The Makeup Insider
Vanessa Barney
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21. Cruelty free and environmentally conscious Melbourne based bridal MUA Kate McCleary shares her story.
This week: getting personal with Kate McCleary, a cruelty free and environmentally conscious, hair and makeup artist. Based in Melbourne, Kate understands the life of a mua is anything but straight and narrow. She starts off by telling us about a photo on her studio wall that is over nine years old and still one of her collection favs, boasting the importance of authentic collaborations, and why now is the time to ditch kits tested on animals and proudly join the cruelty-free artist community. Whether you’re just starting out or have been in the industry for a long time, tune in now, check out the key takeaways and subscribe for future podcasts below. KEY TAKEAWAYS: CRUELTY FREE. If you don’t already check the fine print on your products, today is the day you start. I want to be clear on the definitions, as it can be tricky to navigate the cosmetic industry when trying to be cruelty free (and vegan!). Cruelty free means that the product was developed without any tests on animals. Whereas Vegan means that the product does not include any animal-derived ingredients. Making a conscious effort to choose cruelty free products from early in her career, and as an avid vegan enthusiast, Kate understands how challenging it can be. Having an open mind, doing your research and supporting a brand whose ethos is the same as yours is key. Kate’s go-to research hub is crueltyfreekitty.com, an American site with a large database of cruelty-free cosmetics. Her fav brands include: Illamasqua, Charlotte Tilbury, Hourglass, Chantecaille, RMS, Kevyn Aucoin, plus more. “Over the years I’ve waved goodbye to some of my most beloved brands. Many have been bought out by larger non-cruelty free cosmetic houses and even more have started selling in China where animal testing is mandatory. However, as a vegan, I believe we can live our life without harming others, so that is exactly what I do. Plus, our industry is rapidly changing, so you have to be on top of it to truly be able to service your clients.” Kate McCleary DESIGNING A LOOK. As artists, we crave that creative flair in our work. Whether it’s testing a new kit or being given free reigns on a shoot. Consulting a new client is quite similar to the service space of tailoring. Kate thrives in creative opportunities where she gets to design a look. With her bridal work, she can be quite creative - often working with pops of colour. It can be rare in our industry to bring the whole look to life - the hair, makeup, clothes and styling, something she loves being part of. “When you look after the bride's hair and makeup, you get that really c Rates Guide Pro Artist Discount Kit List Blog Join TMI Email List Follow TMI on IG Follow Vanessa on IG
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