Jelly Eugenio, Anthea Bueno, Mark Qua/Instagram 

MANILA -- The celebrity makeup artists (MUAs) behind today’s most gorgeous faces in the entertainment industry dived into a no-holds-barred and tell-all makeup masterclass where they bared their secret techniques and called for professionalism among MUAs.

Jelly Eugenio, Mark Qua, and Anthea Bueno spoke before a jampacked crowd on the first show of their sold out and star-studded “Full Spectrum” masterclass last February 9, with TV host Mariel Padilla, Kapamilya stars Janine Gutierrez and Nadine Lustre, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, and celebrity photographer BJ Pascual as their muses.

Bueno, whose makeup canvass was Gutierrez’s face, taught the attendees how to achieve "editorial skin and bold lips" for photoshoots without having to overcover flaws and skin imperfections. 

“Skin has to look like skin. It doesn’t have to look like a Photoshop[ped] photo,” Bueno, who has been in the industry of makeup artistry for 11 years, said during her session.

As she prides herself on having a makeup style that just enhances one’s individuality and uniqueness, Bueno said she does not like hiding her clients’ hyperpigmentation behind thick layers of foundation and concealer and that she shies away from over-contouring the face of her muses.

“Being round doesn’t look bad, you just look young,” Bueno said. “I don’t like over-contouring so much. Sometimes, less is more."

Gutierrez shared the same principles, saying she likes makeup that just enhances her Filipina beauty.

“It’s always about enhancing what you have and not masking it,” she told ABS-CBN News.

Gutierrez also expressed her admiration for her makeup artist, saying she admires how Bueno translates her background in Fine Arts to the makeup looks that she does.

“Being Anthea’s muse, I’m so amazed about her background kasi Fine Arts student, then she gets creativity from museums, and paintings, and art talaga 'yung background niya so… ang galing na nata-translate niya 'yun sa makeup,” she said. 

Call on professionalism

While Bueno emphasized the importance of seeing flaws as unique traits, Qua, whose focus is bridal makeup, called on other makeup artists to show professionalism and show up on their bookings at all times.

“It's all about professionality. Kaya nga dapat [kapag] sinabi mo na makeup artist ka, bigyan mo siya ng image na seryoso ka, na profession siya, bilang professional, ganon. Kasi kung hindi ka professional, sinisira mo 'yung industry, bumababa 'yung tingin ng mga tao kung ano 'yung mga makeup artists,” he told ABS-CBN News.

He slammed “no-show” makeup artists, saying practices like this could have bad effects to the industry.

“Kaya ka nga makeup artist, you give, you deliver,” the makeup artist said.

“Kapag nag-commit ka sa wedding, pumunta ka… Importanteng araw ‘yan para sa bride. Huwag natin sirain ang industry natin because of those kinds of issues,’ he added.

Qua said a makeup artist’s job is not only about making a bride or any client look good physically as building good relationship and rapport is also part of the job.

Brides often cry and feel a lot of tension on their special day, Qua noted. That is why for him, it is important to talk to them, help them ease out, and even make them laugh while doing their makeup.

“Kailangan mo ibigay ang pinaka-best version niya,” he said, as he demonstrated how to perfect a glowy bridal makeup on her muse, Padilla.

Reacting to comments criticizing the talent fee makeup artists ask for their labor, Qua, who has been in the industry for 15 years, stood his ground and stressed that makeup artistry as a profession requires tough work for years on end.

“I think kung ano man 'yung talent namin, pinaghirapan namin ‘yun. Hindi lang naman kami lumitaw bigla na, eto na makeup artist kami, maniningil kami ng mahal. Ginapang namin 'yan for how many years. Kaya kami naniningil ng mahal [because it’s what] we can offer to our talents,” he told ABS-CBN News.

“Feeling ko kung papano mo rin i-value yung sarili mo at papano mo siya tignan, I think that’s our worth,” he added.

Eugenio echoed these sentiments, saying makeup artist do not only apply makeup as they also have to consider their clients’ outfits, the theme and nature of the event they are attending, and their overall look.

“We’re not just there to apply makeup for you, but we’re thinking about everything that we do. We’re attending workshops like this, or we’re creating the workshop itself. I think hindi lang ‘yun yung value namin as a makeup artist,” he told ABS-CBN News.

No gatekeeping of secret techniques 

Calling in the gorgeous Gray on the stage as his muse for his “red carpet glam” makeup session, Eugenio bared almost all his secret techniques in makeup, proving that in the Full Spectrum Masterclass, attendees are really in for an exclusive treat as gatekeeping is not allowed.

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Eugenio discussed his highly coveted techniques that he learned from his 15 years in the industry, saying that they launched the masterclass to share their years-worth of knowledge.

From contrasts of colors, skin assessment, brow and eyeshadow shapes, choosing the right tools, and other technicalities, Eugenio bared all that he could, leaving no secret undisclosed.

“Nailabas na namin lahat ng secrets namin,” he told ABS-CBN News.

“Itong nalalaman niyo, medyo mind-blowing siya but it really is what you have to know… And kaya rin namin ginawa itong workshop na ‘to because we really want to share it with you all,” Eugenio told the crowd.

Makeup as a “form of expression” 

As a makeup enthusiast herself, Gray encouraged people to define their own beauty and keep doing makeup if it helps them express themselves more.

“Beauty is uniquely yours. Ibig sabihin, you should be the one to define it for yourself. Allow yourself to be inspired by other types of beauty but never allow yourself to feel put down by others’ definition of beauty because it’s ever changing, it’s ever evolving, so we should be able to define it for ourselves,” the beauty queen told ABS-CBN News.

“Makeup is a form of expression. It’s something that is fun, it’s creative, and it’s something that’s uniquely yours. If you want to make up yourself that way, in any way that you want, more power to you. It’s meant to be fun and just ignore the haters,” she added.

Full Spectrum announced that they will have another makeup masterclass soon, with different formats and target audience.