“In make-up, there’s no such thing as a ‘rule’, it’s a personality thing; but there’s what you call a process,” quipped maquillage maverick Jessie Glova who has already etched a name in the wellness circle.
His romance with the dimensional canvas began at an early age. Professionally though, in 2005 he unveiled his first make-up studio in Lahug which was then relocated to Pacific Square Condominium, F. Cabahug St., Mabolo, that has become a significant address for celebs, socialites, models, pageant beauties and soon-to-be-brides. Last week, a day before officially launching another beauty haven, he welcomed The FREEMAN team to the newest Jessie Glova Style Salon for a chitchat. For budding/up-and-coming maquillage artists, here are a few blurbs straight from the horse’s mouth, be inspired:
Specialties: Prosthetics, wedding make-up, fashion, avant garde, couture
Style bible: Internet (there’s YouTube, Google, etc.), books on new trends, magazines (Yes and Ok!)
Make-up kit staples: Air-brush kit foundation, brows set with palette, blush palette, eye drop, lip balm, for instant glam there’s red lipstick, mascara and falsies (false lashes), nude lipstick, make-up remover, brush cleaner and set of brush.
Brands: I use different stuff, I don’t stick to one brand.
Trademark: I don’t think that there’s a trademark. I love doing brows and eyes though, and hair and make-up. I love to complete the look.
Favorite Look: Clean, fresh and classic. When you see your photo 10 years ago, it still looks “you”. But on the creative side, I love creating different looks from periods to glam rock, to couture.
Make-up Confession: I splurge much on everything. For me, a beauty shop is like a candy store, I just pick what I like. (So, at the end of the day he’d be surprised when he hits the sack – there’s too much!) So what I do, I ask someone to buy some stuff for me. I list the things that I need, then ask my Manila friends and friends from abroad to do the shopping.
Celebrities/Personalities: I love styling them (celebrities). I did Margie Lhuillier, Tessa Prieto Valdez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Kuh Ledesma, Pops Fernandez, Margie Moran, Venus Raj, Iya Villania, Cheska Garcia, Angel Aquino, Gab Valenciano, Jong Hilario, among others. I’m the official station artist in Cebu for ABS-CBN.
Challenge: I see everything as a challenge. Even if a person is beautiful it’s still a challenge because it’s a challenge that you get her personality; that when you do make-up, it’s still her. She still has to be herself. Also, I have to make an effort to make her feel satisfied.
Client Connection: Before the wedding, we do “test make-up”. We have prior discussion with the bride to know what she wants and her specifications.
Remedy for allergies: I always ask the client if she’s allergic to a certain product. Maybe if she had allergies (maybe because of the sponge or brush), it starts from the skin care – from the tools that she uses and not from the make-up itself.
Key to a Perfect Make-up: It all starts with a good skin. You can alter the brows, you can alter the eye shape but you can’t alter the skin. The condition is there, no matter how much concealing you do. Make-up for me is not a concealing agent but it enhances your features.
Jessie’s newest venture is an extension of what he loves, beauty. While his first make-up studio is Balinese-inspired, the newly opened Jessie Glova Style Salon screams Elizabethan/English – predominantly white-washed, humongous mirrors with carved frames, elegant chairs with intricate carvings. “You can’t be just a make-up artist forever, you need to do other businesses that will work for you,” he said. The salon is occupying the second unit in the second floor of the same condominium where his first make-up studio is situated. Service includes hair care, nail care with nail art, eyelash extension, waxing (legs, underarm, mustache, brows, threading) and foot spa.
“There’s always science behind make-up. There are explanations why we put these and that. That’s why it’s an art,” he concluded.