KAREN
ALDER
MEET THE MAKEUP ARTIST From crafting the makeup of 200 extras on Kylie Minogue’s Spinning Around promo, to recently working with Saoirse Ronan, Elizabeth Banks and more, makeup artist Karen Alder has travelled far and wide creating the looks of red carpet royalty. We met Karen to discover what life as a professional makeup artist is like, and how she became one of the most respected figures in the industry.
What’s your earliest makeup memory? Doing a makeover on my teddy bear. I put nail polish on his cheeks to give him a bit of colour. And I used to spend hours, I mean hours, with all my dolls. Everyone got haircuts and makeovers.
I also used to be in The Pony Club. I never won any dressage or cross-country competitions, but I have so many rosettes for Best Turned Out! I made the ponies look amazing.
“If you’re making someone beautiful, you have to find them beautiful.”
How did you get started in the industry? I cut hair for years in different salons, as well as at a music studio. Then I decided to go to college and learn how to do wedding makeup. When everyone in the studio heard I had started doing makeup, they wanted me to work on their music videos. That’s how I got the opportunity to work on Kylie’s Can’t Get You Out of My Head video.
What sets you apart as a makeup artist? I make people look like a really polished version of themselves, I don’t mask them. And I only work with people I respect or think are talented. It only really works that way: if you’re making someone beautiful, you have to find them beautiful.
Where do you find inspiration? Everywhere! It could be a film, photography, beauty icons; it could be a rare book with pictures of traditional Japanese makeup...or fabric, or walking in the countryside – or Manga, and the way cartoons look. And other makeup artists – Pat McGrath and Val Garland are living legends.
What do you love most about your job? The variety. Every day is different and you never know what’s going to happen. I love making people look beautiful. I love playing dollies! Basically, put me in a room and just keep sending people in – I’m in heaven.
And what’s the most challenging aspect? The travel and the jet lag and being away from home. And never being able to make a plan. You just have to say to yourself, “relax, you’ve got a lovely job”. Sometimes that can be difficult though. Leaving my son was the hardest moment. I was working on a pop video the day he was due to be born and I was back at work when he was three weeks old – because my career took off when I was pregnant.
What are you most proud of career-wise and why? I’m really proud of working with Space NK! And I’m not just saying that [laughs]. I’ve worked with Space NK since I first moved to London in 2001. I was so shocked to be approached when there were a lot of bigger names around. I’m so proud of the campaigns we create. They’re real, they’re honest. I am beyond proud of that.
