UK’s HOTTest beauty event: nina westbury’s makeup cafe debuts

UK’s Hottest Beauty Event: Nina Westbury’s Makeup Cafe debuts in London.

Pro makeup artist Nina Westbury has just launched one of the most innovative and heartwarming beauty events of 2020. It’s called the “Makeup Cafe” and it is a free, drop-in event where Nina shares beauty tips and tricks, helps guests find their perfect shades and helps everyone feel good about themselves. It really does demonstrate the power that beauty and makeup have to help us feel more confident and happy.

The idea for the program came to Nina when she observed that so many people today struggle with self-esteem issues, health conditions and life tragedies. She thought that if she could plan small beauty events that brought people together, it could make a difference in their lives. Guests could meet new friends, learn some makeup tips and have a laugh with Nina. The first events have been so popular that Nina is getting requests across the country for her Makeup Cafe. Here is an exclusive interview with the renowned makeup artist about her special beauty events.

Dave: To start, tell us what is your Makeup Café?

Nina: The Makeup Café is an amazing place for everyone to come and have a relaxed chat about the power of makeup products boosting self esteem and confidence. Makeup is a little trick that can help us when we need a boost, a little lipstick or a glowing complexion can totally transform the way we feel about ourselves. When we wear makeup we love, we look good, we walk a little taller, we interact with people differently and every part of the day changes for the better. The Makeup Café is about making the best of ourselves and not taking makeup too seriously, it’s a place to play and build friendships. I am very proud of the Makeup Café because I see the difference it’s making in peoples lives, I see how confident the participants are becoming, and I see the friendships forming. 

Everyone is welcome at the Makeup Café, makeup newbies, ladies that need a change, individuals transitioning, mothers with little ones at home that need to get out of the house, all you need to be is willing to try something new.

Dave: How does the Makeup Cafe work?

Nina: The makeup café has a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Participants arrive and make themselves a cup of tea or coffee, sometimes there are even brownies! We sit at a large round table and chat about different topics. Last week we discussed the pros and cons between all the different brow products on the market. From pencils, to powders, waxes, gels, pomades, mousse…. we discussed and I demonstrated how to use them all so everyone could see the difference. The Makeup Cafe is not like sitting in a makeup masterclass, its more interactive. Participants get the opportunity to ask questions and believe me there are loads.  I encourage guests to try something new under my watchful eye.  

Dave: How did it come about?

Nina: I have always known the power of a group of women chatting about beauty products. I have seen it with my own family, watching the women in my masterclasses as well as some VIP clients I’ve had. It doesn’t matter about a woman’s background, skin tone, wealth, we all want to look good. With the influence of social media, I have noticed that some woman may get confused with application, or they don’t get the best advice on beauty products. When a woman is sitting behind her phone looking at highly edited beauty videos its can be a lonely place, they may start feeling self conscious, have low self worth or miss the social interaction of other makeup loving woman. I wanted to create a community for makeup lovers to come together in a nonbiased environment and get great advice they can take home and embrace! Afterall I am a true believer in the power of makeup and firmly believe that Makeup gives you superpowers! 

Dave: You’ve had an incredible career so far. Tell us a little about the celebs you’ve worked for?

Nina: I have been very lucky so far in my career. I have worked in film, TV, fashion, for high end brands and in luxury department stores in the UK, the United States and Canada so my celebrity client list is something I am very proud of. I have worked with Amy Winehouse, Debbie Harry, Queen Raina of Jordon, David Tennant, Maya Angelou, Jackie Weaver, Venus and Serena Williams, John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Martina Navratilova,  Steve Austin, Danny Boyle, Anita Rani, Billie Jean King, Michelle Williams, Mia Farrow, Andrew Flintoff, Diana Krall, Juliette Stevenson, Sue Johnston, Sanjeev Bhaskar, David Cameron, Charlotte Hawkins, David Cameron, Julie Etchingham and Kay Burley to name a few.

Dave: What did you do at Wimbledon as makeup artist?

