Mario Dedivanovic, or @makeupbymario as he's known by over four million followers on Instagram, is one of the most prolific celebrity makeup artists of this generation. He's notably been Kim Kardashian's go-to artist for ten years (they're even collaborating on an upcoming KKW Beauty collaboration to commemorate the milestone) and pioneered her signature, glamorous makeup style copied all over social media.
While the in-demand artist's name is everywhere these days—he has brand partnerships with Laura Mercier, Clarisonic, and Bioré to name a few—he is no overnight success story. Dedivanovic started out in the industry at just 17 years old as a Sephora as a fragrance consultant, steadily assisted makeup artists on campaigns and editorial work, and finally went out on his own and secured celebrity gigs.
Now, he has people lining up around the block for his sold-out master classes, is a judge on the new beauty reality competition Glam Masters, and in addition to Kim, works with Gabrielle Union, Kate Bosworth, Demi Lovato, Suki Waterhouse, and countless other stars.
Needless to say, when @makeupbymario talks, we listen. Here, he shares some gems with ELLE.com.
1. Make-up inspiration can come from everywhere.
[I get my beauty inspiration] typically from things outside of the beauty world like interior design, architecture, nature, fabrics etc. all these things get my creative juices flowing.
2. Do concealer before foundation.
To achieve a flawless complexion, it's all taking the time to blend the product into the face. I like to use foundation to even the skin tone while using concealer under the eyes or to hide any imperfections. I usually start out with Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer under the eyes. It's full coverage and perfect for hiding dark circles, but it also won't crease and leaves a blurring effect—which is key to keeping the skin looking perfect.
Once the concealer is blended, I then go in with liquid foundation. I like to start out with a small amount of product and build as I go because applying too much at once can appear cake-y and accentuate lines on the face. Again, blending is so important when applying your foundation, so I prefer to use the Beautyblender—it helps smooth the foundation and make for a flawless complexion. Once blended, I finish by setting the face with Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder.
3. Don't write off insane Instagram beauty 'trends'.
I think some of the craziest trends have been with the eyebrows. From the wavy brow to the feather or braided brow, people are really becoming creative. One of the craziest I've seen is the Nike Brow. I love them all even if they are crazy! It's so fun for me to see what people come up with.
4. To achieve bold brows, blend, blend, blend.
Eyebrows shape the face and though I like to keep them strong, it's also important to keep them feminine. I start by using a spoolie to brush the eyebrows in an upward motion. This not only reveals their true shape, but also allows you to see the bare areas. Taking the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in the appropriate shade, work the pencil in short strokes to continue to fill.
Be sure to use the spoolie to brush the pigment into the brow, allowing it to appear softer and more feathery. Finish by blending the concealer thoroughly up into the forehead and into the eyelid. For added texture, apply brow gel.
5. Use concealer to double as eyeshadow primer.
It is important to prep the eyelid for eyeshadow application. You can start by applying concealer onto the eyelid. Laura Mercier's Flawless Fusion concealeracts as the perfect primer/base to prevent eyeshadow from creasing or falling. Once blended, apply a small amount of Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder to keep the concealer from moving.
6. Make beauty trends your own.
In 2018, we will see more golden and metallic highlighters along with metallic lips, but I think it is always important to take these trends and make them your own. For example rather than using a metallic lipstick opt for a metallic gloss over your favorite lip colour. We might also be seeing a comeback with blue eyeshadow!
