Luxembourg stylist Luca de Michele claimed the Make-Up Artist Award in Düsseldorf in March, but it was not his first attempt. He had entered the competition the previous year without making it into the top ranks.
This year, however, was different. Competitors were given 60 minutes to execute a smokey-eye look live on stage, leaving little room for error.
"It is an extremely stressful situation", he said. The key, for de Michele, was to take the jury's feedback on board immediately and deliver a look that was both modern and suited to a stage setting. The judges were impressed.
De Michele's path into make-up was not a straight one. He began his career with an apprenticeship in hairdressing, where he first came into contact with cosmetic products through the salon's offering.
His employer highly encouraged his team to get familiar with them. "The boss threw me in at the deep end and unleashed me on our regular customers", he recalls. Those early experiences proved formative.
To deepen his skills, he travelled to Frankfurt to train at a make-up academy before going self-employed. Since 2014, he has built a career spanning fashion weeks, photo shoots, runways, and artists.
"What is great about this profession is that every day is different", he says. "The world of make-up is simply enormous with so many themes", he added.
The industry is becoming more open, but prejudices persist, particularly for men working in make-up. "I still get the feeling that it goes down well with some people and less so with others", de Michele says.
The scepticism is most noticeable when working with male clients, particularly when a touch of powder is needed for television or stage appearances. For de Michele, however, it comes down to mindset. "There is no gender in make-up, because these are products made for skin. And skin has no specific gender."
Beauty trends come and go. Whether its a bronzed glow or a dramatic lined lip that has become the trend du jour, Luca is not one to simply follow the crowd. "I always try to put my own sauce on it", he says. Inspiration matters, but the interpretation is always his own.
Asked for his single most important make-up tip, the answer comes without hesitation: skin prep.
"I say it again and again, good skincare is the most important step," adding that even the best make-up will not work without good skincare. He has been noticing a growing interest in Korean skincare routines among his clients, driven by their light formulas and skin-friendly ingredients.
The glamorous image of the make-up artist is only part of the picture. Behind the scenes, the work demands hygiene, organisation, and interpersonal skills.
"Brushes must be cleaned after every client, and every client must be made up with clean brushes. That is not always the case everywhere," de Michele notes pointedly.
For regular clients, he prepares individual make-up kits containing only the products and brushes tailored to that specific person.
Among those he accompanies regularly are Tali and Laura Thorn, whom he worked with extensively during and after Eurovision. Désirée Nosbusch, Hana Sofia Lopes, and several other prominent Luxembourgers are also among his clientele.
As a stylist, you often find yourself playing the role of confidant and, at times, therapist, particularly at emotionally charged occasions such as weddings or major stage performances. "It is also important as a make-up artist to ease the nerves a little and help the person feel calm", he says.
As for the future, he voices clear wishes: "I simply want to continue doing this with the same enthusiasm I have had over the past years."
In an industry that never stands still, what endures for de Michele above all else is the joy he takes from his work. "For me, this is my dream."
