, while collaborating with the big brands and curating a product with their name. How they blow up to fame and fortune leaves the professional MUAs scratching their head.
Everyone knows that the beauty gurus on YouTube and Instagram creates tutorials and creative looks for their page, with the purpose of promoting their own brand (therefore doing the makeup on themselves only), while the MUAs are the ones who's work you see on billboards, movies, runway shows, commercials and magazine spreads. There are those who overlap, such as Lisa Eldridge who is a top-notch celebrity MUA but has her own YouTube channel. Or NikkiTutorials, who actually did start out as a professional MUA but is the Queen of InstaGlam Fame.
The InstaGuru look consists of at least 2 shades of foundation, "baking" your concealed under eyes, extremely sculpted contour (sometimes with cream contour, AND THEN powder), shimmering-from-space highlighter, a perfected cat eye that kills, carbon smoked eye, doll-liked false lashes, and a bee-stung matte lip.
Instagram Makeup
The MUA's look varies. If it's an editorial or runway look, it is usually clean and has one bold color: in the eyes or lips. Sometimes you'll see a more avant garde and artistic technique, like a wet glossy eyelid. The makeup is not supposed to detract from the model or the clothing. If they are working on a bride, the look leans between romantic and sexy. There may or may not be contour, but it's nothing like Kim Kardashian's.
Editorial Makeup
Wedding Makeup
Commercial Makeup
It's like the contrast between Kendall and Kylie's makeup. If NikkiTutorials is Queen of InstaGlam, then Kylie is Goddess. She is known for her all-out diva looks and lip kits. Kendall, on the other hand, is most recognized for her clean, minimalistic beauty.
But why is there such a division between the two?
The MUAs feel disillusioned with the direction the beauty industry is headed. Even though I am not a MUA, I joined a MUA group on Facebook (which also consists of a handful of beauty enthusiasts like me). They are frustrated with how they worked so hard to get licensed (some states require a license to do makeup on clients), gain experience, build a portfolio and earn a living only to see that brands are only recognizing the YouTube Gurus and giving them all of the cash. Some of the Gurus have had no professional training or experience either. It's more frustrating when the brands to send the latest products for the Gurus to review, only for them to sometimes not give an honest answer. They are also worried about young girls who want to grow up to be MUAs too but learn from YouTube instead of getting training from books or masterclasses. They don't want them to think that YouTube is be-all, end-all of learning makeup.
On the other hand, there are MAC or Sephora employees who wear a full face (similar to a guru) and sometimes ignore or look down upon a customer who doesn't wear makeup on. Little do they know that sometimes that customer IS a MUA or esthetician, or is a regular enthusiast who just wanted their skin to breathe. In fact, most MUAs don't wear a ton of makeup everyday.
I appreciate both types of people, and their forms of art are different. The MUA has an extensive portfolio and work they can be proud of as they are skimming through the pages of Vogue or driving by a billboard. They have a knack for making women of different races and ages beautiful. The InstaGuru is more accessible to the average woman who wants to learn more about makeup, whether for fun or to try new looks, or to get inspiration for being a MUA or beauty blogger. The InstaGuru pushes the envelope with creative looks, even if they aren't for everyday wear. They get women excited about makeup, and the newest product release.
As for most of the bloggers I follow? I love how you guys balance in between natural, everyday wear vs. a more dolled up look.
Do you guys think that there is a division between professional artists and beauty gurus?
How has it affected your buying decisions and influence as a blogger?
0 Yorumlar