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Interview with Uzma Ali of ‘Makeup by Uzma’
Posted on September 23, 2009
It’s always good to pick the brains of people in the know. Answering our questions this time is Uzma Ali of ‘Makeup by Uzma’, a freelance international hair and makeup artist based in Edinburgh.
Tell us a little about yourself, background and your business. How did you get into makeup artistry?
I started off in a completely different career: marketing, recruitment, human resources and events management. But makeup has been an ongoing passion of mine. Being from an Asian background I grew up watching Bollywood films, wearing traditional colourful clothes and attending weddings where brides were adorned in the most amazing outfits. In all these areas, makeup has always played an important role. I can recall from a young age collecting makeup and experimenting with different looks every spare moment I had. I copied looks I saw around me and created original looks as I became more confident with applying makeup. Over the years, I stepped in as a makeup artist on special occasions for family and friends. Then I attended world-renowned makeup master classes in New York, Pakistan and England. I noticed a gap in the market in Edinburgh & the surrounding areas for a specialist makeup artist and I decided in January 2009 to launch Makeup by Uzma.
If you had to pick one easy thing women can do to improve their natural beauty, what would you suggest?
One very easy thing women and of course men can do to improve their natural beauty is to drink lots of water. I find people are looking for quick ways of looking good and enhancing their natural beauty, but the key is to look after your inner self to bring out a natural glow. Make up always sits so much better on healthy skin!
If we took a peek in your makeup kit, what would we see?
Ooh now that would be telling! My makeup kit consists of many luscious goodies by names such as MAC and Bobbi Brown. You would see shimmering eye shadows in every colour imaginable, dewy blushers and highlighters to create glowing skin and lots of lip glosses for that ‘kiss & tell’ look for lips.
What tips can you give brides to ensure a well-groomed look which lasts the whole wedding day?
As well as having a talented makeup artist to create a well groomed look, I would also suggest sticking to a look that suits your personality, as that way the bride feels comfortable and confident in her overall appearance. A bride who is calm and confident with her outfit and makeup naturally looks groomed for her entire day!
Does bridal makeup fashion change? If so, what’s in fashion now?
Bridal makeup does change quite a lot according to seasonal trends, but most brides tend to stick to looks that they are fond of rather than going for a look which is in fashion. Being a model as well as a makeup artist, I am easily able to create the latest in-fashion makeup trends for brides. However I tend to tailor makeup looks according to what the bride has specifically requested. My preliminary aim is to have a happy and satisfied bride by delivering breathtaking makeup looks.
What is the difference between creating a bridal look for an Asian and a non- Asian bride? How does this differ from makeup for commercial or catwalk models?
The difference between an Asian bridal look and a non-Asian bridal look is vast! Asian bridal makeup typically (but not always) involves deeper colours and more detail to the eye makeup whereas a non-Asian bridal look is usually softer and more minimalist. There is a world of difference between bridal and commercial/catwalk model makeup. Catwalk and media work is like working magic tricks, as I create bright or larger-than-life makeup looks to change the appearance of the person to fit the role they are playing.
How does it feel to be playing such an important part in a bride’s wedding day?
I never imagined how amazing it would feel to play such a vital role on the bride’s wedding day. It really is a blessing. I’m the sole person the bride shares her thoughts with on the day leading up to her big moment. She trusts and relies on me to bring out her inner beauty by emphasising her features and hair through makeup and styling. But I’m also the person the bride is alone with and looks to for words of comfort. From my experience, each bride is truly unique; every bride I’ve had the pleasure to work with has looked stunningly beautiful on her big day. There is nothing more rewarding in my role than seeing a bride so satisfied with her look.
Uzma can be contacted on 07500 966580 or by emailing info@makeupbyuzma.com.
