Interview With Makeup Artist Mandie Brice

Hi There..... Would you be interested in an interview with a makeup artist? Have you ever been in their makeup chair?

Picture provided by Mandie Brice

 https://www.mandiebrice.com/

Would be a bummer if it’s not of interest to you because I love to give you something new once in a while. I swear, it’s the truth. 😇

I suppose you are wondering what led me to this new type of interview. Then again, maybe not. That’s too bad for you then, because I am sharing it. 😜

I saw a series recently called “Face Off”. It’s a competition and elimination series where they choose makeup artists who go through various rounds of challenges in which they have to come up with amazing creations. 😲

It made me so sad to see there only were 2 seasons. I could have kept watching this for way much longer, even though I am not into binge-watching. 😢

I would say that on average I watch one or 2 episodes a day. Can you imagine how much longer I would have been able to watch at that pace? 😏

Ah, no use crying over spilled milk. It's better to just take a tissue and clean it up because milk makes nasty stains. 😉

Now that everything is nice and tidy again, I can continue with my new makeup artist interview. 😊

Picture provided by Mandie Brice

What are your name, function, and the company you work for?  

I’m Mandie Brice, and I am a self-employed creative entrepreneur. One of my creative endeavors (the focus of this profile) is my makeup artistry. 

How old are you?

I’ll be 41 in September!

What kind of work do you do, or what are you studying to be? 

I have been a working artist for about fifteen years. 

What made you decide to become a Makeup Artist?

It has been quite the journey, but I started as a photographer and transitioned quickly to modeling. 

I loved playing dress-up and so many other aspects of the industry, and like all of us, I “wasn’t getting any younger,” and wanted to stay in the industry. 

On lots of shoots that either were lower budget or at crazy times or locations, I had done my own makeup and had gotten good at it. 

I’m obsessed with learning, so any time I was in someone's makeup chair, I paid close attention to what they were doing. I even had the experience several times modeling for makeup classes, and I soaked up all the knowledge I could. 

So, I figured I’d build a portfolio, and then I ended up being way more successful as a makeup artist than as a model. 

Picture provided by Mandie Brice

Is beauty important to you? Why? 

It is, but probably not in the way most people would imagine a makeup artist to answer this question. Beauty in everything is important and I’m really inspired by that, whether it’s nature, art in a museum, or street fashion - if you’re looking for it, you’ll find it. 

In terms of makeup-related beauty, the most important thing is how it makes someone feel. I am not just applying makeup, I am often applying confidence - and not just with my brushes, but also in the conversations I have with the person in my makeup chair. 

I have worked with lots of speakers who are nervous before their speeches, or people about to be interviewed for a tv broadcast who’ve never been on tv and are terrified. 

They may not even SEE their makeup (because in those cases, a natural look is best), but my role is to help them look and feel their best. 

What are your successes, and how did you achieve them?

Makeup-wise, I’ve created a makeup course and written a book - both designed for people who are new to makeup and need beginner training. 

I think those have the power to help the most people, and even though they aren’t best-sellers, I am proud of the way they can make an impact. 

I’ve done makeup for People Magazine a handful of times, had my work on the cover of The Village Voice, and worked with a handful of celebrities. Those are the things that people are usually most impressed by. Most of that was through my agent, who is wonderful. 

One of my favorite success stories is from the day I got to spend working with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. I love this story because I am a huge basketball fan and he was magnificent, but also because when the producer was booking me, she said “There are tons of makeup artists in LA we could have booked, but it’s not as easy to find one that is actually nice to have on the set.” I didn’t think I’d be getting jobs because I’m nice, but I’ll take it! 

And a success that I hold close to my heart was YEARS ago… I had a bride who had dermatillomania (a type of OCD-related condition where you pick your skin compulsively), and I could cover a lot of her scars. She still thanks me for how beautiful she felt that day. 

Is the name of the Brand important to you when you buy make-up?

Overall, no. I have mostly pro brands in my kit, but we pro artists talk, and there are a lot of drugstore, and few known products we swear by. It doesn’t have to be expensive to make my kit, it just has to do its job and do it well! 

Describe your personal make-up style?

Again, this differs from how you’d probably imagine most makeup artists, but I am really a “less is more” natural look person, which may be why I ended up in the men’s grooming niche so often. I love healthy-looking skin, dewy lips, and defined eyes. 

How did you find your personal style? Do you have a signature look? 

It’s funny - when I first started my career, I was super attracted to all that glitters, bright colors, etc. And honestly, it definitely still catches my eye, but those end up unused in my kit (possibly also because of geography). 

Over time, my focus went from “what fancy thing can I do to this person’s face” to “how can I bring this person’s features out the best?” And the same goes for my makeup. 

Occasionally, I get bored and experiment, and I’m no stranger to randomly going the pin-up route for a wedding or event. 

Picture provided by Mandie Brice

Do you have an influence on other people’s makeup or clothing style?

Absolutely. Because of my profession, I get a lot of “What do you think of this” texts and social media messages. I feel like the term “influencer” has almost become a dirty word, which is unfortunate, but I have influence. 

What are in your eyes the best trends at the moment?

I LOVE the 90s are having a big moment right now, because I was 9-19 years old, and ADORED that era. I mean - the supermodels, the fashion, the music, the movies… This is more in fashion now than makeup, but you still see that signature 90s dark lip. 

What are in your eyes the worst trends at the moment?

I am a believer that makeup is a way of self-expression, so I try not to hate on trends. It’s supposed to be fun, and that includes looking back and laughing at it years later. 

It seems the dramatically drawn-on brows trend (Instagram eyebrows) is on its way out, and I won’t miss it. I feel the same about an over-the-top contour. The only thing I dislike about some trends is that they can be dangerous when people see someone on TikTok misusing a product and it goes viral. 

What kind of beauty advice would you give us?

Cultivate your beauty from the inside out. Taking care of your health (physical and mental) affects your beauty more than any makeup could. And take care of your skin! 

The best makeup is having beautiful, healthy skin that doesn't need much attention. And when it comes time to do your makeup, do whatever makes you feel good, as long as you’re following good hygiene and safety practices!

Who is your style icon and why?

After preaching about natural beauty and minimalism in my makeup routine, I’m throwing the “Iris Apfel” curveball. I adore how unapologetic she is. I keep toying around to show more of my eccentricities through fashion and beauty but haven’t gotten there yet, though motherhood is definitely expediting the process of not caring what others think so much. 

Is there something else you would like to share with us? 

I would love to hear from anyone who this resonated with or who has questions! You can find me on my makeup-specific Instagram account @makeupbymandiebrice.  

Picture provided by Mandie Brice

Thank you so much Mandie for sharing so many insights. I am also much more drawn to natural makeup looks. 😍

Hope you like my blog.....Until next time.....Have a nice day 

Renata (Seadbeady) 

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