MARU RODRIGUEZ

a professional makeup artist, shared that beauty is about being confident and showing the best version of yourself to the world. It's a tool that can be used to reveal and enhance one’s beauty—an instrument that can help exude a person’s inner glow.

INSPIRED BY LOCAL ARTISTS Maru became interested in the fashion industry when he was in his early twenties. His love for cosmetics ignited his fondness for the fashion world, where his favorite personalities showcased their talents and passions. He looked up to style icons such as Fanny Serrano, Ricky Reyes, James Cooper, and a few other foreign models in the business. He has always been a fan of Fanny Serrano as he influenced him to become a professional hair and makeup artist.

HONING HIS CRAFT But his love for cosmetics goes way back to his junior years. He had a dream when he was young, and he dreamt that he would become a well-known and trusted makeup artist. Without grasping any of the basic theories in makeup, he still practiced what he knew and honed his talent in the process.

It was through social media that he learned about the Ricky Reyes Learning Institute. He enrolled in school and encouraged himself to work harder so that he could learn the various teachings from the hair and makeup courses he availed. He shared, “I have always believed that knowledge is power and that having a skill is a weapon that you can apply to your artistry. I never stopped experimenting and pushing myself to become the best HMUA artist that I could be, especially in this booming wedding industry.”

Maru discovered that his chosen profession makes him go through a never-ending learning process. He learned that there is always a need to try different things, but at the same time, keep up with the latest and evolving trends. He shared, “highlighting and shading should be present to enhance facial structure. The hairstyle, on the other hand, should also match the shape of the face to bring out the client’s natural beauty.”

AN ARTIST’S ROLE IN THE INDUSTRY When it comes to event preparations, makeup artists play a key role in highlighting their clients' best qualities. Maru's role is quite significant in his industry as it allows him to work with brides, debutantes, and models (among other personalities) for their once-in-a-lifetime events, and to create stunning looks that will make them look great in their photos and videos.

Maru believes that a qualified makeup artist should have the ability to create a full look. He shared, “if you want to be recognized as a professional, you must integrate the client's wishes with your expert skill.” In his opinion, professional makeup artists should have the full trust of their clients, so working hard to meet their needs is an absolute must.

LEARNING EXPERIENCES When you’re good at what you do, and you show dedication, then you will surely go far. Maru has stayed committed and has received many opportunities in the showbiz industry for doing the work he loves. He has provided his services as a part-time makeup artist for ABS-CBN’s variety show called 'It’s Showtime'. He has created makeup looks for local talents like R&B singer Jay R and Bugoy Drilon. Maru has also delivered exceptional looks for Roxanne Barcelo, Rafael Rosell, Daiana Menezes, Isay Alvarez, Rachel Lobangco, Candy Pangilinan, Kim Molina, Gwen Garci, RK Bagatsing, Filipina Super Model Marina Benipayo, Beauty Queen Nina Ricci Alagao, and Lala Vinzon. He also joined the Miss Earth 2019 pageant makeup artist team, where he created a look for Ms. Ghana Ms. Abena Appiah and is now a Ms. Grand International grand winner representing the USA, also, Miss World Philippines 2022, Binibining Pilipinas 2022 Pageant Makeup Artist team, and International Pageants as well, including Mrs. Asia Pacific 2022 held in Singapore.

Maru knows his talent, but he also knows how to show humility at work. This is reflected when he offered to serve the community by sponsoring a mass wedding hosted by the Far Eastern University Manila tourism students, celebrating the joyous union of couples called Tam Vows since 2020. He shared, “I brought my team with me to this event, and we took on the challenge of applying makeup for the brides and grooms from the underprivileged community who couldn’t afford to shoulder some of the wedding costs. Doing this felt rewarding. It felt great to give back to the community by just using my expertise.” Maru also joined an online bridal fair at Wedding at Works (w@w) and Awardee member of Event Experts of the Philippines 2022.

AN ARTIST’S RECOMMENDATIONS One of the things that you can rely on for help from artists like Maru is their tips and tricks. He knows a lot of brands, has tested many of these cosmetics, and has only used high-end brands from the USA and Europe. He has a lot of favorite products that he’s come to trust. And when it comes to creating bridal looks, his go-to brands are Dior, Temptu, Nars, Estee Lauder, Jeffree Star, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Laura Mercier, Too Faced, Viseart, Huda Beauty, Lorac PRO, Kat Von D, Bobbi Brown, and Becca. But as for lipstick, he favors MAC the most.

There are various brands that you can trust in the market. But in Maru’s experience, it can be hard

to give credit to a product unless it's something that you have tried already. For him, makeup should be able to complement other products to help create a complete and quality look. Maru shared, “the Laura Mercier translucent powder and Becca champagne pop highlighter are great products that would work for anyone. Also, the best foundations for me are Nars, Dior, Estee Lauder, and Temptu (for airbrush). For male grooming/makeup, Kryolan tends to work well too.”

IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT Maru believes that if you’re doing your job just for the money, then you won’t thrive in this industry. He shared, “you should have passion, integrity, and dedication to achieve success. I have tried to sustain a competitive and affordable rate without compromising the quality and professionalism in my work.”

WORDS OF WISDOM Maru believes that the old proverb "practice makes perfect" rings true when it comes to applying makeup. "The best way to achieve success is to have patience and practice what you're doing until you are satisfied and until you have achieved your best work. And never stop pushing yourself to do better at improving your creations,” he shared. These words are indeed wise and true, and will surely impact many aspiring makeup artists like him.