Beauty and Brains: Make-up Artist and Stylist MeiLi Autumn
Some say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Freelance makeup artist and stylist MeiLi Autumn prefers to think that feeling beautiful is what makes you look beautiful. Since coming to China, she’s been involved in all aspects of styling, from one-on-one consultations to big screen productions. Agenda met with MeiLi to brush up on beauty, the world of freelance consulting, and Beijing’s best-kept beauty secrets.
Tell us a little bit about MeiLi Autumn. Are you just about makeup?
My company, MeiLi Autumn, is geared towards styling in general, so it includes personal shopping, hair styling, one-on-one consultations, and I also do corporate training for hotels and restaurants that want their staff to look a certain way. This often includes grooming, style standards, teaching local Chinese different ways of dressing and doing their hair and makeup. Then there’s the fashion part that includes editorials, photo shoots and magazine work. I can honestly say I work across the board.
What made you decide to come to Beijing and start working as a freelance stylist?
I studied Chinese in college and I’ve always been interested in makeup. After college, when I was living in Shanghai, I told myself that if I didn’t drop everything and focus on becoming a makeup artist, then shame on me because there was nothing holding me back. I left China, went back home and found a job working for M.A.C. Cosmetics. After two and a half years there, I felt that I had learned everything I needed to start a venture on my own. That’s when I decided to come back to Beijing and start my freelance career here.
Why not go back to Shanghai where you lived before?
I think it was the timing of the Olympics; I knew that Beijing was going to be a big focus internationally and I liked the idea because Beijing hasn’t always been in the spotlight like Shanghai. I just saw the opportunity that it was going to become a city of interest, a focus city. I came a year before the Olympics and I knew if I had to do anything, it was make it through that year.
How did you go about establishing yourself as a freelance makeup artist?
I just hit the ground running. I contacted various magazines and now I even write my own fashion blog, which helped get my name out there. Once people found out that there was a foreign makeup artist in town who could cater to their needs, whether it be a makeup lesson, a one-on-one consultation, or just getting their makeup done for an event, a lot of my jobs became referral work. After three years here, I’d have to say that this last one has just been the pinnacle of a lot of successes.
What were some of your favorite past projects?
My last project was really neat – I got to do the fashion show for the launch of The Knot, which is a wedding network from the US that’s launching in China. It was probably the biggest fashion show I’ve ever done. I also worked on a full-featured film this summer and learned about special effects makeup, which was really interesting but a lot of hard work.
I really love doing one-on-one classes with women and helping them feel beautiful. Being able to do that is a great feeling. I would have to say all of my clients are always highlights for me.
Do you draw from your heritage for inspiration?
I am from Maui, Hawaii, and having done a lot of weddings there, I am definitely influenced by it. The natural, beachy, glowy look has been ingrained in me since the beginning of my career and I work to perfect that natural, flawless beauty. Skin has always been my focus and I work to give that “no-makeup” look for brides.
Does your Western training influence the way you approach your work?
It definitely does. There are certain things that I notice are missing in the Chinese industry. For example, a lot of my foreign clients complain that when they get their makeup done by a Chinese stylist, they always end up a shade whiter and it looks like a mask. My approach with makeup is to never make it look like a mask but rather to accentuate a natural feature. Many Chinese makeup artists are taught to do it one way and they try to apply that to every person. But every face is different with such different characteristics and you have to be able to know how to bring out someone’s best feature.
In your experience, can Eastern and Western styles complement each other?
I think that as we become more of a globalized society with a one-world view, our concepts of beauty also start to merge. You can see Western models with the drawn out cat-eye makeup and you’ll see Chinese models with wide-eyed, smokey look. Even on the runways today, you can absolutely see Western models with an Asian influence. I can see a definite merging and cross-inspiration of different concepts of beauty.
In your opinion, what makes fashion or style important in the first place?
Self-expression. Makeup and fashion are a method of self-expression. That’s why when women ask me whether a color of lipstick suits them, I ask them if it suits their personality. If that’s going to be your calling card, if that’s what fits your personality, then by all means go for it. It’s the same thing for wearing a bright-colored hat or scarf. Personally, when I want to make a statement, I go for purple eyeshadow.
How can one’s overall style affect their daily life?
I know this might sound clichéd or shallow, but sometimes all I need to do is make myself look good in order to feel good. If you can look in the mirror and feel good about yourself, it really helps with your self-confidence and how you approach life. I think women all over sometimes get stuck in a rut with the way they look and that does take a toll on your self-esteem. Refreshing your makeup and learning how to put your best face forward is the same thing as going to the gym. It’s just another part of self-maintenance.
Do you tend to favor certain brands?
I’m a M.A.C. girl, because they trained me so I am very familiar with their products. It’s a solid brand, but there are definitely others out there that I love using, like Nars. Currently, I’m loving Vincent Longo because they have really nice lip products. Smashbox is another good brand.
Can you give us a few beauty insider’s tips?
Definitely use a good moisturizer, especially here in Beijing. There’s no look you can pull off if you have cracky, flaky skin. Sothys, which is a French brand, has some incredible facial products which makes your face feel like every cell is moisturized from the inside out.
For nails, Eric Paris Salon has this great new technology called “Shellac” – the polish will last two weeks on your nails without having to change it. It’s great for someone like me who is busy. Now I don’t have to get my nails touched up every few days.
I think doing yoga or other circulation exercises are also really important, so I go to Pacific Century Club and do Bikram Hot Yoga with Huiping Mo.
When you’re not busy styling clients, what else do you like to do around town?
I enjoy cooking, so you can often see me at Sanyuanli Market buying ingredients. When I go shopping, I like to find signature boutiques. I also love going into the little shops in the Gulou area – you can find some funky stuff there. Sanlitun is my home. You’ll definitely find me strolling around the Village North or biking around the area.
Eric Paris Salon Daily 10am-8pm. 43 Sanlitun Houjie, Chaoyang District (135 0137 2971) 朝阳区三里屯后街43号
Pacific Century Club Daily 10am-6.45pm. 5/F, Bldg E, Pacific Century Club, 2A Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District (6539 3434, 139 1051 3285) 朝阳区工体北路甲2号盈科中心会所E座5层 www.bikramyoga.com
M.A.C. Cosmetics Daily 10am-10pm. L120, 1/F, Bldg C, The Place, 9 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District (6587 1598) 朝阳区光华路9号C座L120
Sanyuanli Market Daily 5am-7pm. Shunyuan Jie (opposite Jingkelong Supermarket, west of Sanyuan Dongqiao), Chaoyang District 朝阳区顺源街（三元东桥往西京客隆超市对面）
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