Skincare Is The Key For Any Flawless Makeup

Meet Maria Savitskaya – a talented makeup artist who hails from St. Petersburg, Russia but has found her passion in the bustling city of Kuwait. With a keen eye for detail and a love for all things makeup, Maria has made a name for herself in the industry with her unique approach to beauty. Her journey to the Middle-East has been nothing short of transformative, and she’s fallen in love with the region’s rich culture and vibrant energy. Maria’s exceptional skills and deep appreciation for her adopted home have made her a sought-after makeup artist among clients who seek a touch of glamour and sophistication.

Read our exclusive interview with Maria to learn more about her.

Please introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Maria, and my work and passion is the beauty industry. I was born and spent most of my life in St. Petersburg, Russia, but for the last 12 years my family and I have lived abroad, a few years in Germany and Bahrain and now in Kuwait. Life in Middle-East is very different from Europe and had a deep impact on my personality but I love it!

Tell us about your education.
I graduated from College as an Estetist/Technologist in makeup and cosmetology. During my education we covered every aspect of the beauty industry but my focus was on studying academic drawing and painting, anatomy, production and composition of cosmetics, as well as professional makeup.
While in College, I also got a medical degree (Nursing). A year later I graduated from Open University of Russia with Bachelors in Economics and Business Management.

Tell us a little bit about how you first got into makeup, and about your journey to where you are today!
I was fascinated by the beauty industry from an early age but professionally I got into makeup when I was around 17 years old. I started participating in a variety of workshops and enhanced my skills by specialized trainings run by some of the leading brands. I also took part in world class beauty competitions and worked at the biggest beauty exhibitions in Russia at that time. Some of memorable moments include working as a makeup artist at launching campaigns for Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Lancome.

Did you get any formal training or are you a self-taught artist?
Social media was not that widespread and Instagram did not even exist. So, I had to introduce makeup to my clients and explain the importance it plays in everyday life and not only on special occasions. Now in Kuwait I work as a freelancer for private customers and a variety of local brands. However, my motivation remains the same till today! I want to bring out the joy and happiness, give confidence and fulfillment to anyone I work with.

At what point did you decide to pursue make-up as a career?
I do not think I can pinpoint a specific moment. Fashion shows, makeup and VOGUE magazine were always part of my life. So I always knew that my career will be somehow connected to the world of beauty. I loved makeup, so I made my passion to my profession.

How would you describe your signature look?
I believe every person is unique. I see my goal is to bring out and enhance untapped beauty. Elegance is what I like to show in my work. Sometimes less is more but it all depends on the client’s needs and situation.

What does make-up mean to you?
Working as a makeup artist gives me an opportunity to express myself through the art of colors, shades and nuances. In such people-oriented type of work, the feedback loop is very close and it motivates me immensely. Besides the creative fulfillment, my work allows me to feel empowered and an independent woman.

What is your favourite makeup look you have ever done?
Throughout my career, I have done a vast number of looks and transformations such as abstract, minimalistic, gala, podium just to anime a few. It is very difficult to select a particular look but my favorite is the moment when makeup is done, the lady looks in the mirror and her eyes start to shine. At this moment, I know that the look is right and this is really important to me.

What keeps you creatively inspired?
You never know in what exact moment you’ll get an idea for the next creative look. Obviously, fashion shows give us trends and directions but I also seek inspiration from nature, art and culture. For example, unique textile patterns, which were on display in Sadu house, as well as, the vibrant life of the old Souq Mubarakiya were inspirations for some of my past projects.

What famous artists have influenced you, and how?
It would be impossible to recall all the talented artists who inspired me – there are just too many. However, I would like to name a few who had been on my mind recently:

Nikki @nikki_makeup – Currently, she inspires me the most. She demonstrates a beautiful and precise commercial look.
Kabuki @kabukinyc – Love his aesthetics and unique vision
Mimi Choi @mimles – She is an extraordinary artist, her imagination is beyond this world.

In your opinion, what is the most important quality in a makeup artist?
Of course everyone in the business needs to be up-to-date with all popular trends. People show you a picture from TikTok or “Met Gala” as a reference and expect to reproduce a particular look. This falls under technical skills which develop over time with patience, practice and experience. However, from my experience, the most important traits to become a successful makeup artist is to be respectful to other opinions, joined with good communication skills. We work with people, so we need to put their feelings, expectations and desires first. Finally, I would like to stress the importance of hygiene. No matter what, your brushes, products and your workplace must always be clean not only to prevent skin problems but also to show respect.

What is the biggest makeup tip you think every woman should know?
You might be surprised but skincare is the key for any flawless makeup. Healthy good looking skin is already half of your success. Moisturizer and sunblock are must-haves in every cosmetic bag.

What are some of your other hobbies?
I am a curious person by nature and enjoy traveling and exploring new places. In recent years, me and my family discovered the Southeast Asian region and got fascinated by their history, culture and, of course, their amazing food. These unforgettable traveling experiences are the most cherished moments that I love sharing with my daughter and show her how amazing our world is. But when I am home and not working, I love to bake and try out new recipes. I think I have watched all seasons of “The Great British Bake Off”.

Can you tell us about some of your most memorable backstage moments?
No doubt working backstage at “Paris Fashion Week” is one of the highlights in my career. It was a great opportunity not only to show your professional skills on an international stage, but also improve them by working side-by-side with super talented people. I have to admit that it was challenging and sometimes physically exhausting but at the same time full of unforgettable experiences and bright emotions. Surrounded by other talented artists, designers and photographers I had a unique opportunity to see my work on the catwalk and in some high profile magazines. The Fashion Week fueled me with new motivation and creative ideas. I think I am still under that “Paris Fashion Week” spell.

When it comes to your own beauty routine, what do you place most importance on?
As a daily routine, I prefer very light makeup which includes the basics: concealer, translucent foundation, a little bit of highlighter and mascara. I personally like to use a trick with colored mascara. My eyes are green and I use a purple mascara, which is a contrast color. As a result my own eye color looks brighter but lashes remain dark, similar to standard black mascara.
You can also try this trick, just pick the right contrast shade. For green eyes choose purple or burgundy, for blue the best is brown, and brown eyes work with blue or purple shades. Just give it a try. I am sure you will like this effect.

What are the three tools in your makeup kit that you can never, ever be without?
If I had to pick 3 tools, it would definitely be my brushes. It would be an angled brush, medium size blending brush and, of course, the eyebrow and lashes brush. But at the end of the day, we always improvise, it is part of the job. You can replace any tool, just have to be creative.

What are your future goals and plans for your career?
I would like to grow further in my career and expand my portfolio. Over the last few years, I managed to build a healthy number of clients whom I regularly work with. But my goal is to get into new fields such as TV or Cinema productions and collaborations with major makeup brands in the region.

Your message for us at CP magazine.
First of all, I would like to thank CP magazine for this interview. I hope I managed to give you a glimpse into the life of a makeup artist in Kuwait. Reflecting on me, my work and experiences gave me another motivation boost for my career. I love my job and hope I can translate it to new exciting projects.