Caroline Barnes: Celebrity Makeup Artist Reveals Her Life In Beauty

Renowned for her fresh approach to beauty, Caroline Barnes uses makeup and skincare as a catalyst for confidence boosting. With over 83K Instagram followers, Caroline has tended to many an A-list face from Kylie Minogue (who she went on tour with) to Emma Watson and even David Beckham. Jealous, us?!

Here, Caroline tells us how her love for beauty and makeup began and reveals her own makeup secrets to looking flawless and feeling fabulous. We’re taking notes…

What’s your first beauty memory?

Watching my mother put on her makeup with such care and attention. She always wore a strong lip and always carried a lipstick with her and kept one in the car for quick touch-ups. I was also obsessed with Jackie magazine, which in its heyday, showcased models wearing many inspirational makeup looks, for that time of course! However, the one memory that really sticks out is when I was 13-years old, I was taken to see Cats in the theatre. I was blown away by the creative artistry of the makeup, and from then on, I was keen to learn more about beauty and makeup. The rest is history!

What are your go-to treatments?

I suffered with really bad acne during my teenage years, so I used a lot of hardcore products and treatments to almost ‘burn’ my skin, which at the time, I was advised to do. As a result, and years on, I have a lot of pigmentation, so I have regular laser facials with Debbie Thomas who has truly transformed my skin and keeps my pigmentation at bay. Plus, I get Botox injected in between my eyebrows every now and again to lessen my frown lines, Dr Shooter is the man to know!

How do you switch off from such a busy and demanding job?

A warm bath is like medicine for my body and soul, particularly in the winter when I feel the cold A LOT. I use Olverum bath oil which creates a sanctuary in my bathroom. My entire house smells divine- there’s nothing quite like it! I have litres of the oil at home as I’m so worried of ever running low. The beautiful scent is enveloping, it helps me sleep better and it’s completely therapeutic to my busy mind. My cashmere socks and a gin always help too!

Where, what or who inspires your makeup artistry?

Colour and the fusion of colours and textures particularly from nature always inspires me. I look at flowers in quite depth not only for shade inspiration but also for texture, such as bark. I will always have a petal on the go in my kitchen. It keeps me thinking about how to bring the nature of beauty into the world of makeup and creating something completely new and unique to the face.

What beauty advice would you give you twenty-year old self?

Beauty comes with accepting compliments. If you don’t know how to respond to a compliment, then flip it back to make you feel comfortable. For example, if someone tells you your skin looks radiant, instead of feeling embarrassed or quickly dismissing their comment, reply with a thank you, followed by a “what do you wear on YOUR skin, cause it’s glowing” etc. And never forget that being outwardly beautiful doesn’t equal happiness, the prettiest person in the room is the one that’s laughing with confidence.

Which products do you rely on the most?

For my hair, I couldn’t live without Colour Wow Dream Coat. It stops frizz, adds incredible gloss, and leaves hair with a glass-like texture. For my skin, Medik8 R-Retinoate to give my skin a power boost while I sleep and Votary Brightening Hyaluronic Serum for intense hydration. For my lips, Sisley Rose Lip Balm keeps my lips hydrated and works well as a lipstick primer too.

What’s on your beauty repeat shopping list?

Time and time again, I go back to Drunk Elephant Vitamin C Firma Serum, Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Serum, Beauty Pie Triple Hyaluronic Acid, Ultra Violette SPF50 and Emma Hardie Protect & Prime. These products never ever let me down and keep my skin in tip-top shape.

Name four festive makeup bag heroes to take you from office to party?

Cutting this down to four is quite the challenge, but these four really flatter and will upgrade your look in seconds.

1. Vieve Lip Dew’s – teeny sparkly pigments that’s hard not to love.

2. Hourglass Ambient Palette Vol 2 – incredible bronzing shades for subtle face shaping.

3. Rimmel Multi-Tasker Concealer – cheap and long-lasting cover, an essential after a long day.

4. Chantecaille Yarrow Lip Chic – the perfect pinky nude if festive red isn’t your thang!

Do you have any relaxation staples?

Mediation and de Mamiel’s Altitude Oil – I go through one bottle per month. I encourage each one of my clients to inhale it before I apply their makeup to help them feel a sense of calm and relaxation, which will help keep them still and their mind less active. If I had a £1 for every client that bought a bottle on my recommendation, I’d be laughing. It’s utterly hypnotic.

Have you got a signature scent?

I have always been a Chanel Mademoiselle fan, but during lockdown a friend bought me a bottle of Byredo’s Mixed Emotions (how ironic!!) I began wearing it as an ‘indoor perfume” but when I did wear it outdoors, I would get stopped several times to ask what fragrance I was wearing. So, I fell deeper in love with the scent. Recently I’ve also taken a liking to Kate Moss’s Cosmic Sacred Mist, it’s very grounding.

Finally, what are your beauty golden rules?

Always, always make up your face in proper sunlight during the day. For the evening, use a mirror with lights around it, turn off any ceiling lights overhead which can distort the light and highly unflattering. Instead look directly in the mirror while applying your makeup and avoid side lights and funny angles at all costs.

Shop Caroline’s hair and beauty must haves here…

The products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, The Handbook may make a small commission on some products purchased through affiliate links.