The Makeup Insider

Hosted by Vanessa Barney

Business Careers Entrepreneurship Arts

Website RSS feed

Episodes

107

Latest episode

Jun 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

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

April 20, 2026Episode 1011 hr 10 min

From Accounting to Pat McGrath's Runway: Lottie's Self-Taught Makeup Career

Send us Fan MailLottie — makeup artist, educator and co-host of We Speak Beauty podcastEpisode summary:Vanessa sits down with LA-based makeup artist Lottie, who made an unlikely leap from an accounting career into the beauty industry without any formal training. Lottie shares how she taught herself through magazines and hands-on experience, got discovered by Pat McGrath on MySpace, and built a career working on some of fashion's biggest runways. She also talks about the realities of self-employment, the pressure of social media and why so many artists undervalue themselves.In this episode:How Lottie transitioned from accounting to makeup artistry in Los AngelesTeaching herself through magazines and on-the-job experienceThe MySpace moment that led to working with Pat McGrathWhat fashion runway work actually looks and feels likeWhy resilience and authenticity matter more than credentialsLottie's masterclasses and the We Speak Beauty podcastHow social media has changed the industry and what artists should focus on insteadGuest links:Instagram: @lotstarWebsite: www.lotstar.comFollow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IGThe Makeup Insider Blog Vanessa Substack The Makeup Insider TikTok

April 13, 2026Episode 1001 hr 6 min

If You Don't Ask, the Answer Is Always No - What I’ve learnt after 99 episodes of The Makeup

Send us Fan MailSHOW NOTESEpisode 100: Celebrating 100 Episodes with Vanessa BarneyThis week we flip the mic. For our 100th episode, I'm the one being interviewed — and honestly, it felt strange and wonderful at the same time.We go deep on what it's really been like building The Makeup Insider from the ground up, the lessons that have stayed with me, and where this podcast is heading next.If you've been here from the start, thank you. If you're new, welcome — this is a great place to jump in.TopicKey TakeawayStarting from scratch Be ready to begin again. Patience and self-grace aren't optional.The power of asking "If you don't ask, the answer is always no." (Thanks Nicole Thompson.)Community and mentorship This podcast exists to be the mentor I never had.Global reach Listeners from Ukraine, Africa, and beyond — still blows my mind.What's next More face-to-face interviews, international guests, and growing online.Thank you Julia Dillon for a wonderful chat. Follow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IGThe Makeup Insider Blog Vanessa Substack The Makeup Insider TikTok

November 18, 2025Episode 9951 min

Maddy's 110 Euro Wedding Season: Lessons, Logistics & Levelling Up

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Maddy Baucia returns after an incredible season completing 110 weddings across Tuscany, Umbria, and stunning destinations including the Amalfi Coast, Lake Como, and Sicily. She shares the realities behind such a high-volume year: the logistics, the challenges, the systems she relied on, and the lessons she’ll carry forward.We dive into how she plans to reduce her workload to 80 weddings next season, restructure her pricing, streamline her business model, and step away from team-based operations. Maddy also shares the importance of managing her physical and mental health, staying organised while constantly travelling, and refining her backend systems to create a more sustainable business.This episode is a must-listen for artists working in or aspiring to enter the destination wedding space.Topics CoveredChallenges and Support SystemsTravel and Logistics - where to base yourselfAdjusting Future PlansPricing and Booking StrategiesFuture Goals and System ImprovementsStanding Out in the IndustryShowcasing Personality on Social MediaBuilding Trust with Destination BridesUsing Facebook Groups for Destination WorkAdvice for Aspiring Destination Wedding ArtistsCoaching Calls for Wedding ArtistsTravel Fees and Pricing PsychologyTrends in European Wedding LocationsJoin Bridal Boss Academy Follow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IGThe Makeup Insider Blog Vanessa Substack The Makeup Insider TikTok