#GIRLBOSS SPOTLIGHT: RAJNI ANAARITA

Written by: Chelsea Satine

The queen of the cat eye and a fun bold lip - meet our #girlboss of the hour Rajni! She's a talented makeup artist who helps individuals feel their best for various occasions. Read all about Rajni's latest makeup tips, and why feeling beautiful on the inside shines on the outside.

Chelsea Satine:

Have you always been talented at doing makeup or is it something you learned over time?

Rajni Anaarita:

I always enjoyed doing my own makeup, and would often do my grandma’s makeup anytime we had to go anywhere, as she lived with us for quite a few years, and is legally blind. I realized I really enjoyed the transformation, so I practiced, tried to learn as much as I could from my favorite YouTube beauty gurus (Wayne Goss, the Pixiwoo sisters, and so many more), and then finally in 2011 enrolled in The Make-Up Designory’s Multimedia Make-Up Artistry Program where I sought to add some new skills to my repertoire and get some actual proper training.

CS:

What is your favorite part of doing a woman’s makeup?

RA:

I enjoy watching the transformation from before to after, whether it’s a natural look, or a dramatic glam look.

CS:

What advice do you have for women who feel insecure without makeup on, how can they learn to embrace both a beat face and their natural beauty?

RA:

Honestly speaking, this is something I still have to learn. I began wearing makeup because in my teens, twenties, and even now in my thirties, I continuously struggle with breakouts and skin problems. I will not leave the privacy of my home without a full face, except when absolutely necessary (for example a medical procedure). What I have learnt to do is to apply less, and not beat myself up over not having flawless skin. I’ve had to realize that this is me, this is who I am, flaws and all. I try to apply less makeup, because I’ve accepted that this is just who I am, and how I look. This is going to sound horrible, but you also have to remind yourself that those “flawless” celebrities whose images are splashed all across social media are not, in fact, flawless. What you are seeing is the end result of extensive skincare, and many times, medical and asthetic- enhancing procedures, a team of wardrobe stylists, hair stylists, makeup artists, lighting specialists, and yes, retouching pros…a simple picture may seem simple, but it is the combined effort of all of these professionals who create that “flawless” image of a celebrity that you are seeing.  

CS:

Everyone wants to know: What is the secret to a perfectly winged eyeliner?

RA:

Practice! Even those of us that call ourselves “pros” have to practice. It is not easy, but if you practice often, you will find yourself getting better at it. It also helps to have the right tools for the job. You wouldn’t eat spaghetti with a soup spoon. Everyone is different; some prefer a brush and gel liner, some prefer a liquid liner, some prefer using an angled brush, or a fine tipped brush. The possibilities are endless, but it’s up to you to find the tools you’re most comfortable with, and just keep practicing.

CS:

Do you think having the right scent can boost a woman’s confidence?

RA:

Growing up, my mom and grandma always told me to never leave the house without a spritz of my fragrance of choice. A great fragrance is the last step of a well put together routine of getting ready. Scent is also one of the most powerful sensory experiences, and I’m sure we’ve all had experiences of randomly catching a whiff of a familiar fragrance, be it a perfume, or even food, and instantly connecting that scent to a particular memory or experience. I always enjoy being told that I smell great, most often by strangers that are nearby and suddenly perk up because of my fragrance, and let me tell you, that is most certainly a little boost to my confidence.  

CS:

What characteristics do you look for in a fragrance?

RA:

I personally like fragrances that are unique, and smell like they could be naturally found, rather than an artificially created, nauseatingly sweet, mass-produced product, most often with some celebrity or designer’s name slapped on the front. As fragrance notes go, I prefer either something earthy and woodsy, with little herbal hints, or failing that, something that is traditionally more masculine. At this point in my life I also choose to look for fragrances that are ethically produced, without animal testing, or animal bi-products.

CS:

What was the first place you wore the Nicole perfume to and what do you enjoy about the scent?

RA:

To be completely honest with you, I wore it at home, because I enjoyed that luxurious feeling of smelling nice just for myself. I like that Nicole did not smell like anything I’d find in my local Sephora. I especially loved that with such a beautiful name like “Nicole”, there were traces of what I felt were more masculine hints within the fragrance. I cannot tell a lie; I secretly enjoy when someone asks me about a particular thing I’m wearing, and I get to let them in on the secret of some fabulous new product or line they’d never heard of before, and opening their eyes to the possibilities that lay outside of the same old brands they’d always hear of…and Nicole by Signature Scents by Hand is just that; a new, exciting secret to discover.

