At Maquillage Makeup Academy, we offer the very best makeup artistry education available today, and part of that unwavering standard of excellence comes from employing instructors with both industry experience and skillful expertise to teach our advanced curriculum.
As a result, our faculty team is comprised of only the best and the brightest in all areas of makeup and hair design!
As part of our Makeup Artist Spotlight, we will introduce you to our team by featuring one of them each week.
Today we're talking to Amber Whipple, who is a Senior Educator for Sephora as well as a freelance Bridal Makeup Artist who has been in the industry for 8 years. Amber teaches and educates clients and coworkers in upcoming and current beauty trends in the industry.
MAQUILLAGE MAKEUP ACADEMY: How long have you been a makeup artist?
AMBER WHIPPLE: 8 years! How time flies. I work as a Senior Artist at Sephora Fashion Valley. Outside of retail makeup, most of my freelance work is bridal.
MMA: What makes Maquillage Makeup Academy stand out from other makeup schools?
AW: The diversity of material included, the opportunity to engage with guest instructors from different parts of the industry, and the passion that the people who run the school have. I am continually in awe for the amount of love and energy Mireille has for the industry and her school. She is truly an inspiration!
MMA: What has been the biggest accomplishment or your most memorable experience in your artistry career so far?
AW: This is toss up between becoming Senior Artist at Sephora and auditioning for the Sephora Pro Team. I started my career with Sephora in 2011 after working at other retail stores and could tell this company was truly invested in employee education and development. I was able to go to San Francisco in 2014 for Senior Artist Certifications, which was essentially an audition for 100 of the artists in the company to take on a new role in education. It was incredibly challenging and invigorating all at the same time. Now that I have become a Senior Artist, I am lucky enough to be able to train and teach others, which is truly my passion.
When I went to Pro Team Auditions in Utah in 2014, I was able to work with some of the company's top educators and makeup artists for a week and it re-ignited my love for doing "out-of-the-box" artistry and using products in innovative ways. There were challenges every day, from industry knowledge to presentation and of course, artistry. It was amazing to work along side artists you admire and are striving to be like.
MMA: What is your favorite makeup tool or product in your kit?
AW: Tool - right now it would be the Beauty Blender. There are so many iterations on the market--every brand has their own version--but the original Beauty Blender is the best I've tried. I love it not only for liquids and creams but also powders and for "touch-ups" in store or on set. If things are looking "too powdery" or not blended enough, I'll mist my beauty blender with a facial spray and press on the area I want to soften.
My favorite product in my kit is MUFE Ultra HD foundation. It is oil-free but the formula has hyaluronic acid which gives it a skin-like appearance. I love the ease of use, professional results, and wide shade range.
MMA: What advice do you have for an aspiring makeup artist?
AW: Do your research and ask as many questions as you can! I believe the most learning comes from hands-on experience, and that might mean something different to every artist. Some MUAs start out doing makeup for friends and family while others work in retail to get experience--find what works for you. In my case, I found retail to be the perfect platform to get experience with clients of all ages, races, and skin types. I was also very blessed to have some amazing mentors along the way and made sure to ask them for help when I encountered a roadblock.
Another big piece of advice is one that was given to me--never stop learning. The day you stop learning is the day you stop growing. Always go back to your fundamentals but also do not be afraid to experiment and try new things.
