All About Nuances: An Interview with Mélissa Soukeyna

How about we chat with Mélissa Soukeyna?

Known as “the makeup artist to the stars,” Mélissa Soukeyna is a professional French makeup artist based in Paris, the international capital of fashion and luxury. With twelve years of experience working in France and abroad (Los Angeles, Montreal, Dubai, Brussels, Abidjan, Dakar, Bamako...), she is THE authority on chic, elegant, and sophisticated makeup. In France, over the past few years, she has popularized two signature makeup techniques: “nude makeup” and her “MS Signature French Contouring.”

A leading and well-known artist in the industry, Mélissa Soukeyna can be found at Fashion Weeks, working with VIP clients at Haute Couture shows, on television sets, on film and music video sets, in advertising campaigns, and on concert tours.
Active in Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and Africa, she has collaborated with artists such as Ne-Yo, ASAP Rocky, Gims, Dadju, Vegedream, Omar Sy, Leila Bekhti, Hapsatou Sy, Didier Drogba, Djibril Cissé, Vitaa, Slimane, and Amel Bent...

1. How do you feel about your skin these days?

I take care of my skin, so—just as I always have—I feel comfortable in my own skin. You “simply” have to listen to your body, listen to your skin, and identify its needs. As the seasons change, my skincare routine changes too. For example, in the summer when I’m tanning, my skin needs less care because it thickens and becomes smoother. It also gets more vitamin D. I apply a product with UV protection. I find that my skin looks better. At other times of the year, my skin requires more exfoliation and more care in the morning and at night. The seasons set the pace for my skincare routine. So does my lifestyle. Sometimes I don’t eat well, I’m tired… and all of that shows on my skin, too. But luckily, everything’s fine :-)

2. In your opinion, what does it mean to feel good about yourself?

For me, feeling good about myself means being in alignment with who I am, my principles, and my values. Sometimes, the image we have of ourselves—of our physical appearance—also contributes to feeling good about ourselves. So it’s about feeling good on the inside—in your mind—and on the outside, too. But what matters most to me is being in harmony with myself, on the inside.

3. How important is makeup in everyday life?

As a professional makeup artist and beauty specialist, I believe that wearing makeup every day plays a big part in feeling good about yourself. Through my professional experiences (weddings, photo shoots, TV sets, etc.) and my training in professional makeup, I’ve seen many women who, once they’ve had their makeup done or learned how to apply it themselves, gain self-confidence, feel better about themselves, and develop a much more positive outlook on themselves. In my day-to-day work, I work with mothers, young women, mature women—and literally, women of all ages—and I’ve seen that makeup helps them gain self-confidence. I see the “before” and “after” makeup transformations: at first, these women stand with their heads down, unsure of what to do or where to look; then, once they’re made up, they stand with their heads held high, smiling and determined. They look stunning. 

However, be careful. Makeup shouldn't be a mask behind which a woman hides her lack of self-confidence. You need to find a balance; otherwise, she may also lose her self-confidence when she isn't wearing makeup. 

Makeup should ENHANCE, not TRANSFORM, a face—that’s the subtle difference and the importance of everyday makeup.

4. How do you adapt your work to suit your models' skin types?

I tailor my work to each client, taking into account her needs (both professional and personal, depending on the context of my service), the shape of her face, her skin tone, and—above all—her personality. I need to understand my client’s “world” in order to best meet her needs and practice my craft to the fullest. As for skin type, I tailor the pre-makeup skincare routine and select primers suited to the skin’s specific needs beforehand to ensure the makeup stays in place. I implement a comprehensive protocol based on the service (for example, bridal makeup requires more pre-makeup skincare and primers).

5. What's your best skincare tip?

My top skincare tips are: 1) Make sure to thoroughly remove your makeup at night—it’s essential. 2) Develop a morning and evening routine tailored to YOUR skin’s needs. 3) Choose natural and/or edible products. 4) Dedicate some QUALITY TIME to your skin—why not try a “MORNING MIRACLE” once or twice a week, for example?

6. What are your upcoming news items or projects?

I'm working on my professional training programs. Renée-Diane and I are planning masterclass projects abroad for 2021 in France and Africa. 

I'm continuing to work with my beauty partners, which means I have quite a bit of content to prepare for my social media channels. At the same time, Renée-Diane will be taking the lead on a beauty and skincare blog in early 2021—stay tuned!

I'm still working with my artists, including Vitaa and Slimane—even though the Versus Tour is on hold, there's a lot of promotional work to do. You can see my work Monday through Thursday on TPMP; I do makeup for Cyril Hanouna, Kelly Vedovelli, Géraldine Maillet, and Valérie Bénaïm.

Despite the health situation, I'm adapting and continuing, as much as I can, to pursue my passion and my profession, and to share and pass it on.

Thank you to Mélissa Soukeyna for her answers, and see you soon for the next issue!