Q+A with Celebrity Makeup Artist Mary Wiles

Mary Wiles is a celebrity makeup artist who is known for enhancing her clients' natural beauty while creating a modern, fresh look. Throughout her years in the industry, she has worked with some of the world's top celebrities and has had her work featured in top fashion and beauty publications. We were excited to learn about how Mary's time studying fashion led her into the beauty world — read on for that and more!

Q: How did you get into makeup?

I trained initially at the London College of Fashion studying fashion design — art was always my passion. When I also did a makeup course at Glauca Rossi School of Makeup in London, it was like a light going off, as fashion and art together were my passion.

Q: How would you describe your style as a makeup artist?

I like to enhance the natural beauty of my client while creating glowing skin. My goal is to make someone look beautiful, not just have beautiful makeup. So it’s all about taking the face into consideration, as well as the personality and the occasion, the styling, and the hair.

Q: What do you love most about your work?

I really enjoy being creative and meeting amazing people from all walks of life and all corners of the world. I love collaborating in a team to create a look that works together with styling, hair, and makeup, and the feeling we want to achieve for the client. It's priceless to see a look come together and see the client feel comfortable, confident, and happy!

Q: From where, and from whom, do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration from everywhere: art museums, nature, fashion, history — everything is an inspiration you can get ideas from.

Q: Can share with us one of your favorite looks you’ve created, and tell us a bit about why you love it?

I recently did very simple makeup for Naomi Watts on the cover of Australian Vogue. I love it because the styling was beautiful and quite different. We decided to keep the makeup glowing and toned down; it looked very cool and current.

Q: What are some essential products you always keep in your kit?

I have put this as one of my shelves! It includes: the Tatcha Lip Mask, Tatcha Blotting Papers, Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara, Merit Brow Gel, and Merit Cheeky Blush.

Q: Your approach to makeup is that it should enhance the natural beauty of the face you're working on. What are some of your tips and tricks for achieving this natural, less-is-more look?

Concentrate on getting your skin to its optimum health; a good skincare routine, sleep, hydration, exercise, and a healthy diet will all help. Exfoliating is often overlooked, and overlooking it can cause makeup to stick to dry patches. Use a mattifying primer on the T-zone. This helps you to use less powder that can age the skin. Use creams and blend well to create a glowy skin look on eyes and cheeks. Use cheek colours that would match your natural flush. Same with your lip shade — use a lip colour that is the same tone as your lips.

Q: Can you walk us through what you’ve been using for your nighttime skincare routine as of late?

I have been trying the Kat Burki range, which I love. They are cold-pressed so rich in nutrients, and they also seep into the skin easily.

Q: What are some ways you're transitioning your kit for the summertime? What products and trends are you looking forward to trying?

Brands have been bringing out some of their summer launches. I love the new Dior lip pencils and Chanel Coco Rouge Bloom Hydrating Intense Shine Lip Colour.

Rapid Fire Round:

Q: Hairstylist partner in crime:

They all are my partners in crime! I love them all!

Q: Product you can’t leave home without:

Kevyn Aucoin eyelash curler, Tweezerman tweezers, Merit brow gel, Tatcha lip mask.

Q: Favorite drugstore or budget find:

L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara.

Q: Worth the splurge:

Chanel Vitalumière Foundation.

Q: Recent discovery:

Merit and Monika Blunder Beauty.

Q: Brand you wish more people knew about:

Burberry and Merit.

Q: Favorite lipstick:

Chanel Longwear Liquid Lip Colour in shade Merry Rose 397.

For more of Mary's favorite products, check out her shop!