CS:

Tell us about your experiences being trained in France by the team behind Gernetic Skincare.

RA:

That training session was my first time in Europe, and that too, in the beautiful South of France. The philosophy at the heart of the Gernetic brand is that beauty starts from the inside, quite literally. If you were experiencing a topical malady, it started somewhere within your body and then manifested on the outside. They opened my eyes to the idea that I had to care for my body from the inside out, and not just externally, if I wanted to see the best results. More importantly than simply learning about the brand and their products, I was learning a new way of thinking about beauty and skincare. As a makeup artist you’re taught first and foremost to enhance the beauty that’s already there, but when you are trained to take care of the skin, you learn to improve the natural beauty before going in and enhancing it with makeup. This is something that was further strengthened during my brief stint at Sephora. Having gone through the “Science of Sephora” basic training, I was taught that a good makeup look can only be achieved on a good blank canvas, and thus caring for the skin, both internally and externally, is of the utmost importance.

CS:

We all have our days where we just don’t feel like ourselves, what advice do you have for women if they wake up having one those days?

RA:

It is natural to have these days. A wise person once said, “If you want a rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.” It is important to accept them, and not beat yourself up. Let them pass, and give yourself a break. Love yourself, and care for yourself, and remember that you are only human. Use it as an opportunity to pamper yourself with some self-care. Make a cup of tea, (or pour a glass of wine), draw a warm bath, light some candles, and give yourself the time and space to recover and heal. Scents can play an enormous role in this entire process so be sure to use scents that calm, relax and rejuvenate you, whether by lighting candles, or just using a nourishing body lotion, or with delicate splashes of your favorite perfume. While I understand that we may not always have the luxury of time, small things can perk you up in a huge way, like wearing your favorite dress, or your favorite shade of lipstick.

CS:

How can women use makeup to feel more confident?

RA:

Makeup is great. It’s a temporary tool that can transform you, whether with the most beautiful nude lipstick, or a vampy matte black smoky eye with wispy, fluttery lashes. It can help you to take on a whole new identity, and that’s what’s so great about it. At the same time, the smallest changes can help you to feel like the best version of yourself; a hint of concealer under your eyes to make you look brighter and more awake, some mascara to open up your eyes, a tiny bit of blush so that your cheeks look flushed and you look like you have the most fantastic secret that makes you smile all day. Think of makeup the way you do with your wardrobe. In fact, think of it as an extension to your wardrobe. Express who you truly are with your makeup, and you will feel more confident.

CS:

Often, some women do experience insecurities because of their skin, what do you do to take care of your skin?

RA:

I am no stranger to this. This insecurity is the reason I began wearing makeup in the first place. For years I struggled to find skincare that helped me. I’ve tried gentle natural products, I’ve tried aggressive regimens, gone to the dermatologist, the aesthetician, and tried lasers, and facials, and creams, and serums. It is only recently that I found a balance, and thankfully found some skincare that seems to be working in my favor. I try to follow the basics of a healthy skincare routine: cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate, treat. The most sacred rule of wearing makeup is to never go to bed with your makeup. I use either a warm washcloth (The Makeup Eraser is my ride or die), or a makeup remover wipe to remove my makeup, and then cleanse with my Clarisonic and cleanser of my choice (Pacifica’s cream to foam cleansers are heaven-sent). To hydrate and treat my problem areas, I like the skincare from The Ordinary: Marine Hyaluronics to hydrate and the Salicylic Acid for breakouts, or Azelaic Acid Suspension for spots and texture. I have quite the arsenal of scrubs, peels and masks for exfoliation, all from Lush Cosmetics, The Ordinary, Mario Badescu, and Pacifica Beauty. The thing I’ve learned over the years is that fancy packaging and a steep price tag are not the benchmarks for effective skincare. It’s really due to experimentation that I’ve come up with a regimen that I feel works for me.

Thanks for sharing those tips with us Rajni! Make sure you guys follow this #GirlBoss on instagram and keep up to date on her sent from heaven #cateyes on her website.