The Makeup Insider

Hosted by Vanessa Barney

Business Careers Entrepreneurship Arts

Website RSS feed

Episodes

111

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

EN-AU

About the show

The Makeup Insider is a fortnightly one-on-one podcast exploring the life and career of makeup artists, hosted by freelance mua Vanessa Barney.. Finding your community of other likeminded mua’s – the creative, artistic, talkative, flexible, adaptable with a good eye for colour kind-of-people, can often be daunting. Like, where do you start? The Makeup Insider is designed for just that. To build a collaborative online community of artists to build their confidence, connections and help drive their career to the next level.If you’re just starting out or have been in the industry for a long time, tune in now, check out the key takeaways in the show notes and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Find Vanessa @vanessabarney @the.makeupinsider

Listen to episodes

60 recent

July 6, 2026Episode 1101 hr 22 min

You Were Born Enough: Adam Garland on Small Towns, Big Industry, and Letting Go

Send us Fan MailAdam Garland has worked backstage, assisted Sam McKnight, and had two shots at getting onto Guido Palau's team. Right now he's in his dad's garage in Somerset, UK, building a hair education platform from scratch. In this episode we talk about how he broke into session work (Model Mayhem, zero plan), the real cost of working for free, imposter syndrome, addiction and recovery, why chasing the agency dream was holding him back, and what changed when he finally let it go. He also shares the products he genuinely uses on set and why the humble ponytail elastic deserves way more respect than it gets.How Adam fell into hairdressing at 14 and went from a village salon to Vidal Sassoon, Tony & Guy, and eventually session workFinding his way into editorial around 2008-2010 via Model Mayhem, testing before he even knew testing was a thingAssisting Sam McKnight backstage at Chanel with Karl Lagerfeld and Kendall Jenner in the chairWhat nobody tells you about walking into those environments for the first time when you're from a small townThe industry language nobody teaches you: options, confirms, releases, pencils, hard outsThe pay debate: why working for free is not a free university, it's one day of universityHis experience on Guido Palau's team, twice, and why it didn't work out either timeAddiction, recovery, and how starting his recovery journey around 2018 changed everythingWhy Sam McKnight's team stood by him for five years through the hard stuffAI in the creative industry and why "AI slop" is the wrong responseLetting go of the agency dream and what happened to his career when he didBuilding sessionhair.com: 1:1 mentoring, a free initial consult, and an education platform coming soonArchive research and why knowing your references is how you find your visual identityProducts covered in this episode:Bedhead TIGI Queen for a Day thickening sprayKeune Get a Grip texturiserKeune Sea FoamSam McKnight Modern HairspraySession Kit elastics (sessionkit.co.uk)Connect with Adam Instagram YouTubeSession Hair Follow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IGThe Makeup Insider Blog Vanessa Substack The Makeup Insider TikTok

June 29, 2026Episode 1101 hr 40 min

25 Years, No Rules, No Regrets — with Max May

Send us Fan MailThis week I sat down with Sydney makeup artist Max May. Nearly 30 years in the industry, self-taught, Armani Australia ambassador, Charlotte Tilbury Glow Squad, and one of the first artists in this country to build a blog and digital presence when the industry told him it would ruin his career.In this episode we cover:How Max got started — growing up in the country, moving to Sydney, falling into hairdressing by accident and discovering makeup on setWhy he never did formal training and why he still thinks assisting is the best way to learn this industryWhat it was actually like to assist in those early days — it was tough, the industry was different, and he got on a bus to pick up dog poop for the person he worked underHis years doing fashion weeks in Paris, New York and MilanBeing the Australian Armani ambassador and what that role actually looked likeDirecting fashion shows in Australia for ten years straightWorking with Jennifer Hawkins, Laura Bingle, Sarah Murdoch, Cheyenne Tozzi, Miranda Kerr and Mel B on The Masked SingerWhy he finds editorial more creatively satisfying than TVBeing one of the first Australian makeup artists to go digital — he lost work and friends over it and did it anywayHis social media formula: how many times he posts a week and what the algorithm actually wants right nowWhy he has zero interest in TikTok and is not sorry about itHis thoughts on AI and staying relevant in a changing industryFull list of products mentioned over on The Makeup Insider. Max May Follow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IGThe Makeup Insider Blog Vanessa Substack The Makeup Insider TikTok

