So, how do you know if you’re a makeup artist? Well, if you’ve ever studied the eyeshadow combinations on your Barbie dolls or even arched a few eyebrows in your high school cafeteria during lunch, you are probably a makeup artist.

That’s exactly how Andrea Archer knew she was a makeup artist. This Glam Diva has been playing with colors and arching brows since before she could drive. And those skills have led her to a very positive career.

In an exclusive AshleyGaGa interview, Glam Diva speaks with us about how she got into the business of beauty, what it’s like to work with diva’s and what makeup trends she would gladly see die.

When did you fall in love with makeup and how did you enter into the beauty industry?

My love affair with makeup dates back to about 8 years old!  I would love studying the eye shadow combinations on my Barbie dolls.  I also remember being fascinated with the makeup looks on the Soap Opera stars. Their makeup was always so perfect.

I unofficially entered the beauty industry by arching eyebrows for my closest friends in high school during our lunch breaks!  My official start, however, was with Mary Kay Inc. shortly after the birth of my first child (she is now 9 years old). I fell in love with the way my clients always felt beautiful after our appointments.  Later on, I decided to take a part time job at Macy’s at the Benefit cosmetics counter because I was just so in love with the art of transforming women’s viewpoint of themselves simply by teaching them a few key makeup tricks. After child #2, I took a short break from makeup, but I couldn’t stay away for too long.  In 2006, I completed a Basic Professional Makeup certificate program at Il Makiage in NYC, and the rest is pretty much history in the making!

Who have you worked with so far?

To name a few, I have been blessed to work with celebrities like pop sensation Sabi , and handbag designer Gelila Puck (wife of world famous chef, Wolfgang Puck) .  I’ve also worked with male supermodel Wendell Lissimore and countless other models from top agencies such as Ford and Wilhelmina.

What’s the craziest experience you’ve had while working with someone. Do you work with many Diva’s? 

By far, my craziest experience was working with a hair stylist who opted to double, no make that triple as the fashion show director, runway coordinator and key hair stylist. Lets just say, chaos ensued the day of the show for sure!

And yes I work with lots of Divas and Divos. There is never a dull moment in the world of fashion!  But that’s what keeps it exciting–all of the different personalities– and I just I love it!

If you could work with anyone at all that you haven’t worked with yet, who would it be?

I would love to work with Mary J. Blige. I am such a huge fan of hers. And although he probably needs no grooming whatsoever, I’d love the opportunity to work with L.L. Cool J.

What makeup flaw do you most often see on the average women? 

The most common makeup flaw I see is too much foundation.  Foundation, when done correctly, should look and feel like a 2nd skin, and should therefore not be noticeable. If you find yourself needing to apply an excessive amount of foundation to conceal blemishes, then you may need to revise your skin care routine. The clearer your skin, the less foundation you will need.

What makeup trend are you totally over right now? Which one are you in love with?

I am totally over the smokey eye. I’ve seen it done in so many ways and in so many shades and I’m just about ready to move onto the next major eye trend, which I believe will be metallic eyeliners and/or shadows in all different types of colors.  Oh, and I’m also over drag queen eye lashes in the middle of the day!

I love, love, love the look of black liquid eye liner, false lashes, and a strong red lip (old Hollywood glamour style). The look can be toned down for daytime by using 2 coats of mascara instead of false lashes, and a sheer red lip gloss in stead of red lipstick.  If you’re really bold, adding a fake beauty mark will top things off perfectly!

 How in the world can we make our makeup last longer?

One word, PRIMER! Make primer your best friend.  It is such an important first step for prepping your skin before your foundation goes on.  Using eye primer before applying your eye shadows is also key to achieving a makeup look that will last all day.

 What do you always carry with you in your makeup bag?

A neutral colored lip gloss (like Beach Bronze by Mary Kay).  I never leave home without it! I also stash a small compact with a complete makeup look (eye shadow, blush, and lip color) in case I’m out and about and need to put on a full face for a last minute event.

What advice do you have for aspiring makeup artists?

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.  Connections are key in the fashion and beauty industries, so network, network, network.  Also, if you have not completed your portfolio, do so ASAP.  Make that a top priority on your ‘to do’ list.  Clients like to see your work, not just hear about it.  And lastly, I strongly advice that you keep honing in on your craft and developing your skills.  Trends are always changing, so it’s important to stay on top of what’s new and what’s now. Oh, and by the way, did I mention network, network, network!

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