CindabellaBeauty Chat with 'The Makeup Guru' - Nikki Lovrich
Published Oct 17, 2016
If the name Nikki Lovrich is familiar it’s for a good reason.
For over 25 years’ Nikki has been making the New Zealand fashion, beauty and film industry beautiful.
It's no surprise that her friends call her ‘The Makeup Guru’.
Nikki is one of the most famous makeup artists in New Zealand today and has worked with many famous faces like, iconic Kiwis Rachel Hunter and Hayley Westenra, from the very beginning of their careers. There's hardly a celebrity in NZ that she hasn't met (or made up!) even Tammy the lovely ‘Briscoes Lady’.
We caught up with Nikki to talk about her career and bridal makeup trends for 2017.
Cindabella: When did your love for makeup begin?
Nikki: I come from a very creative family & have always had a natural instinct for hair, makeup & fashion. I was inspired by my stunning hairdresser mum, who was never without false lashes & a pair of platforms. My style icon of that era was Cher & I would watch her every week on the Sonny & Cher show, then carefully replicate her dramatic makeup. When I left school I went to fashion design college & worked part time in a model agency, which is where I got my start in the industry. After completing a modeling course I showed such a natural talent for makeup that I was given a job teaching makeup, which is where I perfected my craft. My first big shoot was a magazine cover & by then I knew that this was my career path - the rest is history!
What do you love most about what you do?
I have been a freelance hair & makeup artist for over 25 years now & I still love my job. I'm passionate about fashion & makeup as it's an industry that is constantly changing, so I never get bored. The best thing about my job is that every week is different as I do such a variety of work. I move between fashion stills, TV Commercials, advertising campaigns & Runway shows, so each type of job offers something different. I do wardrobe styling as well which doubles the work load, while making it all the more challenging.
What’s an average day like for you?
When I'm booked on a TV Commercial it's a pretty full on day. I will generally source the wardrobe for the talent the day before & take all the options to the shoot so the client & director can see what works best. Styling can be quite stressful, so once that's locked down the makeup & hair begins & that's the fun part as I get to make the talent look amazing while chatting away. Then it's onto the set, or the location (which may be a home or an outdoor space) to start shooting. For me it's then all about touching up & keeping everyone looking camera perfect. Still shoots are similar but there is less pressure as the crew is smaller & the atmosphere more relaxed. I don't work every day & some weeks are busier than others, so in my downtime I work on my beauty writing. I have a makeup website that needs constant updating & I write a regular beauty blog where I review the latest products & share my beauty tips.
What questions are you asked most?
"What's the best mascara", is the most popular followed by, "the best foundation". It gives me loads of satisfaction to help women look their best & I'm always happy to share my wealth of knowledge.
What’s your best advice for brides looking for a makeup artist?
Makeup & hair are so incredibly important when it comes to weddings as your photos last a lifetime & you don't want to be looking at yourself in years to come wishing that you had invested in a better makeup artist. I suggest that you do your research & choose an artist that suits your needs & tastes. Plus, if you can meet before hand & get a feel for each others personalities it can take away a lot of stress leading up to the big day.
What bridal hair and makeup trends will be heading our way for 2017?
Bridal trends come & go every season, at the moment the girls are all loving the glamorous Boho style with lots of tousled wavy hair & natural makeup with loads of lashes. Then there is the classic modern bride that favours sleek & simple hair & beautifully polished makeup.
Simple glamour with a vintage feel never goes out of style so it's safe to say that if you were inspired by Grace Kelly you will be looking at your photos with pleasure in years to come.
Do you have an 'Expert Tip' to share?
Good bridal makeup needs to go the distance! To make it last all day (& night) prop your skin with a good primer followed by a high quality liquid foundation & finish off with a pure mineral powder. This will provide a medium coverage with a satin finish that looks natural in photos & luminous in person.
We would like to thank Nikki for taking time out of her busy schedule to chat with us. Nikki you're AMAZING!!
Link to Nikki's website and blog.
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