June 22, 2026Episode 1091 hr 2 min

The Inside Edit - From Retail Counter to Global Artistry: How Tannia T Built a Career That Lasts

Send us Fan Mail3. The Inside Edit Tannia T has been doing this for over two decades. She started at the Napoleon Perdis counter and worked her way to global artistry — training staff, creating content, and travelling to LA and New York for major industry events.Today she runs her own home studio, takes one-on-one clients, does bridal work, and has some clients who have been with her for over ten years.In this episode, we get into what that kind of longevity actually looks like. The kit, the tools, the booking system, the products she keeps coming back to, and the real talk about social media as a working artist.We cover:How Tannia went from Napoleon Perdis retail to global artistryTraining staff and creating content for a major brandTravelling to LA and New York for industry eventsBuilding and running her own home studioBalancing bridal work, one-on-one clients, and being a mumHer Surratt eyelash curler obsession (and why it's worth it)Sonya G brushes — quality over quantityBy Terry CC Brightening and Benefit Brow GlazeHer honest take on social media as a business toolHow she manages bookings: manual tracking meets Google CalendarFollow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IGThe Makeup Insider Blog Vanessa Substack The Makeup Insider TikTok

June 15, 2026Episode 10858 min

From the Mecca Counter to Agency Repped with Kiana Mei

Send us Fan MailKiana has been in and around the makeup industry for 13 years. But her path wasn't straight. She started on the Mecca counters, stepped away to work in disability support, and came back in 2022 through The Iconic's e-commerce team.Since then? Sydney, Milan, Paris Fashion Weeks. A freelance career built on cold calls, genuine connections, and trusting her own eye.In this episode, we talk about what it actually takes to rebuild in this industry, how networking opened doors she didn't even know existed, and why finding your own aesthetic matters more than chasing trends.We cover:How Kiana got back into the industry through The Iconic's e-commerce teamWhy cold-calling creative agencies actually worksHow assisting at Fashion Weeks changed her careerBuilding a skin-focused, mood-driven styleHer kit essentials — including NARS Sheer Glow and Giorgio Armani Luminous SilkWhat she wishes she'd known earlierFor aspiring and working artists, this one is worth a listen.Follow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IGThe Makeup Insider Blog Vanessa Substack The Makeup Insider TikTok

June 1, 2026Episode 1071 hr 7 min

Set Secrets: What Every Hair and Makeup Artist Needs to Know About Working With a Stylist with Kate Lauren Harper

Send us Fan MailWhat A Stylist Actually Does with Kate Lauren HarperRecently week I sat down with Sydney-based stylist Kate Lauren Harper for a refreshingly honest conversation about what stylists really do and what that means for us as hair and makeup artists on set.If you have ever wondered what the stylist is actually doing while you are in kit, or how to build a better working relationship with styling, this episode is for you.We cover:What a stylist actually does, from brief to final lookHow mood boards, client decks, and feedback rounds shape the whole shootWhy timelines and budgets are never as simple as they seemThe unspoken etiquette of working on setHow the stylist x hair and makeup relationship works (and when it does not)Kate's path from Wollongong to lead stylist, including the ecomm grind that built her skillsWhy boundaries matter more than you think, for stylists and for usFollow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IGThe Makeup Insider Blog Vanessa Substack The Makeup Insider TikTok

May 25, 2026Episode 10621 min

The Insider Edit: Kit Faves & Why You Need to Back Yourself

Send us Fan MailEpisode 2 of The Insider Edit | The Makeup InsiderIt's just me this week — and I'm bringing you 10 products I genuinely can't live without. Five from my kit, five I use on myself every day. Plus a quick chat about PR gifting, asking for what you want, and why a 'no' is never the end of the story.Full list of products Also in This EpisodeHow Vanessa gets PR gifting (hint: she asks for it)Overcoming the fear of pitching yourselfWhy a 'no' just means 'not yet'The scheduling technique that changed how she reaches outFollow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IGThe Makeup Insider Blog Vanessa Substack The Makeup Insider TikTok

May 18, 2026Episode 10526 min

Welcome to The Insider Diaries: Where I have actually been for the last six months.

