Melanie Mills is one of the most sought-after makeup artists in the beauty industry today. She is known for making her clientele’s skin have a gorgeous, lit-from-within-glow with products from her makeup line–Melanie Mills Hollywood. I had the opportunity to chat with Melanie about her career, makeup, and what her next move is. Keep reading for the full interview below and Get Gleamed with Melanie Mills.
How did you get started in the makeup industry?
I happened to be in the right place at the right time! My hairdresser introduced me to a friend in the film industry who was looking for a makeup artist for an upcoming movie. I got the job and was literally thrown into it and learned while I was on set. After that, I assisted for makeup artists and hair stylists and eventually started to fill in for other artists when they weren’t available. Since then I’ve worked on numerous films and episodic TV shows, but Dancing with the Stars is what put my name and talent on the map.
Wow, what a journey you’ve taken since the beginning of your makeup career! When did you decide to start a makeup line?
While working on Dancing with the Stars, I wasn’t satisfied with the finish of spray tans. They made the skin look blotchy and uneven. Instead of using them, I started to mix my own body glow formulas on set. Clients loved the way it looked on their skin and started calling it Gleam. This led me to create my Gleam Body Radiance.
Tell me more about your products and also why you did a rebranding of your product line?
My products are a high quality luxury brand, made with 90% crushed pearl, and can be used on the body as well as the face. I plan to encompass a full line of makeup products and because of that I needed to do a rebranding. Stay tuned for an entire collection coming soon!
I can’t wait to see the amazing products you have coming out! Do you have a few simple beauty tricks you can share with my readers?
Try applying the Body Radiance as a primer to fill in any lines on the face and tighten the skin. This will make skin look flawless. Light Gold and Rose Gold Radiant Dust can be used as a highlighter for darker skin tones and Bronze Gold and Deep Gold can be used as a bronzer for lighter skin tones.
You were recently nominated for an Emmy for your work on The Real and have been nominated and won an Emmy for your work on Dancing with the Stars. How has this changed your career?
Dancing with the Stars is a hard show to work on, so after both winning an Emmy and been nominated 10 times for DWTS, I feel a big sense of achievement in my career. It also gets me more work, which doesn’t hurt!
What advice would you give to makeup artists aspiring to achieve their goals?
Try to work within the art world, get involved with film schools, and attend as many makeup artist classes as you can. Don’t forget to network because it’s all about who you know. Last but not least, be professional and have a good work ethic.
That’s great advice. Can you tell me what’s next on the horizon for Melanie Mills?
This year is all about education! I plan to teach master makeup classes at Ruby Academy and Cinema Makeup School, both in Los Angeles, CA and will have a booth showcasing my makeup products at the PhamExpo Makeup Trade Show in Pasadena, CA, June 4-5.
Thank you for this inspiring interview, Melanie! Next week, tune in for my step-by-step tutorial on how to get a sun-kissed look using products from Melanie Mills Hollywood.
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