The Makeup Insider

Vanessa Barney
  • 4.9 (58)
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Updated Fortnightly

The Makeup Insider is a fortnightly one-on-one podcast exploring the life and career of makeup artists, hosted by freelance mua Vanessa Barney.. Finding your community of other likeminded mua’s – the creative, artistic, talkative, flexible, adaptable with a good eye for colour kind-of-people, can often be daunting. Like, where do you start? The Makeup Insider is designed for just that. To build a collaborative online community of artists to build their confidence, connections and help drive their career to the next level.If you’re just starting out or have been in the industry for a long time, tune in now, check out the key takeaways in the show notes and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Find Vanessa @vanessabarney @the.makeupinsider

  1. 25 Years, No Rules, No Regrets — with Max May

    41 mins ago

    25 Years, No Rules, No Regrets — with Max May

    Send us Fan Mail This week I sat down with Sydney makeup artist Max May. Nearly 30 years in the industry, self-taught, Armani Australia ambassador, Charlotte Tilbury Glow Squad, and one of the first artists in this country to build a blog and digital presence when the industry told him it would ruin his career. In this episode we cover: How Max got started — growing up in the country, moving to Sydney, falling into hairdressing by accident and discovering makeup on setWhy he never did formal training and why he still thinks assisting is the best way to learn this industryWhat it was actually like to assist in those early days — it was tough, the industry was different, and he got on a bus to pick up dog poop for the person he worked underHis years doing fashion weeks in Paris, New York and MilanBeing the Australian Armani ambassador and what that role actually looked likeDirecting fashion shows in Australia for ten years straightWorking with Jennifer Hawkins, Laura Bingle, Sarah Murdoch, Cheyenne Tozzi, Miranda Kerr and Mel B on The Masked SingerWhy he finds editorial more creatively satisfying than TVBeing one of the first Australian makeup artists to go digital — he lost work and friends over it and did it anywayHis social media formula: how many times he posts a week and what the algorithm actually wants right nowWhy he has zero interest in TikTok and is not sorry about itHis thoughts on AI and staying relevant in a changing industryFull list of products mentioned over on The Makeup Insider.  Max May  Follow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IG The Makeup Insider Blog  Vanessa Substack  The Makeup Insider TikTok

    1hr 40min
  2. The Inside Edit - From Retail Counter to Global Artistry: How Tannia T Built a Career That Lasts

    22 June

    The Inside Edit - From Retail Counter to Global Artistry: How Tannia T Built a Career That Lasts

    Send us Fan Mail 3. The Inside Edit  Tannia T has been doing this for over two decades. She started at the Napoleon Perdis counter and worked her way to global artistry — training staff, creating content, and travelling to LA and New York for major industry events. Today she runs her own home studio, takes one-on-one clients, does bridal work, and has some clients who have been with her for over ten years. In this episode, we get into what that kind of longevity actually looks like. The kit, the tools, the booking system, the products she keeps coming back to, and the real talk about social media as a working artist. We cover: How Tannia went from Napoleon Perdis retail to global artistryTraining staff and creating content for a major brandTravelling to LA and New York for industry eventsBuilding and running her own home studioBalancing bridal work, one-on-one clients, and being a mumHer Surratt eyelash curler obsession (and why it's worth it)Sonya G brushes — quality over quantityBy Terry CC Brightening and Benefit Brow GlazeHer honest take on social media as a business toolHow she manages bookings: manual tracking meets Google CalendarFollow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IG The Makeup Insider Blog  Vanessa Substack  The Makeup Insider TikTok

    1hr 3min
  3. From the Mecca Counter to Agency Repped with Kiana Mei

    15 June

    From the Mecca Counter to Agency Repped with Kiana Mei

    Send us Fan Mail Kiana has been in and around the makeup industry for 13 years. But her path wasn't straight. She started on the Mecca counters, stepped away to work in disability support, and came back in 2022 through The Iconic's e-commerce team. Since then? Sydney, Milan, Paris Fashion Weeks. A freelance career built on cold calls, genuine connections, and trusting her own eye. In this episode, we talk about what it actually takes to rebuild in this industry, how networking opened doors she didn't even know existed, and why finding your own aesthetic matters more than chasing trends. We cover: How Kiana got back into the industry through The Iconic's e-commerce teamWhy cold-calling creative agencies actually worksHow assisting at Fashion Weeks changed her careerBuilding a skin-focused, mood-driven styleHer kit essentials — including NARS Sheer Glow and Giorgio Armani Luminous SilkWhat she wishes she'd known earlierFor aspiring and working artists, this one is worth a listen. Follow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IG The Makeup Insider Blog  Vanessa Substack  The Makeup Insider TikTok

    59 min
  4. Set Secrets: What Every Hair and Makeup Artist Needs to Know About Working With a Stylist with Kate Lauren Harper

    1 June

    Set Secrets: What Every Hair and Makeup Artist Needs to Know About Working With a Stylist with Kate Lauren Harper

    Send us Fan Mail What A Stylist Actually Does with Kate Lauren Harper Recently week I sat down with Sydney-based stylist Kate Lauren Harper for a refreshingly honest conversation about what stylists really do and what that means for us as hair and makeup artists on set. If you have ever wondered what the stylist is actually doing while you are in kit, or how to build a better working relationship with styling, this episode is for you. We cover: What a stylist actually does, from brief to final lookHow mood boards, client decks, and feedback rounds shape the whole shootWhy timelines and budgets are never as simple as they seemThe unspoken etiquette of working on setHow the stylist x hair and makeup relationship works (and when it does not)Kate's path from Wollongong to lead stylist, including the ecomm grind that built her skillsWhy boundaries matter more than you think, for stylists and for usFollow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IG The Makeup Insider Blog  Vanessa Substack  The Makeup Insider TikTok

