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 the top 5 skills she learned through her online makeup course!
I have been in the beauty industry for well over 10 years. But it was just over 2 years ago that I decided to make a change, and focus my energy into the places that made me the happiest. From there, my heart led me to makeup!
I have two young children at home, so the hardest thing for me was figuring out how I was going to get the education I needed while still being a mom. That is, until I found QC Makeup Academy! QC offered an online makeup course that had everything I needed to succeed. Most importantly, their self-paced, online learning environment gave me the freedom to pursue my training while still being with my kids.
Through QC Makeup Academy, I graduated from three different programs. Once I’d finished, I felt confident in my art and decided to open my own freelance business, Beauty Beyond the Mirror. Through my business, I have done makeup applications for special events such as graduations, engagement parties, baptisms, and photoshoots. Most recently, I’ve been given a spot on a team of professionals who do makeup for weddings.
Before my Online Makeup Course
Before enrolling at QC Makeup Academy, I did have a makeup certificate through Cosmetology school. However, I never really felt like that was enough. So, I’d convinced myself that if I used that bit of knowledge, and watched YouTube tutorials on top of that, I would have everything I needed to be successful.
The thing was, each time I did an application, there was something about it that just wasn’t quite right. It wasn’t until doing my online makeup course through QC that I realized how little I actually knew.
I could go through the motions of a makeup application, but I had absolutely no technique or real knowledge. I understood very little (to nothing) about skin types, tones, undertones, or color correction. I lacked all of the fundamentals in makeup, which was ultimately causing me to be unsuccessful.
Enrolling with QC Makeup Academy
I wanted to do what made me happy, but because I had small children, I needed to find a way to do both. The only option for me was to do an online makeup course. To be honest, I didn’t even know where to begin when going down this route. What I did know was that everyone told me it was impossible.
One day, while I was on Instagram, an ad for QC Makeup Academy popped up. I clicked the link, and from the moment I was sent to their website, I was intrigued. I read up on their online makeup course materials and who their instructors were. I also looked at past and present students, both on their website and through social media.
I knew they were the real deal!
I could have never known how incredible these classes would be. The text material and videos were so detailed, that I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything I would have learned in a physical classroom. The assignments really targeted the essential knowledge to do any makeup look – and then escalated to challenge that knowledge. I was pushed to put my own creativity into everything I did, which really helped me grow.
Through the assignments, I was able to see how important the basics of makeup are. They can be taken anywhere and applied to any look! I also learned that by knowing the basics, I was better able to create looks entirely on my own, rather than simply copying from others.
One of the most valuable things from my online makeup course was the feedback I received from my tutor. I appreciated that it was always honest and constructive. Even if it was to tell me what was not working in my looks, it helped me get better. By pin-pointing the areas where I was lacking, I could sit back, re-evaluate my application, and practice those areas more. As the course went on, I was encouraged to find ways to strengthen my weaker areas and sharpen my overall skin-set.
5 Skills I Gained Through My Online Makeup Course
QC Makeup Academy gave me all the skills I needed to have a successful career. They have rounded out my expertise, and have allowed me to create seamless applications that enhance my client’s natural beauty. Below are the top skills I have learned through my online training!
Skin Tones and Undertones
Skin tone and undertone are two very different things. Yet when it comes to makeup, they are equally as important. Skin tone is the color of the skin on the surface, while the undertone is the subtle hue beneath the surface.
Skin tones range from light, to medium, to dark. Skin undertones are considered war, cool, or neutral. Determining a person’s skin tone is easier than its undertone, as it can be seen just from looking at the person’s face. The easiest way to determine a person’s undertone is by looking at their veins. If their veins appear to be bluer or purple, then they have a cool undertone. But if the veins appear to be greener, they have a warm undertone. If it’s hard to determine what color is more dominant, it’s likely that the person has a neutral undertone.
By knowing this information, I was able to ensure that I picked the right foundation that would give them the most natural results for each individual. Without properly matching the foundation to their skin, you run the risk of:
- Making their face appear green or gray
- Making their face a different color than their neck
- Creating a mask-like effect that’s overtly unnatural
Color Theory
By using the color wheel, I was able to learn how to color correct areas on a person’s face that were not wanted. The color wheel teaches which colors cancel each other out. For example, to remove redness in the skin, you would use a green color corrector. By cancelling out unwanted colors in your client’s skin, you’re able to create a more even skin tone. This then allows for an easier application of foundation, and a more perfect complexion overall.
Primers
We have all heard of primers, without ever really knowing the importance of them. The fact is, facial and eye primers set the mood for the entire application! Without primer, you do not get the proper base for application. You won’t be able to get the most out of your products.
Using an eye primer is particularly important because it keeps oils at bay and prevents the eye shadow from smudging, breaking, or moving. It also enhances eyeshadow colors and helps them to pop. Using primers on the face and eyes keeps the makeup in place all day!
Classic Makeup Technique
Trends will always come and go. While it’s important to learn these trends, it’s equally as important – if not more so – to learn the basic, classic looks.
Classic makeup techniques have proven to surpass the test of time. They are techniques that have influenced every trendy look that’s ever been created, in one way or another. By taking an online makeup course and learning the classics, you can take a look anywhere!
Some of these classic techniques include:
- Eyeliner (basic to the cat eye)
- Filling in eye brows
- Enhancing the natural crease in the eye
- Blending eyeshadow
- Lipliner
Working with Different Skin Types
Not every client is going to walk in with a perfect canvas. We aren’t made like that. As artists, we need to adjust to each person’s individual needs. In order to do this, you need to first determine if they have dry, oily, combination, or normal skin.
While I truly learned all about skin types from QC’s Skincare Course, my online makeup course still touched on this in a beneficial way. Makeup artists need proper skin knowledge if we want to be the best at what we do. Without it, we cannot properly prep the skin, and could potentially use the wrong products for our client’s skin type.
Why YOU Should Consider an Online Makeup Course
Through QC Makeup Academy, I have been able to achieve my dreams and do it in a way that worked for me. QC’s online courses allowed me to still be a mom while I learned my craft. The programs are self-paced, so I could choose when and how much I focused on my studies. Since students get a full 2 years to complete their online makeup course, I was also provided the room to focus more on the areas that needed particular attention and never feel rushed.
On top of this, QC’s tutors are real industry experts with extraordinary experience. They’ve worked in all areas of the industry and have years behind them. Their feedback pin-points areas of strength and weakness in order to open your eyes to your own work. With their guidance, you can be sure to get things right and symmetrical. They push you to your limits so that you’re able to see your own potential – and grow!
Sometimes, what holds people back from pursuing their dreams is how much getting a proper education can cost them. QC Makeup Academy is amazing for this, as their monthly payments are SO low! They also offer amazing monthly promotions.
It’s also worth mentioning that the support through QC is endless! This is more of a family than a school, because everyone wants to ensure you are successful in your endeavors. There’s a full team of Student Support Specialist who are always ready and willing to answer any questions you may have along the way.
One of my favorite parts of being in the QC community is having access to the online Virtual Classroom on Facebook. This is a safe place where current, past, and even future students can connect and grow together. We can work through our challenges together, learn as a group, and celebrate each other’s successes.