Nina: I was at Wimbledon for 5 years. That was a fantastic job. I made up the guests and presenters before they went on air for an interview. The studio was in the Broadcast center, so it was the hub of activity. The energy at Wimbledon is electric.

Dave: You created a makeup curriculum and taught makeup at a school. Can you tell us about this?

Nina: I loved teaching budding makeup artists. I created a curriculum that was based on being a working makeup artist on location or in a studio. It was important that my students had hands on experience before they embarked on a working career. I taught makeup looks with top industry specifications and tricks of the trade like how to create products when they didn’t have them for example blending a touch of red lipstick into a under eye concealer when they needed to cover the darkest under eyes.  

Dave: Why do you think the Makeup Café is getting such attention now?

Nina: Woman are curious about makeup and what to know how to create the best version of themselves. We are told to eat well, exercise, practice self care and mindfulness but sometimes all we need is a gorgeous red lipstick and a sassy smile. Makeup can be taken so seriously. When we are teenagers, we are encouraged to play with different looks but as grown woman we feel foolish if we play with makeup, in case we get it wrong. There is so much conflicting information when it comes to beauty products its overwhelming. Woman are confused and its within our rights to put a lipstick on and love how it looks!

Dave: What would be your dream collaboration or partner for Makeup Café?

Nina: It would have to be a brand that’s available worldwide because I want The Makeup Café to be available everywhere for everyone. The L’Oreal umbrella would be nice as they have lots of brands at different price points, are easily available worldwide as well as brands to cover all skin tones.

Dave: What makeup tip has been the most popular from the attendees?

Nina: They love the tips each week! Their top two so far have been a cheat’s way of creating a flick eyeliner that I learnt from a client in Canada. You apply a tiny dot of liquid eyeliner to the tip of the nail of your little finger, place it at the outer corner of your lash line, where your lower and upper lashes meet, and gently drag your finger nail out following the natural direction of your lower water line until you have your desired length of the flick. Then you can go back in a add more eyeliner with your liner pen of brush. The cheat method gives you more control. The second tip they love is how to apply mascara properly. I see woman all the time apply a tiny amount of mascara to the tips of their lashes; the weight of the mascara will pull the lashes down making eyes appear smaller. To correctly apply mascara, you must start with clean lashes. Then you curl with an eye lash curler, once at the roots then again halfway up. Loading up a mascara wand with product making sure there is no mascara blob at the end of the wand, that will create a mess later. Hold your head up high with you chin up and gaze into a handheld mirror placed at chest height. This will expose your lashes, so you won’t get the smudges on your eyelids. Hold the mascara wand at the roots of your eyelashes and wiggle back and forth gently; this will create eye definition as it will capture all the baby lashes just beginning to grow. Next comb the wand from root to tips repeatedly without dipping the mascara wand back into the tube or you will create clumps. By combing the wand through the lashes like this you will create strength in the lashes leading to lasting hold as well as length.

Dave: What response have you received from attendees so far?

Nina: They LOVE it. I love seeing them so excited to try the tips they have learnt at home and they share it with their friends. One just sent me a message that said “Thank you Nina! I feel fabulous”! I love knowing that I am making a difference in these women’s lives. I know that they are using their makeup superpowers and are feeling great!

Dave: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned creating the Makeup Café?

Nina: Woman love to share and recommend products they love. They light up when they get to recommend a well-loved product to the group. They love chatting about beauty products. We chat nonstop for 2 hours straight! All women want to look good and they deserve to spend time on themselves creating a fun look that empowers them. We all lead such busy lives and if a woman takes time to cleanse her face properly at night and follows a good skincare routine then her skin will be glowing the next day which will make her feel good about herself. We are all very similar no matter what country we come from or what we earn, makeup, beauty and feeling good about ourselves is a common thread between all of us. 

For more information about Nina’s Makeup Cafe and upcoming dates and locations, follow Nina on Instagram at “ninawestbury_makeup” and on Twitter @ninawestbury. Her new website “ninawestbury.com” will debut soon. Email her at nina@ninawestbury.com