WE have all heard how important it is to stay true to ourselves. To be comfortable in our skins and embrace our individuality. For a fulfilling and healthy life, this sentiment rings true. But makeup artist Stephy Thin proves it is also possible to attain one through constantly creating and reinventing yourself.
Thin is an online makeup creator who transforms herself into popular characters on her social platforms. From the infamous socialite Cruella to the villainous Venom, the Kuala Lumpur-born creator takes on different character looks on a weekly basis for her online viewers.
“My boyfriend is a photographer who enjoys travelling,’’ says the professional makeup artist. “I started ensuring that I am always dressed for any occasion. I wanted to look my best in every photo. And that slowly led me to what I am doing now.”
Thin holds a degree in makeup and began her career as a bridal makeup artist, putting on colours on brides for the past five years.
She hopes that her online work will eventually lead her to her ambition of being a high-fashion makeup artist.
What is your favourite character look and why?
I do not think there is any particular look that is my favourite. I put my heart and soul into every look. In fact, there is a lot of preparation that goes behind the scenes. The ideas actually do not come very easily to me. Hence every character marks a new experience and growth as an individual and makeup artist.
Walk us through your preparation process.
For every makeup assignment, I begin by scrolling through social media. For instance, I go on Instagram to get inspiration from the trendy artists I follow. By looking at their work, it inspires some ideas and helps me get an idea of the makeup preparation for the day.
As a makeup artist, I believe preparation is crucial as every single theme and make-up have different cosmetics and material.
What is one makeup product you must have?
I need my lipstick. I am not able to work without it. Though I work with a lot of cosmetics products, lipstick makes my character look more enthusiastic. It is like a soul of makeup to me.
How do you usually pick your makeup products?
Before I choose, I go through customer reviews. I like to know if the product is really reliable before purchasing it. Once I do, I will head to the physical store and try the sample to ensure it is safe and comfortable on my skin. I think this is very important. In fact, there have not been any allergic reactions to the products that I have tried for this reason.
What are some things you would like clients to know before working with you?
I think communication between a client and a makeup artist is important. For instance, I like to build a communicative relationship with my clients. For every assignment as a bridal makeup artist, I like to request my clients to show me their bare face beforehand. This is because everyone has a different type of face shape and scale.
This is also to ensure that the product is suitable for the client’s skin. As mentioned earlier, safety and caution are the main ethics of my work. So, I think there can be more communication between the client and the makeup artist. It helps smoothen the working process as clients also have their own idea for themselves.
Who are some of your beauty gurus you are inspired by?
I look up to people like James Charles and Keilidh Muaa. I think their ideas are quite refreshing. Aside from them, I also look up to people like Bearbrickjia, Flora Borsi, Desiree Mattson, and Laura H Rubin. I quite like their content and looks.
What are your plans for the future?
I hope to join a makeup competition. To this day, I have not been able to participate in any competitions for make-up artists or beauty creators. So once Covid is over, I hope to join one. Apart from that, I hope to try and explore more makeup looks!
