From a make-up artist you might expect a secret about the perfect product or the one technique that changes everything. But if I am honest, my greatest beauty secret is not a product. It is authenticity. It may sound like a big word – but let me explain what I really mean by it.
Make-up should reveal you, not hide you
When I trained at Art of Colors in Amsterdam, it was never about completely changing a face. It was about making the best in a person visible. That is still my approach today. The most beautiful make-up in the world means nothing if you no longer recognise yourself in it. For me, a look succeeds when it makes you look even more like yourself – just on the day you feel most at ease.
What my path taught me
My background is not the classic one. I come from pole dance – a world in which strength, expression and showing your own personality are everything. On stage you cannot hide. That is exactly where I learned that true radiance does not come from perfection, but from self-confidence. I carry that realisation into every look I create.
Perfection is overrated
Every day we see countless perfectly edited images. Flawless skin, symmetrical faces, not a hair out of place. But do you know what truly draws people in? Realness. A smile that is genuine. A gaze that shows personality. Small particularities that make you unique.
- •Your freckles are not a flaw – they are your signature.
- •The little asymmetry in your face makes you recognisable.
- •Your expressions say more than any perfect foundation.
How to find your authenticity
Being authentic does not mean going without make-up. It means using make-up in a way that feels like you.
- •Do not ask "What is on trend right now?", ask "What feels like me?".
- •Wear the red lipstick if it gives you strength – not because someone says it suits you.
- •Allow yourself the days entirely without make-up too. That is a statement as well.
My tip: stand in front of the mirror in the morning and do just enough that you want to smile at yourself. No more, no less.
The real luxury
For me, luxury with soul is not the most expensive lipstick, but the feeling of being fully yourself. When you feel good in your skin, you radiate it – and no product in the world can replace that. That is exactly why authenticity is my greatest beauty secret. And the beautiful part: it costs nothing, and you always carry it with you.
