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Episode 2 of  The Insider Edit | The Makeup Insider
It's just me this week — and I'm bringing you 10 products I genuinely can't live without. Five from my kit, five I use on myself every day. Plus a quick chat about PR gifting, asking for what you want, and why a 'no' is never the end of the story.
Full list of products 
Also in This Episode
How Vanessa gets PR gifting (hint: she asks for it)
Overcoming the fear of pitching yourself
Why a 'no' just means 'not yet'
The scheduling technique that changed how she reaches out
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Welcome to The Insider Diaries.
This is the first of a new monthly segment where I sit down solo and chat through what is going on in my world, in the industry, and the conversations I think we should be having as makeup artists.
In this episode I am pulling the curtain back on the last six months, sharing why I went quiet, and unpacking two big topics: visibility, and the Yana and Perth makeup artist situation.
What we cover
Where I'd been for the last six months
My fertility journey, IVF and where I am at now
Hashimoto's, mood, motivation and how it has affected my work
Why two episodes sat in my drafts folder for six months
The new podcast format: two guest interviews, plus Insider Diaries and Insider Edit each month
A listener comp to be a guest on The Insider Edit
Visibility as a makeup artist and why it matters now
Posting daily on Instagram and what I have learned
The Yana and Perth makeup artist situation, and my honest take
Why I no longer do unpaid collaborations
What to get in writing before you say yes to any collab
Mentioned in this episode
Ciara from Pro Shine and her blog on visibility
Marissa Grace - Bridalpreneur Socials 
Ask Ellen two part reel series on discretion
Want to be on The Insider Edit?
I am running a listener comp. If you would love to come on the podcast and chat about your favourite kit products, DM me on Instagram with your pitch.
Loved this episode?
Share it with another makeup artist or beauty lover, follow the show, and leave a review. It genuinely helps me reach more people.
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This week on The Makeup Insider, I sit down with Sydney based makeup artist Molly Warkentin for a chat that covers more than two decades in the beauty industry.
Molly takes us from her UK beginnings at Chichester College, through her time at Mac and the tight knit crew she calls the Makeup Mafia, all the way to the moment she chose to step back from bridal work to make space for family.
We talk about taste level, the quiet skill that separates good artists from great ones, and why building real relationships will always outperform chasing follower counts.
In this episode we cover
Molly's start in the UK and the pivot to Sydney
Studying at Chichester College and what she would do differently
Life at Mac and the network that became the Makeup Mafia
Adding hairdressing to her offering and why she resisted at first
Taste level and how to build it
Stepping back from bridal to protect family time
Her honest advice for new artists trying to break in
Quotable moments
"Skill gets you in the room. Taste keeps you there."
"The best opportunities I had came from people, not posts."
Molly Warkentin

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Magazines have fallen. So what does a beauty or fashion editor actually do now?
In this episode, Vanessa sits down with Sadaf to unpack how the role has changed, what "cross channel pollinating" really means, and why your favourite beauty experts are now on TikTok instead of glossy pages.
What we cover:
The traditional beauty editor role and why it no longer exists
How editors now work across websites, video, social and podcasts
What "cross channel pollinating" looks like day to day
Why interviewing dermatologists on TikTok is the new normal
What this shift means for anyone trying to break into the industry
Guest: Sadaf
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In this episode, Vanessa sits down with Julia from Co Contour to spill the products they reach for on every job. From skin prep to setting spray, this is a full walk through of what's actually inside a working makeup artist's kit.
What you'll learn:
The skin prep routine Julia uses on every bride
Why Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter is a non negotiable
The foundation that survives Aussie humidity
Julia's favourite concealer for smoothing texture
The mascara that holds a curl like nothing else
Everyday personal favourites from both artists
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