Meet Ballito’s Hollywood-level makeup specialist, Niqui da Silva

In today’s fast-paced world where appearances matter more than ever, the art of makeup has become an essential part of our daily lives.

But there’s makeup and makeup.

A professional makeup artist wields her brush like a magic wand, transforming Plain Jane into Cinderella.

Whether it is for your wedding, a special event or a photo shoot, hiring a skilled makeup artist can make a significant difference to how you look and feel.

With a myriad of options available, it is essential to understand the value that professional makeup artists can offer, from enhancing your natural features to transforming you into a whole new character.

Introducing Ballito’s very own Hollywood standard makeup specialist, Niqui da Silva.

Niqui cut her teeth in the industry doing special effects makeup for big name films such as Mad Max: Fury Road and The Maze Runner.

We asked her what to look for in a makeup artist for your special day.

“Experience, skills and versatility are the main attributes that set makeup artists apart,” she said.

“Ask how long they have been in the industry and look at their portfolio to get a feel for their versatility.”

Niqui said many makeup artists were at the level you might find at the counter of Woolworths or Edgars, and while they might be able to do a fair job, their skills may be limited to a specific brand of makeup and one specific look.

“While a good quality product is important, a good makeup artist is able to use any product and use it in a way that you would never have imagined.

“They also need to be able to change their style to best enhance the subject in front of them.

“For example, a person who already has good skin may need far less or no foundation at all. There is no one fits all makeup application.”

A vital aspect of the job is a solid grasp of colour applications and how best to create harmonious and complementary makeup looks, including mixing and blending different shades to achieve the desired results.

“I always ask my subject for a no-makeup selfie to get a feel for the canvas and the person’s personality beforehand.

“A makeup artist is there to enhance a person’s intrinsic God-given beauty. Women often believe that if you aren’t flawless, you aren’t worthy. This simply isn’t true. No one is truly flawless.

“The fashion industry has created that fantasy with airbrushing and entire teams of people dedicated to applying makeup for hours at a time,” she said.

The work of a professional makeup artist is not just about applying makeup; it is about building confidence and creating memorable experiences for clients.

Contact Niqui at 074 197 3155.

Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.

Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.