Nadia Calabro is a QC Makeup Academy Student Ambassador, as well as a QC alumnus. She has graduated from the Master Makeup Artistry Course, the Pro Makeup Workshop, and the Skincare Course. She is also the proud founder of her very own makeup business, Beauty Beyond the Mirror.
Today, Nadia reveals all the reasons why taking QC’s Pro Makeup Workshop has benefited her professional makeup career!
A little over a year ago, I decided I wanted to accomplish my dream of becoming a successful MUA and starting my very own makeup business! Prior to this, I was already a hair stylist. This means that I’m fully aware of how competitive the beauty industry is. (This is especially the case in my area.) So, I knew without a doubt that the first step to accomplishing my overall goal would be to get the best education I possibly could.
I did my research and lots of it. I looked into different makeup schools; trying to find the one that would best suit my needs. Once I discovered QC Makeup Academy, it quickly climbed to the top of my list!
The first thing that grabbed my attention was that all of their makeup courses are done completely online! For me, being able to do my studies from home was essential. As a busy mom of two young boys, sitting in a physical classroom all day and being away from them wasn’t an option for me.
As I continued my research into QC Makeup Academy, everything I found had me even more convinced that by enrolling in this school, I’d be taking the first step towards launching a great makeup career! I noticed that QC always had some sort of promotion running each month, so when I was ready to get started, I took advantage of the promo being offered to me at the time.
As such, after enrolling in the Master Makeup Artistry Course, I was also given the opportunity to enroll in a free Advanced Makeup Course as well. After careful deliberation, and reviewing the wide variety of courses QC had to offer, I decided that I would also enroll in the Pro Makeup Workshop.
Why I Chose the Pro Makeup Workshop
All of the Advanced Courses appealed to me. In fact, it was hard for me to choose which one I really wanted to enroll in at first! But I knew that my decision had to be based on whichever course would take my skills to the next level.
After all, you have to remember that my ultimate goal was to start a makeup career. I wanted to work professionally within this industry and find success. The beauty industry can be a pretty cut-throat world, so I knew that in order for me to prosper, I’d need to continue strengthening and refining my craft as much as possible.
The only way for me to make my decision was to research into each class. To do this, I used the school’s website to read up the different course descriptions and outlines. After that, I then went onto their Facebook and Instagram pages. I wanted to find past and present students’ work, as well as read reviews from real people who had taken QC courses.
Of everything I saw, though, I have to say that reading the course breakdown of the Pro Makeup Workshop was actually the thing that convinced me of my decision. it ticked off each one of my boxes, in terms of what I needed to accelerate and succeed in my makeup career!
What I Learned from My Training
This course gave me so many amazing challenges and lessons! I got to build on the foundational skills I learned in the Master Makeup Course, in a way I didn’t think was possible. For instance, I learned advanced makeup techniques, such as:
- Makeup for the limelight
- Editorial, runway and avant-garde looks
- Intricate eyeliner and cat-eye applications
- The reverse smoky eye
- Pin-up looks
- And much more!
As part of the Pro Makeup Workshop, I also got to take classic looks and put modern spins to them. Most importantly, I got to take the techniques I learned about bridal makeup from the Master Makeup Artistry Course, and elevate them to the next level!
A Look into My Assignments
The Pro Makeup Workshop gave a more focused look into both the classic and the most in-demand makeup techniques. I worked on creating makeup looks for:
- TV and runway
- Dramatic pin-up looks (both classic and modern)
- On-trend designs
- Various types of smoky eye designs, etc.
On top of all this, I got to work with glitter for the first time, too. With the help of my instructor, I learned how to incorporate it into all my other looks. I practiced perfecting the brows and eyeliner – most specifically the cat-eye.
Lastly, and most importantly for me, I got to take a very in-depth look at bridal makeup.
My favorite parts of this course were the smoky eye lessons and the additional bridal makeup training. In my opinion, as a makeup artist, you can never know too much about the smoky eye! Literally, everyone is always requesting this look, whether it be for a night out on the town, for a wedding, etc.
This course taught me the various stages to creating:
- A flawless smoky eye, ranging from softer to more dramatic designs (i.e. starting with grays and moving to black shadows)
- The different types of smoky eyes (i.e.e classic, reverse, and glitter smokey eye)
- The ability to know which type of smoky eye is appropriate for any given occasion
The bridal component of the Pro Makeup Workshop was the most important piece for me. You see, my dream is to run a successful bridal makeup business! So, having the chance to learn how to create timeless, elegant, and picture-perfect bridal looks was EXACTLY what I needed!
Through my additional training in this course, I learned how to quickly and effortlessly take a clean, dewy, and simple morning bride – and transform her into a more dramatic, evening bride.
Each assignment reinforced everything I’d originally learned in the Master Makeup Artistry Course and then built upon it even further. The Pro Makeup Workshop gave me the chance to practice more and get better at my craft.
At the same time, it also took me to new levels as well. Getting extra training helped boost my confidence. It made me feel like I really could pursue a successful makeup career, and that I’d be properly prepared to do any look in the real world!
How the Pro Makeup Workshop Accelerated My Makeup Career
Taking this course allowed me to push myself to the absolute limits! When I completed the Pro Makeup Workshop, I truly felt like I would be able to tackle any task that I was presented with.
From me to you: when it comes to having a fruitful makeup career, there’s NOTHING more important than getting a high-quality education. The more you know, the more you can do! The truth of it is, when you’re working as a makeup artist in the real world, your clients will always be looking to see what you know and how you perform.
While I knew that I could still make something of myself by completing only the Master Makeup Artistry Course, I also knew that I’d be increasing my chances of success by leveling up with the Pro Makeup Workshop. As the old saying goes: knowledge is power!
By learning how to create more advanced looks, thanks to the Pro Makeup Workshop, I’ve been able to improve my makeup portfolio and make it that much more impressive to clients. I’ve gotten noticed much more – and with this recognition has come even more people reaching out to me with booking requests.
By completing this course, I gained the tools, the power, and the confidence needed to take on ANY client that comes my way. I’ll never have to say no to a potential job ever again! For this reason alone, I could not be more grateful.
