Beauty questions with… Aimee Connolly

Beauty questions with… Aimee Connolly

Can you remember the first time you wore make-up? 

Yes so clearly. It was for a youth disco when we were about 12/13 and I had about 4 layers of black kohl pencil on my waterline, no foundation, brows or mascara may I add but  a dollop of turquoise glitter on my eyelids. I thought I was just beautiful and when I think back now it makes me laugh. Those moments were definitely not the making of my makeup artist career!

Which beauty icon inspires you in your look and why? 

 She may not be a classic icon that you would find through searches online but for me Margot Robbie is my ultimate girl crush celebrity. I think she has the most beautiful, natural face for makeup and she wears it so well. I adore a natural, dewy makeup look but it is nice to change it up sometimes too and I think she or her makeup artists rather, do this so well.

What’s been your biggest beauty mistake?  

The massacre of my eyebrows without a doubt! Thankfully my genes were good to me and they have grown back to some extent but years ago when it was so in fashion, I plucked them nearly all off thinking it was a brilliant look. My string eyebrows saw me through until I was about 19 unfortunately and then thankfully I gave it a rest!

What's your absolute hero product?
I know it is biased but I would have to say my own brand, Sculpted by Aimee's Second Skin mineral foundation. I think knowing the work and passion that went into launching the 18 tubes and trials of formula makes me extra proud of it. My focus has always been on ingredients and Second Skin contains hyaluronic acid and collagen as well as chamomile, lavender and aloe vera oils. It is a saviour on problematic skin and the fact that it graces so many makeup bags is just amazing for me and the brand.

Are you a budget buy girl or a splurge, splurge, splurge?

 I would say I am in between. I love a good haul in Penneys but equally would appreciate a more investment led item that I would treat myself to if I reach a target in work for example. Given I have been working since the age of 16, I have always been very lucky to be independent and having my own money to treat myself to pieces or essentials that I like.

What look would you like to see disappear forever?  

A trend that I’m not a fan of is the heavily filtered Instagram make-up look. I think its great for those who like to create and explore but in general at Sculpted we love a natural, real skin look. We also introduced a no airbrushing policy - so we do not use any photoshop on models that would alter their features and we're all about celebrating real skin concerns that we all experience, on our social channels. I just love a fresh, natural aesthetic that portrays a realistic beauty standard.

What’s your go-to haircare product? 

 I would have to say the Joico hair mask for blondes. It is fantastic and particularly effective on dry or damaged colored hair like my own or if you want a little treat for your hair over lockdown.

Straight hair or wavy? 

A soft curl always wins for me. I wear the HairTalk extensions which I love but I always find having a slight curl or wave makes them extra natural looking. The Alterego Iron squad curling iron is fantastic for this.

Are there any products you think you can economise on or ones you would always invest in? 

I'll focus on cosmetics for this one. I am a firm believer in having your staples or a capsule collection in your makeup bag and I would suggest;  a base, foundation, palette for face/eyes, brow product, mascara, lipstick or liner or both depending on your preference. Items such as colored liners, eyeshadow palettes, lipstick ranges can be items you invest in or perhaps economise because you want a more diverse shade range. I think its great to have options but I would never sacrifice my essentials. I am all about playing with your products and the Sculpted range is designed to be multi-purpose . For example if you have an all in one product such as our Beauty Base this can be worn on bare skin, under makeup or mix it into your foundation to lighten the coverage. It means you're also getting a different finish from one type of foundation allowing you to vary your look easily. Plus I am all about investing in products that offer added value.

If you could give one piece of beauty advice what would it be?  

Do you. As much as I think less is more, layer slowly, focus on all features individually without overdoing any of them, I also believe that if there is something that you like to do to feel like you then go for it. Don't worry what the rule book says, as half of makeup is just as much about how you feel, as well as how you look, particularly in these strange times.

Would you ever go to bed in full makeup?  

No and if I do its a sign of a good too many drinks which thankfully is extremely rare. I think over the last few years I have drilled it into myself to just take it off regardless of how much I  might be dying to jump into bed. I have quite a sensitive and reactive skin so I would feel the effects of leaving makeup on nearly straight away the next morning!

What are you working on right now?  

I’m excited to be starting a new year and hoping for an even busier 2021 for Sculpted. We are planning on increasing our team, expanding into new markets and have plans  to launch nine new products this year. We are also working on developing our virtual academy which has had over 300 graduates to date.  It's all go, but brilliant!

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Make-up artist and entrepreneur Aimee Connolly is founder of the award-winning Sculpted make-up brand, retail store and academy. To learn more about Sculpted visit www.sculptedbyaimee.com