    1hr 7min
  5. The Insider Edit: Kit Faves & Why You Need to Back Yourself

    25 May

    The Insider Edit: Kit Faves & Why You Need to Back Yourself

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 2 of  The Insider Edit | The Makeup Insider It's just me this week — and I'm bringing you 10 products I genuinely can't live without. Five from my kit, five I use on myself every day. Plus a quick chat about PR gifting, asking for what you want, and why a 'no' is never the end of the story. Full list of products  Also in This Episode How Vanessa gets PR gifting (hint: she asks for it)Overcoming the fear of pitching yourselfWhy a 'no' just means 'not yet'The scheduling technique that changed how she reaches outFollow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IG The Makeup Insider Blog  Vanessa Substack  The Makeup Insider TikTok

    21 min
  6. Welcome to The Insider Diaries: Where I have actually been for the last six months.

    18 May

    Welcome to The Insider Diaries: Where I have actually been for the last six months.

    Send us Fan Mail Welcome to The Insider Diaries. This is the first of a new monthly segment where I sit down solo and chat through what is going on in my world, in the industry, and the conversations I think we should be having as makeup artists. In this episode I am pulling the curtain back on the last six months, sharing why I went quiet, and unpacking two big topics: visibility, and the Yana and Perth makeup artist situation. What we cover Where I'd been for the last six monthsMy fertility journey, IVF and where I am at nowHashimoto's, mood, motivation and how it has affected my workWhy two episodes sat in my drafts folder for six monthsThe new podcast format: two guest interviews, plus Insider Diaries and Insider Edit each monthA listener comp to be a guest on The Insider EditVisibility as a makeup artist and why it matters nowPosting daily on Instagram and what I have learnedThe Yana and Perth makeup artist situation, and my honest takeWhy I no longer do unpaid collaborationsWhat to get in writing before you say yes to any collabMentioned in this episode Ciara from Pro Shine and her blog on visibilityMarissa Grace - Bridalpreneur Socials Ask Ellen two part reel series on discretionWant to be on The Insider Edit? I am running a listener comp. If you would love to come on the podcast and chat about your favourite kit products, DM me on Instagram with your pitch. Loved this episode? Share it with another makeup artist or beauty lover, follow the show, and leave a review. It genuinely helps me reach more people. Follow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IG The Makeup Insider Blog  Vanessa Substack  The Makeup Insider TikTok

    26 min
  7. Why Taste Level Beats Technique Every Time, with Molly Warkentin

    11 May

    Why Taste Level Beats Technique Every Time, with Molly Warkentin

    Send us Fan Mail This week on The Makeup Insider, I sit down with Sydney based makeup artist Molly Warkentin for a chat that covers more than two decades in the beauty industry. Molly takes us from her UK beginnings at Chichester College, through her time at Mac and the tight knit crew she calls the Makeup Mafia, all the way to the moment she chose to step back from bridal work to make space for family. We talk about taste level, the quiet skill that separates good artists from great ones, and why building real relationships will always outperform chasing follower counts. In this episode we cover Molly's start in the UK and the pivot to SydneyStudying at Chichester College and what she would do differentlyLife at Mac and the network that became the Makeup MafiaAdding hairdressing to her offering and why she resisted at firstTaste level and how to build itStepping back from bridal to protect family timeHer honest advice for new artists trying to break inQuotable moments "Skill gets you in the room. Taste keeps you there." "The best opportunities I had came from people, not posts." Molly Warkentin Follow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IG The Makeup Insider Blog  Vanessa Substack  The Makeup Insider TikTok

    1hr 1min
  8. Inside the Life of a Beauty Editor: From Glossy Magazines to an Online Presence with Sadaf Razi

    4 May

    Inside the Life of a Beauty Editor: From Glossy Magazines to an Online Presence with Sadaf Razi

    Send us Fan Mail Magazines have fallen. So what does a beauty or fashion editor actually do now? In this episode, Vanessa sits down with Sadaf to unpack how the role has changed, what "cross channel pollinating" really means, and why your favourite beauty experts are now on TikTok instead of glossy pages. What we cover: The traditional beauty editor role and why it no longer existsHow editors now work across websites, video, social and podcastsWhat "cross channel pollinating" looks like day to dayWhy interviewing dermatologists on TikTok is the new normalWhat this shift means for anyone trying to break into the industryGuest: Sadaf Follow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IG The Makeup Insider Blog  Vanessa Substack  The Makeup Insider TikTok

    1hr 19min
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4.9
out of 5
58 Ratings

About

The Makeup Insider is a fortnightly one-on-one podcast exploring the life and career of makeup artists, hosted by freelance mua Vanessa Barney.. Finding your community of other likeminded mua’s – the creative, artistic, talkative, flexible, adaptable with a good eye for colour kind-of-people, can often be daunting. Like, where do you start? The Makeup Insider is designed for just that. To build a collaborative online community of artists to build their confidence, connections and help drive their career to the next level.If you’re just starting out or have been in the industry for a long time, tune in now, check out the key takeaways in the show notes and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Find Vanessa @vanessabarney @the.makeupinsider

Information

  • Creator
    Vanessa Barney
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    110
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Makeup Insider
  • Show Website
    The Makeup Insider

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