The Sydney International ‘Face 2 Face Makeup Awards’ have been revamped with a celebrity judging panel and a newly appointed coordinator, Becca Gilmartin, who will bring a modern, fresh approach to the competition. Becca’s amazing makeup and body artistry has graced the Australian Fashion Week catwalks and she has worked with talents such as Alex Perry, Sigrid Thornton and Sophie Monk.
Credits: Kuva, Model: Lisa Ma, Outfit: Camilla and Hair and Makeup: Michelle Dube
This year the Makeup Awards have been reinvented as the platform for every kind of makeup artist to explore their craft, push their own limits and display excellence on a national competition level. It will be an opportunity for recognition by industry peers that also provides access for career development, with an opportunity to win a mentorship under The Green Brush Project. In its very own hub on the expo floor, the Makeup Awards will introduce exciting photographic and beauty editorial categories that will have makeup artists from around the country buzzing.
“The makeup competitions at the Sydney International Spa and Beauty Expo in the past have been amazing for our industry and there have been some amazing makeups created in them. This year, we have shaken up a few things for a bit of fun. The Beauty Editorial and SPFX categories are of course a new. I thought it was important to introduce a photographic category as well as a SPFX category where artists can let their creative skills run wild!” says Gilmartin.
“We have judges on board whom artists will love to show off their skills to and receive valuable feedback from. There is a lot of creative freedom in each category with entrant interpretation of the brief quite open and, of course, with the chance to win a mentorship with the Green Brush Project… entrants really have a chance to elevate their careers on so many levels. One small detail that a lot of artists are celebrating is the announcement that the competitions will now have their own space on the Expo floor and artists won’t have to battle their stage fright nerves as well as execute an amazing makeup… we now leave that until the makeups are complete and we can parade their work down the runway just before winners are announced!”
A past winner, Michelle Dube, said of the Makeup Awards, “I first entered the awards in 2010 competing in the ‘Brides through the Ages’ section. I did an 1930’s bride and I won that year.
“I haven’t been a professional make up artist all that long. I took the leap into full time make up about 2.5 years ago. Prior to that I was working part-time on a makeup counter and before that I was a full time TV Producer in an advertising agency. Now, the kind of work I’m doing is mostly print advertising with a little bit of TV advertising thrown in the mix. I also test constantly to expand my skills and keep learning.
“Last year I entered the Runway inspired look. I chose to do a make up for Australian designer Camilla. I as inspired by a look I’d seen while researching my look online and just loved the use of colour. I’d also never done the technique of creating the straight lines before, so wanted to try that.
“This year, I’ve really enjoyed creating looks for all three categories that I’m entering – Photographic editorial, Bridal and Runway. I try and think of something different and new for each category. I’ve finished my photographic editorial entry and I’ve learnt so much just from that. It was my vision, I styled it, did the hair as well as the makeup and so I’m really proud of it. Now I’m focusing on the live sections. I’m really looking forward to getting written feedback on my looks as I enter this competition for my own personal growth, not to compare myself to others and not just to win.”
Visit www.internationalbeautyexpo.com.au/en/for-visitors/awards to find out more about the awards. Visit Michelledube.com.au for more information on Michelle's work.