For the past nine years, makeup artist Barbi Chan has worked her magic using different brands at different price points. Her sense of adventure has led her to SM Beauty where she has discovered many beauty must-haves and finds. For her, it has become a place that she can always rely on.

SM Beauty has been a part of her life ever since she started out as a professional makeup artist. “It’s a place of many amazing cosmetic finds,” she says. “And much of the stuff I get there is part of my professional beauty kit.”

Starting out

Chan started working on her brushstrokes when she enrolled in Makeup Designory in Los Angeles, California. Because she wanted to hone her craft, Chan studied airbrushing at Dinair Airbrush Institute, another makeup school in Los Angeles. This led to further training in other countries.

Chan’s works in print and TV campaigns as well as personal events have received raves. Her first big break was when she was signed up as the first Asian makeup artist for Maybelline New York. This was followed by an award as Makeup Artist of the Year (US Girls Yearly Fashion Award).

She says being a makeup artist requires continuous training to broaden one’s horizons.

Bridal beauty

Chan is also known for being the makeup artist of choice of Manila’s most stylish brides. “Today’s brides are more adventurous with their style choices,” she says. “Of course, the natural look will always be there, but more and more brides are going for smoky eyes and bold lips.”

Barbi recalls that she did her own makeup during her wedding, and “broke all boundaries with my super-dark plum eyes paired with red lips.”

Here, Barbi shares with us her 2013 Bridal Makeup Forecast and her favorite picks from SM Beauty.