Send us Fan MailWelcome to The Insider Diaries.This is the first of a new monthly segment where I sit down solo and chat through what is going on in my world, in the industry, and the conversations I think we should be having as makeup artists.In this episode I am pulling the curtain back on the last six months, sharing why I went quiet, and unpacking two big topics: visibility, and the Yana and Perth makeup artist situation.What we coverWhere I'd been for the last six monthsMy fertility journey, IVF and where I am at nowHashimoto's, mood, motivation and how it has affected my workWhy two episodes sat in my drafts folder for six monthsThe new podcast format: two guest interviews, plus Insider Diaries and Insider Edit each monthA listener comp to be a guest on The Insider EditVisibility as a makeup artist and why it matters nowPosting daily on Instagram and what I have learnedThe Yana and Perth makeup artist situation, and my honest takeWhy I no longer do unpaid collaborationsWhat to get in writing before you say yes to any collabMentioned in this episodeCiara from Pro Shine and her blog on visibilityMarissa Grace - Bridalpreneur Socials Ask Ellen two part reel series on discretionWant to be on The Insider Edit?I am running a listener comp. If you would love to come on the podcast and chat about your favourite kit products, DM me on Instagram with your pitch.Loved this episode?Share it with another makeup artist or beauty lover, follow the show, and leave a review. It genuinely helps me reach more people.Follow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IGThe Makeup Insider Blog Vanessa Substack The Makeup Insider TikTok

May 11, 2026Episode 1041 hr 0 min

Why Taste Level Beats Technique Every Time, with Molly Warkentin

Send us Fan MailThis week on The Makeup Insider, I sit down with Sydney based makeup artist Molly Warkentin for a chat that covers more than two decades in the beauty industry.Molly takes us from her UK beginnings at Chichester College, through her time at Mac and the tight knit crew she calls the Makeup Mafia, all the way to the moment she chose to step back from bridal work to make space for family.We talk about taste level, the quiet skill that separates good artists from great ones, and why building real relationships will always outperform chasing follower counts.In this episode we coverMolly's start in the UK and the pivot to SydneyStudying at Chichester College and what she would do differentlyLife at Mac and the network that became the Makeup MafiaAdding hairdressing to her offering and why she resisted at firstTaste level and how to build itStepping back from bridal to protect family timeHer honest advice for new artists trying to break inQuotable moments"Skill gets you in the room. Taste keeps you there.""The best opportunities I had came from people, not posts."Molly WarkentinFollow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IGThe Makeup Insider Blog Vanessa Substack The Makeup Insider TikTok

May 4, 2026Episode 1031 hr 19 min

Inside the Life of a Beauty Editor: From Glossy Magazines to an Online Presence with Sadaf Razi

Send us Fan MailMagazines have fallen. So what does a beauty or fashion editor actually do now?In this episode, Vanessa sits down with Sadaf to unpack how the role has changed, what "cross channel pollinating" really means, and why your favourite beauty experts are now on TikTok instead of glossy pages.What we cover:The traditional beauty editor role and why it no longer existsHow editors now work across websites, video, social and podcastsWhat "cross channel pollinating" looks like day to dayWhy interviewing dermatologists on TikTok is the new normalWhat this shift means for anyone trying to break into the industryGuest: SadafFollow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IGThe Makeup Insider Blog Vanessa Substack The Makeup Insider TikTok

April 27, 2026Episode 10231 min

Insider Edit: The 5 Products Pro MUAs Can't Work Without

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Vanessa sits down with Julia from Co Contour to spill the products they reach for on every job. From skin prep to setting spray, this is a full walk through of what's actually inside a working makeup artist's kit.What you'll learn:The skin prep routine Julia uses on every brideWhy Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter is a non negotiableThe foundation that survives Aussie humidityJulia's favourite concealer for smoothing textureThe mascara that holds a curl like nothing elseEveryday personal favourites from both artistsFollow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IGThe Makeup Insider Blog Vanessa Substack The Makeup Insider TikTok