In Conversation With..

This week on TLBG we’ve been talking to celebrity and TV Makeup Artist Ariane Poole.

Ariane has been in the makeup industry for over 30 years and has had the honour of making up A list celebrities, super models, pop stars and even royalty - and let’s not forget, during the 70s Ariane was headhunted by the much loved, and iconic, fashion label Biba to be their make-up artist!

Today, what Ariane is known for most is live TV makeovers. She’s the expert on Style Challenge, GMTV, The Big Breakfast, This morning and many more much loved shows.

Ariane’s passion and love for showing women how they can look with the right make-up and application techniques is clearly seen in everything she does - from helping companies like Molten Brown and Boots No.7 – to creating her very own gorgeous range of makeup Ariane Poole*.

What inspired you to become a makeup artist?

I have always loved watching my mum put on her makeup. She was a model in the 60s. I was amazed at how makeup could transform someone. I received my first “play makeup kit” for my 3rd birthday. I was hooked. I wasn’t allowed to wear makeup until I was 16 so I volunteered to do the makeup for school plays. After that I used to make up my friends.  I then did a degree in Cosmetology in Vancouver Canada where I lived. In 1978 Biba asked me to come to the UK to be their Makeup Artist. I was thrilled and so my career began.

You worked with the ionic British brand Biba, what was it like?

I really love Biba’s makeup unusual shades, rich in pigment. It was Biba that taught me about the yellow undertones in the skin, which lead me to create my hero Concealer Palette. I love the way Biba brought together fashion and beauty to create a complete look. I still have some of my Biba makeup but of course I don’t use it.

What’s been the highlight of your career so far?

The highlight of my career so far is my makeup range Ariane Poole*. It was a real sense of achievement to turn something that was an idea in my head into reality. I get such a buzz when I get emails, phone calls from customers telling me how much they love the product(s) that they have bought and that it has made a positive difference in their lives.

What’s been your most memorable makeup job to date?

To be honest I have had so many great jobs I can’t pin it down to just one.

You’ve got your own line of wonderful cosmetics, how and why did you decide to take this step?

I had been making my own foundations since 1984, my celebrity clients loved them, I would give some to them and they were always saying you should sell these. I decided to start my own cosmetics range while I was on This Morning doing makeovers. I was always mixing products together to create the prefect base, lip colour, shadow etc, the women would ask what I had used (because they loved the results) and I would give them this great long list of products. They would turn to me and say "I haven’t got time to mix 3 of this or that together". To be honest as a mother of three nor did I! And so the range began.

What makes Ariane Poole* make-up different to other brands?

What I have tried to do with my products is create a makeup brand that is super user friendly and delivers great results with minimum effort. Created by a makeup artist (me) to solve women’s beauty dilemmas. 

Because I am always giving talks on makeup/beauty to women of all ages throughout the world (I have just come back from India and about to go to Denmark & Australia) I listen to their problems, likes, dislikes and then create products that address these issues.

What’s your guilty beauty pleasure?

Nail polish. I LOVE doing my nails or having them done. I find it de-stresses me. I have sooo many Nails Inc , Sally Hansen and OPI varnishes I have dedicate a drawer in my office to my nail products.

What advice would you give to aspiring makeup artists?

Stick at it, it doesn’t happen overnight, be passionate, love what you do, and DON’T rely on Photoshop.

What’s the one makeup tip everyone should follow?

Update your look. Our faces are constantly evolving. Colours, textures, application techniques and styles that looked great in your teens & twenties may not look that great as you get older.  By updating your look you will always look great.

What’s the one makeup product you couldn’t live without?

My Ariane Poole* Concealer Palette. I have really high colouring like rosacea. My Concealer Palette covers it beautifully & naturally. We have won many awards for it. 

For more information on Ariane Poole* make-up you can visit her website here.